Barcoding News
Data tracking news, product updates, tips, and more
TSC Expands Portable Printer Line with the New Alpha-4L
TSC has expanded its new Alpha series of portable printers with the recent introduction of the Alpha-4L, a new portable four-inch-wide-format label printer designed for the manufacturing, transportation/logistics, and retail industries.
Higher performance at its class
The Alpha-4L’s performance-enhancing features include a 5800 mAh large-capacity battery for extended operation, expanded memory to accommodate advanced applications and future firmware enhancements, reliable Bluetooth and 802.11b/g/n wireless communications and a large paper capacity
67.3 mm (2.65”) OD to reduce the frequency of changing paper rolls.
Durability
When used with its optional IP54-rated environmental case, the Alpha-4L offers protection against dust, dirt, moisture, temperature extremes and other harsh field conditions. The printer’s rubber over-mold case is designed to keep the unit working normally even after a 1.5 m (5 ft) drop. When using its environmental case, it can withstand a 1.8 m (6 ft) drop test. And with a high-capacity battery and paper roll, the Alpha-4L maximizes productivity, providing efficient service over a full day’s duty cycle.
Making Barcode Design Fun
Most of the time when we use the term ‘barcode design’ there really isn’t much design work involved outside of making sure the right data gets encoded in the right symbology. Creativity and barcode design software don’t often make it into the same sentence but it’s one area where you can really improve and have some fun with your product packaging.
Artist Steve Simpson has been making the most of UPC barcodes with some very interesting and creative takes on how a product code can be better integrated into packaging design. He even provides some tips and rules to follow to make sure the code is still readable.
RFID Printing: Now More Reliable and Affordable
It has been over 40 years since the first RFID device was patented. In its early stages, it was seen as unreliable and far too expensive to adopt over barcode technology. However, more recently companies are starting to adopt RFID technology due to its improvements in readability and cost effectiveness. With these enhancements, companies are seeing the benefits of RFID over barcodes. For example, organizations conducting inventory counts or accounting for high value assets using barcode technology must scan each barcode individually, which requires a considerable amount of time and resources. Whereas RFID readers allow for mass data capture. Additionally, RFID provides real-time, accurate data, which offers tremendous advantages in several industries.
One facet of RFID that has helped simplify the technology and lower the costs is RFID printing. Instead of investing in more costly RFID tags that are typically overkill, companies have found that RFID labels (“Smart Labels”), which are adhesive labels embedded with RFID inlays, are suitable for their requirements. Thus, organizations have the freedom to print their own RFID labels by investing in a RFID printer and RFID label software, both of which have the ability to print barcodes too.
The Datamax-O’Neil RL4 is No Couch Potato for German Furniture Store
Datamax-O’Neil’s RL4 Improves Productivity and Reduces Costs at Segmüller
Segmüller has a long tradition in the furniture business. It was back in 1925 that Hans Segmüller founded his business as an artisan manufacturing upholstered furniture in the Bavarian town of Friedberg. Today, Segmüller is one of the most successful and well-known furniture stores in Southern Germany with seven locations and more than 4,000 employees.
The primary factor underlying the company’s strong growth is its extensive range of products that includes furnishings to match every budget. Moreover, Segmüller has always had a strong focus on good service. This includes
displaying the greatest possible selection of products in its exhibition areas and delivering the correct furniture to customers as quickly as possible as well as providing helpful in-store support.
Problem
To provide this level of service while remaining profitable, it is vital for Segmüller to work productively and efficiently – and this is doubly true for warehouse processes. The process involved in labeling incoming goods offers significant scope for efficiency gains. Continue reading »
Square Register Now Supports the Star SM-S220i and SM-T300i Portable Receipt Printers
Now you can make your Square Register system even more mobile with support for two mobile receipt printers from Star: SM-S220i and SM-T300i.
Square has updated its iOS app with new features for all of Apple’s mobile devices as well as added some iPad-specific improvements. You can download the new version now directly from Apple’s AppStore.
- For iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch: Record and track all kinds of payments, including checks and gift cards.
- For iPad: Reconcile your cash drawer quickly and easily with cash management, Connect a Bluetooth printer to wirelessly print receipts from Star MFi certified portable Bluetooth receipt printers.
For assistance finding any hardware for Square Register, contact us at Barcodes Inc.
