Barcode Labels

Buy barcode labels from The Retail Factory. The barcode label holds the barcode, which is a piece of Automatic Identification Technology, or Auto ID. This is a series of vertical bars or a graphical bar pattern which can encode symbols in a format that can be read and decoded by a bar code reader. The bar code label doesn’t actually contain any information on it. All the barcode has is an ID number which links to a database where the product information is held.

The Retail FactoryBarcode labels can be customised to any specification. Companies may want asset labels, blank or plain labels, direct thermal labels, thermal transfer labels, security labels or barcode labels. Customised barcode labels can be printed in different colours with the option of perforations, fan-folding, sequential numbers and security labelling. The most common barcode labels are direct thermal labels and thermal transfer labels.

Barcode labels usually hold the bar code and underneath it, a human readable form of the bar code, usually in the form of numbers.

Label rolls that do not have any holes, gaps or notches between each barcode label is known as continuous media. If a roll does have holes, gaps or notches between each label, it is known as non-continuous media. The liner is the part of the label which protects the adhesive and stops the barcode label sticking to objects before it is used. It also referred to as release liner, release paper or backing paper.

Barcode labels can be printed on demand. When a customer wants labels in use immediately, companies can make on-demand barcode labels. Usually labels are sent off site for printing.

Labels can have varying degrees of adhesive. The holding power of this adhesive is called permanency. A permanent adhesive will make removal of the bar code label difficult or impossible without damaging the facestock. There are labels known as piggyback labels. Piggyback labels are pressure sensitive labels which allow for dual usage and usually consists of facestock, adhesive and liner. There are also tamperproof labels which cannot be removed intact. Tamperproof labels cannot be used again.

The most common manufacturers of barcode labels are Datamax, Inermec and Zebra Technologies. Barcode labels are used for retail tags, shipping address labels, packaging labels or tickets. Labels are available in a massive range of sizes and can vary in width, depth, core size and roll diameter and can be made in different colours, cuts or finishes. Many barcode labels are designed specifically for a particular barcode label printer. Labels are available either on rolls or fan-fold.