Barcoding News

Acquisition is the third major auto-identification and data collection company to become part of Honeywell.

Honeywell announced that it has completed its acquisition of EMS Technologies, Inc., parent company of LXE.
EMS is a leading provider of connectivity solutions for mobile networking and rugged mobile computers.

The acquisition will enhance Honeywell’s existing capabilities in rugged mobile computing technologies. EMS’s Global Resource Management (GRM) division provides highly ruggedized mobile computing products and services for use in transportation, logistics, and workforce management settings as well as secure satellite-based asset tracking and messaging technology for search and rescue, warehousing, and field force automation environments.

“Acquiring EMS Technologies demonstrates our commitment to build on our leadership position in the global barcode scanning and mobility industry,” said Darius Adamczyk, president of Honeywell Scanning & Mobility. “By adding EMS Technologies to our business, we will acquire complementary rugged hand-held and vehicle-based products and expand our presence in warehousing, manufacturing and port segments. These new products and segments will be growth drivers for our business.”

Honeywell Scanning & Mobility was formed in 2008, following Honeywell’s acquisition of two leading manufacturers of automatic identification and data collection (AIDC) solutions, Handheld Products and Metrologic Instruments.

For an updated compatibility listing refer to this post.

These USB (HID) credit card readers are supported by Authorize.net VPOS:

• Magtek USB HID Mini Swipe Reader (white) – 21040101
• Magtek USB HID Mini Swipe Reader (black) – 21040102
• Magtek USB HID SureSwipe (black) – 21040140
• Magtek USB HID SureSwipe (white) – 21040146
• Magtek Dynamag (Formerly known as Centurion) HID Cardreader (black) – 21073075
• IDTECH MiniMagII USB/HID MagStripe Reader (beige) – IDMB-335133M
• IDTECH MiniMagII USB/HID MagStripe Reader (black) – IDMB-335133BM
• IDTECH MiniMag Duo USB/HID Reader (beige) – IDMB-355133M
• IDTECH MiniMag Duo USB/HID Reader (black) – IDMB-355133BM

Customers Can Seamlessly Integrate Scanned Data Into Apple iOS Applications

Socket Mobile announced the availability of its latest Socket Bluetooth Cordless Hand Scanner (CHS) Series 7, which has been certified by Apple as a “Made for iPad, iPhone, iPod” accessory.

The CHS 7Xi and its antimicrobial equivalent, the CHS 7XiRx, have been tested and approved by Apple to meet all of their performance standards, assuring a seamless and reliable integration for developers who incorporate either of these Bluetooth barcode scanning options into their iOS applications.

The CHS 7Xi and 7XiRx and the associated SocketScan 10 software development kit (SDK) are highly versatile barcode scanning tools that enable developers to add commercial-grade rapid and robust barcode scanning capabilities to their iOS devices. The SDK also supports many other smartphone, tablet, notebook and desktop applications.

“This is the best performing barcode scanner for developers who are creating applications incorporating barcode scanning for the Apple iOS,” said Samantha Chu, data collection product manager at Socket Mobile. “There are numerous applications that stand to benefit from barcode scanning in a range of vertical markets, and we believe the CHS 7Xi provides the Apple developer community with a level of control and data integrity that didn’t exist previously.”

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Misperceptions about 2D imagers are changing fast, which is why 2D imagers are the fastest-growing category of barcode readers. Only a few years ago 2D imagers were (wrongly) considered a niche technology mostly used for reading 2D barcodes. Now they are becoming the technology of choice for most barcode applications, and lasers are on the way to becoming a niche technology. The reasons: 2D imagers are as fast or faster than laser scanners, can read all the same barcodes as lasers plus 2D symbols that lasers can’t, and can do much more.

Not only can 2D imagers read more barcodes than lasers – including QR Codes, Data Matrix and other popular 2D symbols – they can also do more than read barcodes. Imagers can take digital pictures, shoot video, capture customer signatures,
scan documents and even process the scanned data. These capabilities, which are outlined in the graphic below, enable new business processes that are not possible with older-generation technology. In an era where workers are tasked with doing more – collecting more information, providing more documentation, being more productive, etc. – 2D imagers provide more flexibility.

