Product ID labels not only help you identify and track your products, but also helps you build your brand identity. Effective product ID labels used for branding help your customers identify and purchase your products. Product ID labels that carry important information, either for the consumer or for inventory tracking,  must last the life of the product. So it makes sense to create product ID labels that are as attractive and eye-catching as they are reliable.

Whatever your environment or need, we have the capability to create the right label for the job. For example, the label in Figure 1 was made for a customer who required waterproof and chemical-resistant labels. The floodcoated polyester label, with reverse printing and a clear glossy over laminate, reflects the customer’s brand and will reliably identify their product.

Figure 1. Floodcoated ID Label

Sometimes product ID labels need to idenify your product, contain product data, and also comply with industry or other standards. The label shown in Figure 2 is a name plate label made from a metallized silver polyester material and is CE approved; the inks, adhesives, and materials all comply with the CE standard. Notice that the label has empty data fields. When the finished product is ready to be labeled, the customer can print their variable data on the preprinted label.

Figure 2. Metallized polyester name plate label

For more than 25 years we have been creating reliable and innovative product ID and other labels for a variety of industries.  Our printing facility can create your labels in any shape, size or color with adhesives, substrates, inks, and over laminates that can withstand extreme temperatures, UV light, or moisture. If you need help with your labeling, give us a call at 1-800-325-5260. Our customer service department can work with you to get the label details right, and our printing department can print the label that will reliably identify and track your products, no matter what.

It’s been a while since Teklynx released a new version of the popular label software LabelView so we were looking forward to version 9.

From a quick look it seems to be a very solid update. As well as refreshing the look and feel of the app, Teklynx has taken the opportunity to bring in some nice new features as well.

Form Designer allows for easy data entry into variable fields on labels – see the MSL label in the screenshot above.

Side by side View allows the user to have two labels open on the screen at the same time – I often wished I could do that when working on variants of labels in LabelView or BarTender.

Wizards for barcodes and other objects are intended to speed up the label design process and the software is now GS1 certified which will give piece of mind to end users who use GS1 supply chain barcodes.

For me though, the feature I most look forward to trying out is the new database connectivity. I always found the old versions of LabelView to be such a pain to connect to an external database, I’d just use BarTender instead. LV9 looks to have made connecting to a whole bunch of database types an awful lot easier.

As I said, LV9 looks to be a nice improvement of the previous version and we are happy to be able to supply it right now. If you are likely to be upgrading your computers to Windows 7, this is the perfect time to get your label software updated as well!

One of the ways we can help our DoD contractor customers is by providing our set of BarTender templates for MIL-STD-130 and MIL-STD-129 labels.

Here’s a short video tutorial on connecting the MSL label to a spreadsheet to populate the label with the required data.

Need a set of these templates? We provide them at no charge to Winco customers. You’ll need to have the current version of BarTender (Pro or higher and we will be happy to sell you this if you need it) and we can also provide various levels of training and support.

The United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) is a system for standardizing and harmonizing the classification and labelling of chemicals. It is an attempt to harmonize the different rules and regulations that have been developed in different countries over the years.

The GHS itself isn’t a standard, but countries that are part of the system are expected to amend their own standards to include the concepts outlined in the GHS.

For chemical countries in the US that export their products it is going to be very important that their labeling conform to the GHS guidelines.

Our friends at Teklynx have introduced a new product to their lineup that is intended to make complying with GHS as simple as possible.

Central GHS is build around existing Teklynx products that are well proven in the marketplace – CODESOFT, SENTINEL and LABEL ARCHIVE. The idea is to provide a solution specific to the unique demands of the chemical industry.

The TEKLYNX CENTRAL GHS solution includes:

• A label designer that can easily design a label using information from a text file or database, to include standardized data elements that meet GHS requirements
• A label approval module that allows you to approve label designs using electronic signatures, helping to meet industry mandates that require label security and traceability
• An automated network printing module that can manage hundreds of printers in multiple locations from a single server
• Custom reporting options that provide complete document history and activity logs
• A browser-based user interface for label selection and true Internet printing from anywhere in the world
• A single Command Center that coordinates your enterprise labeling process

It’s nice to see a company like Teklynx coming up with such an integrated solution for a specific industry – rather than just trying to sell generic barcode software. Makes me wonder what else might be coming along!

