Barcode Technology : Barcode Frequently Asked Questions

A. The term calibration is not applicable to bar code printing and reading devices. ISO 9000 procedures should reference manufacturer's specifications and recommendations regarding preventative and scheduled maintenance for bar code reading and printing equipment.

Q. What can my company do to comply with bar code requirements imposed on us by our customers?

A. Verification of your products' ability to be accurately scanned every time is important. Additionally, applying what the verifier tell you to your application and how to integrate bar code verification into your overall quality management process are of equal value.

AIM would like to thank Stratix Corporation for providing the answer to the above question.

Q. What would you recomend to put on a block of glass? A block of glass is 96 X 130 with a 15 piece count 1/4 inch glass,and has a separator on each sheet of glass called lucor kind of a grainy powder and a light coat of citric acid on one side of each sheet. A block of glass is about 5 inches thick. How do I tag it with a barcode?

A. You could tag this block of Glass with a pressure sensitive bar code label that incorporates and adhesive system that will bond to the glass along with compensating for some of the contaminate. You will need to make sure that you use a ribbon system, and a printable facestock that will be resistant to the acid.

AIM would like to thank FLEXcon for providing the answer to the above question.

Q. Can inkjet be used for bar code applications?

A. Yes. Inkjet technology is being successfully implemented for 'direct-to-carton' bar code of corrugated packaging and shipping containers. Inkjet is often used for other 'unit' or 'product' marking and automated identification applications. Since no ribbons or labels are needed with inkjet coding, cost per mark savings can be found with inkject coding systems.

AIM would like to thank Trident - An ITW Company for providing the answer to the above question.

Q. What are the numbers in SCC-14 and where do they come from or how do I create a shipping case bar code?

A. The first digit is a packaging indicator, the next six digits are the manufacturers number, the next five digists are the item number for the product. The last number is the check digit. For more information, refer to ANSI/UCC6 - The Application Standard for Shipping Container Codes.

AIM would like to thank the Marsh Company for providing the answer to the above question.

Q. What bar code standard should a manufacturer of healthcare products use?

A. A manufacturer of healthcare products has the option of using the Health Industry Bar Code supplier labeling standard (HIBC) or UCC/EAN 128. For more information about HIBC, visit the Health Industry Business Communications Council (HIBCC). For more information about UCC/EAN 128, visit the Uniform Code Council (UCC).

AIM would like to thank Karen Longe & Associates for providing the answer to the above question.

Q. Are there different bar codes?

A. In a book published by Mr. Benjamin Nelson in 1997 there are over 260 different bar codes symbol formats described. Many of these symbols are rarely used currently because they have been superseded by better symbols. There are three basic types of bar codes, linear, 2D, and composite. Linear bar code symbols are easily identified by their tall printed bars of varying widths. There are many linear symbols but the ones used most frequently are called UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8, EAN-13, Code 39, Code 128, and ITF (Interleaved 2-of-5). Two dimensional bar code symbols are broken into two major groups called Matrix symbologies and Multi-row bar codes. Matrix symbologies look like a matrix of printed dots and Multi-row bar codes look like linear bar codes with very short bars stacked on top of each other. Composite symbols are a category of bar codes that combine an interdependent linear and 2D symbol. See AIM's book called Understanding 2D Symbologies for a summary of the most common 2D and composite symbols.

Q. What bar code do I use?

A. If you are developing a closed system strictly to be used within your company, then the choice is yours. You need to analyze what your requirements are as far as type of data (numeric, alphanumeric) as well has how much space you have available to print the code. If space is not constrained then the most likely code is Code 128. Many industries are standardizing on Code 128. If you have a space problem then you may want to evaluate one of the matrix symbologies. In general, it will cost you more for scanning equipment capable of scanning a matrix symbol.

If you need a copy of a bar code specification that tells you what the bars and spaces mean and what they are capable of encoding, AIM sponsors the development and publishing of bar code specifications. A notable exception to this rule would be the symbol specification for U.P.C. symbols, which is available from the UCC.