2D imaging technology gives businesses the two things they need most from their barcode readers: outstanding performance in today’s applications, and investment protection to meet future needs. This white paper is a guide to 2D barcode imaging technology, including an overview of capabilities and how 2D imagers perform in traditional applications, the beneficial new business processes that imaging enables, and the advantages 2D imaging provides compared to laser scanners.

Analyst Insight
“In 2008, laser scanners were the preferred handheld solution. However, the proportion of users planning subsequent investment in laser scanners is disproportionately lower than in other faster growing product categories i.e., linear and 2D imaging solutions. Imaging is expected to emerge as the fastest growing technology segment.”

VDC Research Group, 2009

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UGN Auto installs noise reduction headliners into cars of all makes and models. They use parts to help verify the correct components and where they need to be installed. With an automated system already in place to verify the correct colors, UGN wanted to make it even more efficient. Barcodes Inc recommended machine vision technology to make the process as simple as possible and helped UGN implement Cognex Checkers to take pictures of these components for fast and easy verification and quality assurance – speeding up the process, boosting efficiency, and enhancing productivity at UGN.

Account Manager: Patrick Martin

Hitachi Global Storage originally called Barcodes Inc about purchasing barcode scanners to read datamatrix codes on their manufactured hard drives in order to track them. Barcodes Inc supplied them with Microscan Quadrus EZ CCD scanners and even helped them set up their new solution by remoting into Hitachi’s computer network and installing the scanners into their existing system for them. With the Microscan Quadrus EZ’s, Hitachi is now able to scan at the speeds they require and have increased both their productivity and efficiency while reducing manual errors they were experiencing in the past.

Sales Engineer: Elliott Van Fleet

ADE Automatización Y Diseños, in Mexico, needed a ruggedized 2D scanner to track printed circuit board (PCB) components used for custom built electronics in their automated machine solutions. Barcodes Inc not only provided ADE with Datalogic Matrix scanners for their solution but also integrated the scanners into their current system for them. With a custom software suite, the scanners can now initiate and report data back to their host system. Barcodes Inc helped automate the automation experts.

Sales Engineer: Greg Hamilton

American Metal Recycling Services Inc (AMRS) combines mobile computers and custom software developed by Barcodes Inc to maintain better control and accountability of their assets and tools.

Executive Summary

AMRS is a leading innovator in the material recycling market. As part of their business process, there are assets and tools used to refine, process, and reuse the materials they salvage. AMRS was in search of a solution that would improve management of these tools and assets. BarcodesInc successfully developed a software and hardware solution to address inefficiencies, lost product, wasted time inherent in their previous asset management tracking system.

The Business Challenge

AMRS was looking for a solution to track the whereabouts of all of their tools and machinery throughout a fifty acre campus with multiple buildings and outside storage locations. The solution would allow AMRS to locate items in a more efficient manner saving man hours, time, and money.

The success of the project was contingent on attaining AMRS’s 7 main objectives:

• Track an unlimited number of assets
• Accurately manage the check out and return process for tools, equipment and consumables
• Monitor and schedule maintenance as required
• Improve operating efficiencies
• Maximize the use of the current assets and avoid overstock or duplication of tools, equipment and consumables
• Recapture tooling costs by billing for usage

Solution

In response to AMRS’s needs, Barcodes Inc developed a custom software solution which enabled AMRS to successfully complete all objectives. The Motorola MC9090 mobile computer was chosen as the device to deploy and implement the software application, chosen because of its ultra-rugged form factor and data capture and communication features.

For the project implementation process, AMRS applied barcode labels to all of their tools, work locations, and storage areas. Next, they created and implemented the following process for anyone using a piece of equipment. An engineer must have an MC9090 to use a piece of equipment. To use it, they must sign into the unit with their unique user name and password, scan the code of the equipment that they need into their register book or online, go to the location of the unit, scan the equipment in receive mode, and finally scan their location in drop mode once they have arrived to their manufacturing location.

This allowed them to manage and track all of their items in an effective manner, and added a new layer of accountability to their process.

Benefits

After a successful training, AMRS saw an ROI on the project within the first eight months of implementation due to the cost savings and efficiency improvements. They also enjoyed peace of mind through effective, easy-to-use monitoring, tracking and locating of their valuable assets.

