Adhesive barcode labels: reliable reading at every scan
Adhesive barcode labels are the physical support that makes automatic product identification possible in retail, logistics and industry. A correctly printed barcode — with appropriate contrast, resolution and quiet zones — is read at the first attempt by any scanner, speeding up checkout, inventory control, shipment traceability and asset management. A poorly printed barcode label generates rejections, reading errors and delays throughout the chain.
Paper for printing barcodes: materials and methods
The most widely used substrate is direct thermal paper, which requires no ink ribbon and is economical for short-life applications (tickets, shipping labels, temporary prices). For labels that must last longer, coated paper for thermal transfer is used, employing a ribbon (wax, resin or blend) to transfer the image. Barcode stickers in polyester or polypropylene with resin ribbon offer maximum resistance to abrasion, chemicals and weather.
Barcode label: formats and symbologies
The most common symbologies are EAN-13 and EAN-8 (consumer products), Code 128 (logistics and distribution), Code 39 (industry and defence) and 2D codes such as QR and DataMatrix (traceability and extended information access). Each symbology has specific requirements for minimum size, bar ratio and quiet zones that the label must respect. Labels are supplied in reel for desktop or industrial thermal printers, or pre-printed with fixed data and variable zones for on-site overprinting.
Alumigraf produces barcode labels with print quality verification per ISO/IEC 15416. Tell us the symbology, size and reading environment for a label with guaranteed error-free reading quality.