The New Honeywell Captuvo SL22 and SL42
Honeywell has announced two new tools for retailers to shorten check out times and make shopping more personalized for customers and store owners. Honeywell’s Captuvo SL42 and SL22 are snap-on accessories for the Apple iPhone 5 and fifth generation iPod Touch mobile digital devices, respectively, turning the consumer devices into selling tools that allow retail workers to look up inventory, scan barcodes and securely process payment, bringing the check out to the shopper so no one has to wait in line.
Both new products feature Honeywell Adaptus 6.0 imaging technology, which reads virtually any barcode, including coupons or loyalty club bar codes increasingly found on the reflective screens of mobile devices.
Scanning performance, durability and ease-of-use were key factors that led executives from Sportsman’s Warehouse to equip workers in each of its 46 stores with the Captuvo SL22 for iPod Touch mobile digital devices. The company’s big-box stores across the United States are a one-stop shop for outdoors enthusiasts, selling sporting goods, clothing, footwear and supplies to campers, fishers and hunters.
Battling Pests with the Datalogic ELF PDA
The pest control industry has changed dramatically, evolving from the antiquated perception of a technician armed with chemicals ready to do battle against bugs and rodents. Today’s pest control technician is armed with technology like mobile computers and scanners that keep him efficient and effective while optimizing customer service.
In the Ohio Valley, Okolona Pest Control is the perfect example of a modern pest control operation. Okolona Pest Control is a multifaceted service company that offers pest control and pest damage repair. The company has roots reaching back to 1972 when it was founded. This third generation, family run operation has grown to over 84 employees that provides services to residential and commercial clients from Southern Indiana to Northern Kentucky. Okolona also services AIB inspected food processing facilities. AIB has strict standards for documentation and inspection to assure safe production of food products.
The Challenge
When the company started, each technician carried a clip board with the necessary account paperwork and daily route. Notes and services performed were hand written and invoicing was manual. All the paper was brought back to the office for data entry. Changes in regulations increased the documentation requirements and, as the company grew, the amount of paper created and stored also increased.
Honeywell Introduces New EZConfig for Scanning v4.1
Setting up a new scanner has historically meant using a programming manual and scanning various barcodes to customize the device as you needed. Luckily for us, Honeywell has developed an easy to use application to quickly configure their scanners called EZConfig.
Honeywell’s EZConfig for Scanning 4.1 has been improved to facilitate fast and easy barcode scanner configurations with an improved, user-friendly interface. Some new features include: port agnostic automatic device discovery, expanded interface support, configuration history with undo functionality, and simplified data formatting – all from an HTML-5 platform independent browser-based utility.
GRA Saves Big on Audit Automation Time with the Intermec CN3 and CN70
Gleason Research Associates, Inc. (GRA) is a veteran-owned small business providing specialized products and services to support the warfighter. GRA was founded in 1982 with the vision of conducting engineering and scientific analyses and evaluations related to missile and sensor systems. Over the years, GRA has successfully built on that strong foundation by expanding its areas of expertise from sensors, guidance, and control into special programs, modeling and simulation, training, inventory management, and program support.
In the early 1990s, GRA identified challenges in their manual system of tracking government property. They quickly found that attempting to keep track of Sub and Temporary Hand Receipts manually – and accurately – was nearly impossible. Using a paper and pencil to perform inventories also proved to be a time intensive process that resulted in a high number of errors. For these reasons, GRA looked to automate and reduce the time required to conduct inventories and increase accuracy of property transactions. As a result, GRA’s proprietary software, Auto Scan Tracking System (ASTS) software was born.
Datalogic Mobile Computers Now Certified with Wavelink Speakeasy
Datalogic has announced that their Memor, Lynx, Elf, and Skorpio X3 have all received certification for Wavelink’s Speakeasy voice-picking solution.
Voice-driven data is changing the face of the mobile business world. Add voice-enabled emulation to your wireless ecosystem with Wavelink Speakeasy, a plug-in module for Wavelink Terminal Emulation, Velocity and Industrial Browser.
Value:
- Realize benefits of voice-picking without high cost and long implementation cycle
- Leverage legacy systems through voice
- Improved productivity through greater efficiency
- Integrate bar code scanning with voice directed functions for new levels of accuracy
- Easily update mobile device clients, scripts, or language files wirelessly
