General Information Regarding Product Numbering Schemes

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By Keren Kipfer


Virtually all trade items made and sold in the market today have a set of numbering on them that are used for recording and tracking purposes. These codes usually are found on a products' packaging. They can sometimes be found on the item itself especially in the case of electronic appliances and gadgets. While consumers don't generally pay much attention to these numbers, for a manufacturer, it is vital that you have a solid understanding of what these numbers mean and how they are crucial for your business. Keep in mind that this system was established for a reason. The following details are general information about some of these numbers on placed on products.

You have probably seen a barcode before. They are those black lines within a white box commonly found on a product's packaging with numbers found at the bottom. Bar codes are usually scanned to get the price of a particular product and input it to the POS machine. It is important to note that there are different types of bar coding systems implemented today. Two of the widely used bar coding schemes used by most companies are the Universal Product Code and the Electronic Product Code.

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.

There are also special codes that manufacturers place on their products in addition to UPCs and EPCs such as serial numbers and dates of expiration. This specifically applies on medicines, beverages and food items. For this reason, a special piece of equipment known as an ID coder is needed for printing these important numbers onto your products. There are several brands that offer this equipment. Some of the best known names are VideoJet coders, Altima coders or brands such as Domino, Maxima and Imaje.

Because of their high cost, a great number of manufacturers choose to get refurbished ID coders from ID product companies. Some also prefer generic coder inks and make-up fluids. These ID coder companies can provide you with good quality versions of coder inks from the major brands which will provide excellent printing results, all for a much cheaper cost than if you purchased inks directly from the manufacturer of your printer.




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