| OK, I hear direct thermal, thermal transfer, polybopp, | | | | (for the automotive industry) and many more. |
| kimdura, jewelry, kapton, sticky, removable, permanent, | | | | Adhesive is the next area of mystery in barcode |
| tire adhesive, clean room, 3 inch core, 1 inch core, no | | | | labels. Most applications are fine with a permanent |
| core and more. How the heck does anyone make | | | | adhesive. There are exceptions where a removable |
| heads or tails out of what they need to make a | | | | adhesive is needed. Now we need to remember that |
| decision on which barcode labels to use for what! | | | | no adhesive is totally removable if it is on the product |
| It is a crazy world out there and barcode labels are | | | | for an extended period of time. Removable adhesives |
| really making an impact on tracking that world. Look | | | | will become permanent after years of it being applied. |
| around in the store whenever you buy something. | | | | There are also ultra removable adhesives that will |
| There will always be a barcode on it. Businesses are | | | | leave little to no residue. One of my favorites is a Tire |
| using them to track inventory in a closed loop | | | | adhesive. This is a gooey thick adhesive meant for |
| environment too. Heck, I even use them to track my | | | | barcode labels that go on tires or rubber. The warning |
| office supplies so I never run out of valuable printer | | | | here is that they may gum up your thermal transfer |
| toner or copy paper. That is going a little overboard, so | | | | printer a bit. |
| lets really get into what the deal is with barcode labels. | | | | All of the above barcode label materials and |
| I would bet that the most common barcode label out | | | | adhesives can be used and made into clean room |
| there is the direct thermal barcode label. That is | | | | barcode labels. For clean room applications, barcode |
| because it is a paper label that is used on most UPS | | | | labels need to be free of loose fibers and |
| shipments every day and is only used for a temporary | | | | contaminates that can infect a clean room. This is |
| purpose so they are consumed at a really high rate. | | | | done in a controlled environment and the packaging is |
| The direct thermal barcode label will fade over time. | | | | then air locked and sealed for shipment to the clean |
| Fading occurs because the direct thermal label will | | | | rooms. This is really a special application and shows |
| react to heat. So only use this label if the image is only | | | | the diversity in barcode labels in the market. |
| to be read for a few weeks and will not be in the | | | | Finally, we are looking at "what does a core" have to |
| elements. | | | | do with barcode labels? Well, some barcode printers |
| The thermal transfer barcode label is probably the | | | | require a 1 inch core in the center of the roll of |
| next highest use label. This is a label that can be | | | | barcode labels to make it work in the printer. Other |
| permanent adhesive or removable and is printed on | | | | barcode printers require a 3 inch cardboard core in the |
| with a ribbon. This makes the image more permanent | | | | center that the labels are wound around. Other printers |
| and is used to barcode all kinds of product within | | | | can actually use no core or a fan-folded barcode label. |
| distribution. Not only do companies use them to label | | | | We have even seen an application for a 5 inch core. |
| product, but they also use these barcode labels to | | | | Now that is crazy! Anyway, the core is just how the |
| label rack locations in their warehouses. One of the | | | | barcode labels are finished and used in the appropriate |
| best uses we have seen is to print the barcode labels | | | | printer. |
| and then put them on a magnetic strip. The magnetic | | | | Most of these barcode labels in any of the forms or |
| strip is then put on the rack in the warehouse so if the | | | | materials listed are sold blank for the users to print on |
| warehouse is ever reconfigured, instead of having a | | | | them using their equipment. There are many times that |
| mess of labels to peal off, just move the magnet. | | | | customers will not want to print the barcode labels |
| Now, any of these labels can be made from paper, | | | | themselves and have the labels sent in preprinted. |
| polyester, polystyrene, polybopp, kimdura, and many | | | | Preprinted barcode labels are common if the barcode |
| other materials. The material all depends on how much | | | | specification is really complex. The user relies on a |
| money you want to spend and what the application is | | | | barcode label expert to preprint these barcode labels |
| going to be. If it is weather resistance you need in a | | | | and send them as a preprinted barcode label. They |
| barcode label, then any of the above synthetics will | | | | can be packaged and made with any of the above |
| work. They each have different durability components. | | | | materials for any application. |
| A polybopp or Kymdura will probably be the least | | | | Well, this little bit of information can really help when |
| expensive in the synthetics. The thing to keep in mind | | | | trying to make the proper decision on barcode labels |
| with the Kymdura is that unlike the polyester, it will rip. | | | | for your business. So, fit the proper material to the |
| There are many other material like Kapton ( for very | | | | proper application and your barcode labels will work |
| hot applications- up to 1000 deg Fahrenheit), Valeron | | | | like a charm. |