The Future

The Barcodes Inc solution has provided AMRS with an efficient working system. AMRS has referred Barcodes Inc to their parent company that is evaluating the process and is looking at implementing this nationwide.

Growmark, an IL based regional agricultural cooperative, offers their clients a safe and effective way to track chemical tanks used in the field to refill sites by means of the HT630 and BarcodesInc customized software.

Executive Summary

Growmark has many clients who lease tanks to farmers to store and spread chemicals for their crops. The clients purchase the chemicals from Growmark and then sell them to their customers. However, Growmark had trouble tracking which chemicals go where and when maintenance needed to be conducted. A lack of cleaning and maintenance could result in the wrong chemicals being mixed, thus producing an unsafe reaction, which would then affect the yield of the crop.

The Business Challenge

Growmark needed a simple application to enable them to track their clients’ chemical tanks that they leased for storage in the crop fields. There were three issues at hand. The first issue was accurately recording the tank identification numbers that were painted on and were now unreadable due to wear and tear from the harsh environments. Secondly, recording the tank locations was a manual process and often done incorrectly. Finally, identifying which chemicals were in each tank at what time was also being conducted manually, but often led to human errors. Each of these issues led to safety concerns and inventory loss.

Solution

Growmark turned to Barcodes Inc to replace the pen and paper data collection process that was resulting in too many human errors with the introduction of barcode labels, a mobile computer, and a customized Barcodes Inc software application. Growmark was supplied with pre-printed black barcodes on high tack polyester labels with ultraviolet (UV) coating to survive harsh environments including chemicals and weather.

Barcodes Inc then created a two-part custom software application that runs on a Unitech HT630 mobile computer to track the tanks as they are being checked in and out of each respective facility. Once the chemical tank was leased to the end-user, the software application on the mobile computer would prompt the user to enter the tank number, location, and type of chemical. This allowed Growmark to account for all of their tanks and have knowledge of what chemicals were residing in each tank in order to identify a maintenance and cleaning schedule for each respective container; thus eliminating any hazardous or safety concerns with the crops.

Benefits

By using the Unitech HT630 and Barcodes Inc custom application, Growmark’s clients were able to adequately track the chemical purchases and locations of their tanks while minimizing human error and safety issues.

The Future

The Barcodes Inc solution was deployed to Growmark’s customers around the world to enable them to track their customers’ leased chemical tanks.

Mobile Computer and Custom Software Solution solves internal check processing system problem.

Executive Summary

DST Output came to Barcodes Inc in search of a hardware and software solution that would eliminate errors in their internal check processing system while improving efficiency. The company was interested in automating all of their manual forms and reports while using OCR scanning technology to input check numbers into their database.

The Business Challenge

DST Output prints, mails and electronically delivers bills, statements and other transactional documents for many of the largest financial services, communications, insurance, healthcare, and utilities companies in the world.

At their South Windsor, Connecticut location, internal check processing was being conducted manually. The checks were tracked and entered into various reports by hand. This inefficient process resulted in a loss of productivity, as well as a larger amount of human errors. The errors produced lost revenue and dissatisfied customers.

DST Output was in search of a quicker, more efficient solution to track their internal check processing while eliminating human error.

Solution

In an effort to both reduce error and increase efficiency by automating DST Output’s internal check processing system, Barcodes Inc recommended a solution that included a combination of mobile computing and custom software.

The solution would create digital versions of DST Output’s forms and reports that would integrate directly with their internal databases. A mobile version of the software would operate on a mobile computer that could scan check numbers into the application, thus reducing the human error aspect of inputting the wrong numbers into a pen and paper format.

Since the checks incorporated OCR fonts, Barcodes Inc recommended the Honeywell Dolphin 6500, which is capable of scanning OCR technology. The Dolphin 6500 was also a good option for DST Output due to their requirement for a larger screen size, which allowed for Barcodes Inc to create a custom application that would reproduce the newly automated forms onto a mobile computer screen.

Benefits

After successful development of the custom software application and delivery of the Honeywell mobile computers, DST Output has begun rollout of their new fully automated check issuance system.

This new solution not only eliminates human error created when entering check numbers by hand, but also speeds up the check issuance process.

The Future

Barcodes Inc continues to provide custom solutions that combine software applications with mobile hardware and help companies around the world reduce error while increasing efficiency – in the end saving companies both time and money.