BARCODE/VARIABLE DATA LABELS

A4 Laser Labels is able to produce various grades of thermal printer labels in standard and bespoke sizes.   See our On-Roll Labels here. As well as barcodes we can offer sequential barcode and variable data labels.

Barcodes are applied to products to quickly identify them. Among their many uses, barcodes are typically used in retail stores as a part of the purchasing process, in warehouses to track and manage inventory and on invoices to help with accounting.

How do Barcodes Work?

An easy way to understand how barcodes work, is to think of them as a license plate that is linked to data files. These strings of characters can designate all types of information. Rather than manually writing and copying this information, it becomes encrypted in barcode languages, known as symbologies, for fast transfer through a scanner to computer. Each symbology follows an algorithm for standardising the encoding and storing of these characters.

When it comes to barcode language/symbologies, we are equipped to deal with the major systems used today.

Why is Coding Necessary?

Variable data labels are necessary to identify, track and authenticate products along the entire supply chain. It is the information on the label that relates to the individual product, product group or a specific packaging unit etc. It makes them uniquely identifiable. They also help manufacturers optimise their operating costs and market their brand.

Variable data predominantly comes from a database or spread sheet and is added during the production or packaging process and can be encoded in the form of barcodes or codes that make them machine-readable.

Some examples of variable data on labels:

• Consecutive numbers
• Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)
• Individual order and production data
• Serial number
• Lot and batch number
• Promotion and winning codes
• Electronic Product Code (EPC)
• Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC)
• Address data on dispatch labels

If you have not got a barcode for your product, go to GS1 UK Ltd to obtain one.  Imperatively, you must let us know what your barcode type is, such as: –