Barcode labels & stickers for industrial purposes

Code 128

This modern 1D barcode has a high information density and is therefore very space-efficient. In Code 128, the entire ASCII data set can be represented - letters, digits and special characters, in upper and lower case. An internal checksum is formed for high data security. Code 128 can be scanned by all common barcode scanners. Have labels printed with barcodes: Code 128 are mainly used in industry, document management, logistics and as inventory labels.

Code 39

Code 39 (3 out of 9) is alphanumeric and can represent 43 characters - numbers, capital letters and selected special characters. The information density is lower than with Code 128, so Code 39 requires more space. The character set is limited compared to Code 128. For these reasons, it is increasingly being replaced by Code 128. Optionally, a check digit can also be used, for secure readability. The start and stop symbol of Code 39 is the asterisk (*), often visible in the plain text line. Code 39 has no length limit, and can have an even or odd number of digits. Barcode stickers with Code 39 are supported by all common 1D and 2D barcode scanners.

EAN Code

The European Article Number (EAN) is the often used name for the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN). The term "GTIN" has been the correct designation for "EAN" since 2009. The GTIN can be applied for at the organisation "GS1 Germany". This code is mainly used in wholesale and retail trade, the barcode label is used to record product markings at scanner checkouts. The standard version has 13 digits (EAN 13), for particularly small-format products there is a short version with 8 digits (EAN 8). Printing EAN codes: the EAN code can be used in different sizes, depending on the space available on the product. Manufacturers purchase corresponding number packages for their products from GS1 - this enables the products to be marked with a unique EAN number. In retail companies, the EAN labels are scanned at the checkout and the corresponding article and price information is read from the database. EAN labels have a high data security: the first 2-3 digits of the EAN-13/GTIN barcode indicate the country of issue. The following digits identify the product manufacturer and are permanently assigned by GS1. The other digits are assigned by the manufacturer himself according to his acquired number range for his respective product. The last number is an automatically calculated check digit.

Interleaved 2/5

The Interleaved 2/5 is a numeric barcode type (variant of the Code 2 of 5). It can represent the digits 0-9, but not letters and special characters. The information density is high. The number of digits in this barcode must be even; for odd number combinations, a "0" is prefixed (1234567 becomes 01234567) or a check digit can optionally be appended. The ITF-14 barcode (SCC-14), which is used on barcode labels for marking packages and pallets, is also based on the Interleaved 2/5. However, the Interleaved 2/5 and variants (e.g. "2 of 5 Industrial" or "2 of 5 Matrix") are increasingly being replaced by other, more flexible barcode types.

Codabar

Codabar is a linear barcode (1D barcode) and can encode the digits 0–9 as well as six special characters (-, $, :, /, ., +). The letters A, B, C and D are used to precisely mark the start and end. Due to its high error tolerance and ease of printing, it is predominantly used in niche areas such as libraries, blood banks and laboratories. As it requires a relatively large amount of space and has been superseded by more modern codes such as Code 128, it is now generally recommended to use newer standards.

Data matrix code

The modern Datamatrix code is one of the best-known 2D codes - it is used in many areas. In contrast to conventional 1D barcodes (with bars of different widths), the coded information is represented by an arrangement of equally sized boxes (black or white). A data matrix code requires much less space than a 1D barcode. It can encode up to 3116 digits or 2335 characters, depending on the amount of data, the code size varies. For 2D codes (e.g. Datamatrix, QR code), 2D barcode scanners are required for reading, 2D barcode scanners can usually also read 1D codes. The imprint of a data matrix code on a barcode label can also be scanned by smartphones with a camera.

QR Code

The QR Code (Quick Response Code) is a modern two-dimensional barcode. It consists of a square matrix with white and black squares. The QR Code was originally developed in Japan for automotive production, for the identification of assemblies and components. Very often, a barcode sticker with QR Code is also used for advertising and marketing. Internet links can be placed in the QR code so that the user who scans the code, e.g. with his smartphone, can quickly and easily access further information on the marketing campaign or product. The QR code is very space-saving and has a flexible character set (ASCII 1-255), ideal for industrial qr code labels.

PDF417

The PDF417 code is a widely used two-dimensional (2D) barcode. It looks like several traditional barcodes stacked on top of one another and is usually rectangular in shape. It is suitable for very large amounts of data and is used, for example, on airline tickets, ID cards, customs documents and parcel shipments. The abbreviation PDF stands for Portable Data File, whilst 417 indicates that each segment consists of exactly 4 bars and spaces spread across 17 modules.