Want to learn more? Head over to the Teklynx site to see full details

If you didn’t attend Winco ID Showcase, you missed some great presentations covering important labeling and security issues.

Alice Faile from Zebra Technologies spoke about the changes currently happening in the world of healthcare labeling and how labeling technology is making our hospitals safer.

Peter Green of BellHawk Systems gave a great presentation on using barcodes as a means of keeping control of inventory and production. He also looked at how cloud computing reduces the need for complicated IT infrastructure and brings the benefits of barcode tracking to smaller, less sophisticated organizations.

Finally, Steve Hammes of Onesource Security discussed how advances in technology are allowing organizations to protect their facilities and their staff with a combination of photo ID, access control and camera/recording systems.

Here are the presenters in action:

Alice from Zebra

Peter Green of BellHawk

Steve Hammes of OneSource Security

Don’t worry if you missed the live event. We’ll be happy to share the presentation slides with you and can always discuss your labeling and security challenges at any time.

What labeling, photo ID or security issues are worrying you? How can we help?

Contact me at 603-598-1553 x237

The ID Showcase is a one-day, free event hosted by Winco ID and our partners.  Most industries are under pressure to do more with less. ID Showcase focuses on how to take advantage of the advances in bar code, labeling, and RFID technology to enhance productivity and efficiency. Why should you consider attending?

1. Are you prepared to meet traceability requirements of the Department of Defense Military Labeling Standards, FDA, and other regulatory mandates?  Are you keeping up with the changes? ID Showcase will show you first hand how you can simplify compliance with DoD, UID, UDI, PTI, RoHS, and other compliance rulings.
2. In the event of product recalls, warranty coverage or quality control, can you trace back to the source without major disruption in your business? ID Showcase includes traceability solutions for the simplest to the most complex applications. With reliable tracking of raw materials, work in process, and finished product through the supply chain, getting to the exact items affected can be a well-controlled process.  See how you can benefit from simple, strategic traceability solutions.
3. Can you mobilize workers in demanding conditions?  Meet the  leading manufacturer of rugged vehicle mount, handheld and wearable mobile computers at ID Showcase. See how easy-to-use, tough and reliable wireless computers and data collection devices can provide a real-time view into inventories no matter what your worker environment is.
4. Healthcare facilities must focus on patient safety.  Live demonstrations at ID Showcase include easy printing of patient ID wristbands. See how to print and implement full-color, multi-function ID cards to control access to restricted areas of the facility, manage parking lots, visual identification, speed patient admissions, unlock doors and more. See how we solve labeling applications in many areas of a healthcare facility (Pharmacy, radiology, admissions, labs, and more.)
5. Electronic manufacturers using high heat processing, including RoHS, need the most durable label to withstand the processing (including RoHS). Some are already finding out that supplies are limited since Tedlar is in the highest demand of the DoD.  Now what do you do? At ID Showcase, you will have face-to-face time with our labeling experts and discuss your applications. You’ll learn how the advances in polyester and other labeling materials offer less-expensive, yet high-performance, solutions to Kapton.
6. You are too busy to look after label printers and the process is too important to be down for repairs. Your boss won’t go for budget requests during the year.  So now what do you do when printers fail? At ID Showcase, meet our service technicians to learn some quick service and repair tips for keeping your printers going.  Learn how we can help you put together an annual plan for the specific services and response times you need. You’ll see how this can actually save you money, your time and help you control costs.
7. Is the label on your product enhancing or detracting from your corporate image? Does it stand up to harsh environments of freezers, high temperature processing, exposure to sunlight, chemicals, or moisture?
   Did you know you can use full-color preprinted labels to save on costs, simplify inventory and still be about to print variable data/sequential data on demand?  ID Showcase is a great opportunity to discuss your labeling and the challenges you face getting the right label. Bring us your label sample, or talk to us about your most challenging labeling application. We will show you how we can help you solve it!
8. Do you want to bring your label printers closer to the point of labeling in shipping or  production? Do your needs change but you are tethered to work where your  label printers are?  Do you have dead-zones in your warehouse or production floor where your data collection and mobile devices won’t work?  ID Showcase will demonstrate how you can mobilize your workforce. See the best in mobile computing, mobile workstations using self-powered carts, and RFID to remove those physical boundaries and gain productivity.
9. Are you looking to employ bar code systems for inventory control, asset tracking, warehouse operations, shipping and receiving but don’t know where to begin? ID Showcase includes demonstrations on the most reliable barcode printers available for all kinds of applications. We’ll have out-of-the-box software solutions, products, expertise and services to not only support your application but help you grow as your needs grow and change.
10. You need a reason to go out in the cold. Ok – that one’s pushing it but we still hope you will come!

