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For commercial printers, packaging companies and brand owners, you might think their worst nightmare would be a barcode that does not scan. A reasonable assumption—and wrong. When a scanner does not produce that reassuring “beep”, things fall apart rapidly. Blood pressure rises in the checkout queue; yelling voices, running feet in the deafening silence of a halted assembly line. Time-sensitive retail shipments side-lined on pallets in the distribution center. Just-in-time on hold, trading partners disappointed—or worse.

Question: What is worse than a barcode that does not scan?

Answer: A wrong barcode that does.

Conventional barcode verification measures and grades a symbol to a set of attributes for print quality. These attributes are the international standard. This is the globally-accepted method for predicting that a barcode will scan (or not) wherever it goes. Barcodes that achieve an ISO 1.5 or ANSI C grade are good. Case close? Not quite.

What if the barcode that scans perfectly is the wrong barcode? The package says “vanilla yogurt” but the barcode says “lime yogurt?” The package contains a $4500 laptop computer but the barcode looks up a $1500 laptop computer?”  With a conventional verifier, you will never know. So much for the reassuring “beep.”

How can a barcode be wrong?

It can be surprisingly simple.

  • On the package: mistakes in graphics design: inserting the wrong barcode into the FPO
  • In the scanner: super aggressive “we can scan anything” scanners are more prone to data substitution errors

ISO print quality is important. So is validation

Validation is also important and should be considered when looking for a barcode verifier.

If you already own an Axicon liner verifier, you already have validation capability! Have a look here.

Let us provide a recommendation, a quote and product availability.

It only take a few minutes to make sure you get the right device, a great price and the right protection from barcode problems. Contact us here.

Looking for the right barcode verifier for your specific requirements? We can help.

www.barcode-test.com – 630-235-6077 – lab@barcodetesting.com

 

 

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3db Barcode Testimonial

Our company (an advanced software company) recently worked with Barcode Test to source a barcode verifier.  Not long ago, we were awarded a contract requiring products to be marked with IUIDs in accordance with MIL-STD-130.  For that standard, marking labels must pass a verification test that evaluates many variables (contrast, size, clarity, syntax, modularity, and more).  After a thorough search, we reduced our options to a select few.

In our search for a verifier, the Axicon line caught our attention.  Barcode Test is our regional reseller for this product.   From the beginning, they were very prompt with their responses.  We ended up having a quick call with John Nachtrieb to go over our needs.  John was extremely easy to work with and provided a lot of great information.  He was very knowledgeable on the matter and was quick to offer up a demo unit (free of charge).

Upon receiving the demo verifier and testing it, a few questions arose.  John joined a call with us and answered all our questions.  Ultimately, the Axicon verifier wasn’t the best fit for us, so we shipped the demo back.  John was completely understanding.  A few weeks later, Barcode Test reached back out with another possible verifier for us to try.  While they didn’t sell that brand, they just wanted to help us find the best option that met our needs. They even offered to send us the unit that they have in-house to see if it worked to our liking. 

Barcode Test is truly a great company to work with.  Their service and willingness to help the customer are far beyond what you typically get from other companies.  They are experts in barcode quality assurance and seem willing to help in any way they can (even if that means not getting a sale and recommending another option that better fits the customer’s needs).  If anyone is in the market for barcode verification/scanning services or products, I would highly recommend giving Barcode Test a call.

Regards,

Production Manager