Thursday 14 November 2013

General Information Regarding Product Numbering Schemes

By Keren Kipfer


The products that we see on the grocery market shelves and in our malls have some number coding on them that retailers and distributors use to monitor such items. Most of the time, this numbers or codes are imprinted on a products packaging or product body. Ordinary people do not necessarily need to learn how to interpret them but it important to keep in mind that those numbers serve a certain purpose. This is especially true if you are an owner of a manufacturing plant. Here are a few basic details regarding numbers found on everyday products and what they mean.

What comes to mind first when products on numbers are discussed are the set of black bars found at the back of every product for sale. This set of black horizontal bars is what we commonly refer to as barcodes. They are machine readable data that can be used to determine the price of a particular item. We often can see this in action each time we pay a visit to our local grocery stall. There are different product numbering standards used today and two of the most implemented types of codes are the Universal Product Code (UPC) and the Electronic Product Code (EPC).

UPC or the Universal Product Code is a specific type of barcode commonly used in countries such as Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand for tracking products delivered on stores and other retail outlets. The UPC is a 12 digit number that is unique for each product. Every UPC barcode is composed of strips of black vertical bars and white spaces that can be scanned. Each bar and space corresponds to a specific number. A theoretical maximum number of one trillion unique barcodes can be made using the UPC system.

The other product numbering scheme, was devised to provide a universal ID system for all products created in any country and this codes are known as EPCs. Unlike the UPC, this particular coding style is very versatile and can even be used to develop new coding schemes when it is required. It was originally developed to meet the requirements of just a few industries, but is now seen in many industries. Additionally, EPC can be made to work with existing bar coding systems already established.

Of course, EPCs and also UPCs are not they only numbers that need to be placed on products. Foods and beverages, for example, need to have expiration dates printed on the product or package. Other numbers, such as batch and serial numbers also might be needed. Such crucial information must be printed on products before they are shipped out to retailers. A particular type of printer is needed for this job. Such specialized devices are called ID coders. There are many suppliers offering this type of printer. Some of the most favored brands are VideoJet, Altima and Domino.

New coders can be quite expensive, so it might be best to consider purchasing a used and refurbished coder. Some product id companies rebuild coders and restore them to near-new condition and this can be an excellent money-saving alternative to a new Domino coder, a VideoJet coder or some other type of CIJ coder. Branded inks are not necessarily needed and you can still get the same excellent result using generic types of ink and these product id companies also often create very high quality versions of Imaje ink, Domino ink and many other popular brands.




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