Like everything else you own, a barcode verifier has a service life. It’s obvious when to replace your computer or your smartphone, but not so obvious when a barcode verifier has reached the end of life unless it has failed altogether.

What’s a Verifier?

First, let’s be clear about what is—and what is not—a barcode verifier. A true verifier will have a certificate of compliance to ISO Standard 15426-1 and/or 15426-2. These are the standards for verifiers of linear and 2D symbols respectively.  If your device did not come with certification to one of these standards, it is not a verifier. A true verifier will also have a certified reflectance calibration card with which you can calibrate the verifier to two known reflectance values. This ensures that the verifier will accurately detect and evaluate the reflectance values of a barcode it is testing.

What is User Calibration?

Doesn’t the reflectance calibration card test verifier accuracy and therefore provide evidence that the verifier is (or is not) operating accurately? Not necessarily. Recalibration with a reflectance calibration card resets voltages to LED’s that may have faded over time. While this sounds like a proper and adequate compensation, it has limitations. One limitation is how much compensation it can accomplish, Another limitation is how long the device can maintain the compensation, and this relates to why the fading has occurred. Is it the LED’s themselves, or is it from upstream electronics? Are the LED’s faded beyond the range of available compensation? Is the compensated power boost stable and sustainable over time? Are the multiple LED’s uniformly faded or is one or are one or two fading disproportionately to the others? The reflectance calibration test will not detect these problems. Factory recalibration can.

This is why factory calibration is an important annual maintenance event and not redundant to user recalibration with the reflectance calibration card.

What is Factory Calibration?

What are the ramifications of verifying a barcode with faded and uneven LED’s? The good news—if you can call it that—is, that the verifier will inaccurately evaluate the reflectance values and report lower values than actual. The barcode will get a lower grade than it would with a properly performing verifier. Why is that “good news”? While inaccurate verifier grading is never really good news, a pessimistic verifier grade is better than an optimistic grade that reports a bad barcode as good.

An accurate verifier is the best protection against barcode risk and liability. It supports trading partner confidence in you. It helps you keep promises. It provides peace of mind.

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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