If you need to comply with a customer's bar code application then you must obtain a copy of the application specification and whatever bar code is required by the specification is what you need to use. Industry standards tell you what bar code to use, how to build the information inside it, what size to print the bar code, where to put the bar code on your package or container, and what the minimum quality level is for you bar code.

Q. How do I print a bar code?

A. There are two major types of printing equipment used to print bar codes, traditional pressroom equipment and electronic printing equipment. For those who are printing the same bar code over and over within their packaging graphics, the traditional pressroom approach is widely used. For those who print many different bar codes everyday or who print bar codes with information that varies (e.g. shipping labels, apparel tags, or foodservice labels) electronic printers are used. In order to print your own labels and tags you need a printing system comprised of a printer capable of printing bar codes, software to design your bar codes, and labels, tags, and ribbons/toner. Helping you find companies to assist you put a printing system together is exactly what AIM is all about. The AIM Buyer's Guide provides you with premier bar code equipment and service providers. More about bar code printing.

Keep in mind that whatever technology you use, it is your responsibility as the printer of these bar codes to verify that they conform with industry specifications and will be readable with any scanner that can decode the symbology you have printed. You can only do this with a bar code verifier. More about bar code verification.

Q. What size do I make a bar code?

A. For a closed system (where you control the scanning environment), this is entirely up to you. You will simply use whatever size you need it to be for your scanning equipment. More about bar code scanning.

If you are trying to comply with an industry specification, an application specification will define the size that is needed in order to be in compliance. Most application specifications are based on a particular scanning environment and call for a specific bar code symbology, size of the narrow element, and height of the code.

Q. How do I know the bar code that I printed is good?

A. Many people take their bar code to a scanner to see if will scan, but the only way to know for certain is by scanning the bar code with a ANSI-based verifier. The difference between using an ANSI-based verifier and a scanner to determine what is good is the scanner only assures you that what you have printed can be scanned by that particular scanner. With a verifier you will know if the symbol you have printed is scannable by any scanner in the world capable of decoding the particular symbology you have printed.

In 1990, ANSI X3.182-1990 Bar Code Print Quality Guideline was published. ANSI X3.182 describes a method for assessing the quality of bar code symbol using a verifier. Using the ANSI X3.182 method, various industry representatives specify the minimum quality level necessary for bar code symbols depending on which symbol is used, where it is used, or what identification number it is carrying. In addition to the minimum quality level, they also specify the verifier aperture width and wavelength to be used.

Setting up different minimum quality levels is similar to a University using a standardized test to determine whether applicants qualify for admission. Several Universities may utilize the same standardized test, but each University sets the minimum score necessary for their applicants to be admitted.

For more background on the ANSI X3.182 method, you may download (PDF format) the AIM Layman's Guide to ANSI Print Quality Guideline.

Q. What color can I use for bar codes?

A. This will very much depend on the application. For in-house use you can decide for yourself based on the scanability you are able to achieve with different colors. If you are providing something based on a customer’s specification then they will generally tell you what colors they want it to be. It is generally best to avoid colors having red pigmentation if your customer's scanners operate in a wavelength range from 630 to 680 nanometers (visible red spectrum). For these scanners, bars printed in black, dark blue, or dark green and spaces printed in white, red, orange, purple, and yellow generally work well.

Depending on the scanner being used, the color may be of little relevance. When the scanner being used has a light source above 900 nanometers (mostly industrial applications), it is more important to make sure that there is carbon content in the ink that is used.

If you are printing on a reflective substrate such as an aluminum can, it may be possible to print the spaces and quiet zones in white, red, orange, or light yellow and let the aluminum show though as the bars. If you do, remember to print the human-readable text in a dark color in case the scanner operator has a scanning problem and has to key enter the information.

AIM would like to thank Tharo Systems and the Uniform Code Council for providing the answers to the six questions questions above.

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