Monday, March 14, 2011
2:00 PM until 8:00 PM
Radisson Hotel and Suites, Hawthorne Room
Chelmsford,  Massachusetts View on map

Short break-out sessions, or mini-seminars, are scheduled throughout the day to keep you informed about using bar code and labeling in health care environments, to comply with DoD labeling standards, to track and trace your products and shipments, and to create a more secure work place using Photo ID. You will also have access to knowledgeable people who can answer your questions or help you develop a plan for implementing a system that will work for you.  Refreshments will be served throughout the event.
>>learn more >> register here

In a manufacturing plant or engineering test facility, it is not uncommon to have thousands of parts, expensive equipment throughout the plant, and people sharing portable tools. Without good tracking in place, valuables and inventory can go missing. This costs you money and impacts your ability to service your customers.

It can be very difficult and time consuming to keep track of everything. Manual record keeping systems are difficult to maintain and are often prone to errors. However, with inventory, supplies, consumables, and equipment being kept at minimums, having accurate counts and location information is even more critical to your success.

Why Automate Asset Tracking?

• Easily identify where your valuable equipment is located, what’s missing, what’s been moved, who and what departments are responsible for a particular item.
• Track and monitor capital equipment through its entire life cycle, from purchase to disposal including depreciation.
• Automate physical inventory for speed, accuracy, and to reduce task redundancy.
• Track who has borrowed equipment, when it’s due back and what condition it is in when returned.
• Keep up with scheduled repairs, maintenance, track when items are returned for use.

Automating this process with barcode tracking systems provides an efficient and accurate way to replace manual record keeping or wondering about looking for items. You save time, money, and help protect your valuables from loss.

Simplify Tracking with Barcodes

PC-based software with modular design features streamlines asset tracking using barcodes and RFID. Using bar code scanners speeds up the data entry when items are added, moved, changed, or removed. Any piece of equipment or inventory that can be tagged with a barcode label—from consumables to expensive equipment—can be categorized and tracked, automatically. It’s fast and accurate.

Winco ID is hosting a free, one-day event where you can see how manufacturing companies of all sizes are using barcode systems to simplify asset tracking, solve challenging labeling applications, and more. Click here to learn more.

Contact David Holliday or call 603.598.1553.

If you are involved with manufacturing medical devices, you’ll be aware of the proposed new Unique Device Identification (UDI) rules from the FDA.

One elegant way to handle this is to use the GS1 version of the Datamatrix code to add all of the required information to your labels.

Want to learn how? Why not come visit with us at Winco ID Showcase. We’ll have a live demonstration of how our BarTender label software can easily produce labels encoded to the GS1 Datamatrix standard. We’ll also show how BarTender’s Commander application can be used to work with your ERP system to completely automate the UDI labeling process.

BarTender is certified by GS1 as being compliant with all the relevant standards and combined with our Zebra high resolution printers ensures that correctly printed, compliant labels are produced every time.

Visiting Winco ID Showcase, which is sponsored by Zebra Technologies and LXE is a great way to learn about how label, barcode, RFID and ID Card technology can simplify identifying, tracking and tracing all kinds of products.

Want to learn more about attending Winco ID Showcase? It’s free, so head over to the homepage here where you can get details and sign up!

Winco ID is hosting the ID Showcase event on Monday, March 14, at the Radisson Hotel and Suites in Chelmsford, MA. Our event runs from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM in the Hawthorne Room.

If you are puzzling over how to gain insight into and control over your tracking and identification tasks, then you should attend this event. If you are already using bar coding and labeling, but would like to get a look at some of the newer technology available today, then this event is for you too.

Hands-on demonstrations of the latest in labeling, RFID, and Photo ID solutions give you the chance to see and use a variety of printers, scanners, and mobile computers. We will also have demonstrations on UDI labeling, asset tracking, wristband printing, and ID badge printing.

Our friends at Zebra and LXE are going to be there too, giving demonstrations and talks about the various ID solutions that you can learn about and put into use where you need process or work flow improvements. Also on hand will be Dr. Peter Green from Bellhawk Systems Corp. to discuss barcode tracking and data collection, and Steven Hammes from One Source Security and Automation, who will have information on Photo ID and Security.

Are you struggling with complying to the various labeling standards that exist when supplying products to the military, or concerned about UDI or food labeling? If so, then the ID Showcase can clarify the standards for you.

Short break-out sessions, or mini-seminars, are scheduled throughout the day to keep you informed about using bar code and labeling in health care environments, to comply with DoD labeling standards, to track and trace your products and shipments, and to create a more secure work place using Photo ID. You will also have access to knowledgable people who can answer your questions or help you develop a plan for implementing a system that will work for you.

Refreshments will be offered throughout the event, and it promises to be informative and interesting. You can register for our ID Showcase here, or call 800-325-5260, X266 for more information.

So stop by to say hello and see what’s happening in labeling and bar coding. You might just find out how to solve your particular labeling or identification problem. We hope to see you there!

Here at Winco ID one of the areas we specialize in is producing durable labels for the electronics industry.

One thing we have found is that as electronics become smaller and the need for information increase, the demands for smaller pressure sensitive labels and printers capable of handling them has increased in recent years. We regularly produce labels for our clients that are 0.25 inches square or smaller – made in polyester or polyimide materials to meet the demands of the industry. A good example is this polyimide label that we printed with the Common Point Ground symbol for one of our customers.

This label is quite small, about 0.375 of an inch square, but since we have many years of experience with this kind of label we can convert them routinely and our thermal transfer printers (in this case a 600 DPI Datamax H-Class printer) are able to print this label size with no problems.

Recently a customer came up with a really interesting challenge – to produce a pressure sensitive durable label that would measure 0.200 inches x 0.050 inches and provide a printing system that would be able to print a variable code in readable characters. The operator was currently printing the data onto larger labels then cutting them to size with a knife and steel rule – a painfully slow and frustrating process.

We love a challenge so really wanted to take this job on.

The first task was to come up with a way to be able to convert the label on one of our label presses. Because of the very small size, we didn’t think we would be able to produce the label in the conventional way – after diecutting the label, there was a danger of the actual label being taken away with the waste material. Working with the company that produces our label dies, we came up with a solution that we thought would work nicely – as shown in the drawing.

The idea was to embed the tiny labels into a larger parent label – this would elliminate the risk of the labels being stripped away with the waste. 20 individual labels would be embedded in each label.

Next, using the design, a magnetic die was produced.

When the job was run on our press, everything went really well. Because all the cutting was done in a single operation, the position of all the small labels relative to their parent would never change. This was really important to be able to maintain print accuracy.

Thanks to the imagination and skill of our converting team, we now had some rolls of tiny labels ready to deliver to our customer. The next question was how to print them?

There are a lot of excellent high resolution label printers on the market, but most are not able to index small labels with the level of accuracy needed for a job like this. Indeed, there is just one printer model available that we were confident would meet the demands of this application – the Intermec 3240. (I posted a review on this printer here).

On the whole, I’m not a fan of the 3240. The design is old and clunky, it has limited connectivity and it isn’t available with 600 DPI – it is also way overpriced! It does have one thing going for it though – it is the most accurate indexing label printer I’ve ever used. This attribute made the 3240 the printer for this application.

The design for the label was made in Seagull’s Bartender software which was very straightforward – with a little care in getting the margins right. The print format used 3 pt font size (Oh how I wish this printer offered 600 DPI!!) and the final code was a combination date and serial number which is simple to program.

The 3240 printer needed a little fine tuning but was able to print the blocks of tiny labels in good registration and with good quality (did I mention that I wish for 600 DPI?).

After printing, the result is a block of 20 tiny labels ready to be fixed to the customer’s product.

Instead of having to cut each label, the operator now just removes the outer border and can use tweezers to remove each individual label and apply to the part. Much easier than the old way.

Do you need to be able to print tiny labels for your products? What’s the smallest you have to deal with?

Can we help you improve your labeling operations? Give me a call at 603-598-1553 x237