The role of the barcode system in the modern warehouse.

The warehouse shelf labels "mark" & register the stock stored in the x aisle & identify the products we enter the warehouse with the aim of managing the storage, sorting & separation of the stocks.



Types of labels

Below we will see the most common types of labels & their use in the warehouse area, Barcode systems are perhaps a good start for the construction & operation of a modern warehouse in 2023. There are many parameters that affect the manufacture of labels, both in terms of the material & dimensions.

The most important label types in the warehouse industry are:

• Magnetic
• 1D
• 2D
• Metallic
• LPN
• Cold Storage
• PVC
• Floor
• Aerial

 

1. Magnetic

Among the most durable labels, they are very easy to apply on metal surfaces. They are easy to remove & replace.

 

2. 1D

Or linear barcode. They are mostly used in parcels. They are recognizable because of their characteristic lines. They can & connect databases, where we have the ability to insert new information without changing the code & by extension the label even if it has left the warehouse facilities.

 

3. 2D

Although 1d barcodes have many uses, they have limited capabilities in terms of storing/recording information. With 2d we extend the capacity by using patterns with shapes like hexagons & squares. Their difference is that with 2d scanning we can read the code horizontally & vertically.

 

4. Metallic

In cases where durable signage solutions are required, metal construction may be the best choice. Urethane-coated steel or anodized metal, for example, can withstand heavy use. Therefore, they can be placed on pallets & on the floor. Metal options are compatible with both 1D and 2D barcodes.

 

5. LPNs

License plate number (LPN) are labels which are pre-printed & sequential & used to track in the system, tracking moveable units.

With this logic, parcels, pallets & any unit that enters the warehouse is tracked with LPN. By entering data directly into our warehouse tracking software, we can proceed directly to data retrieval by scanning. It is a very time efficient tactic as it minimizes data entry time.

 

6. Cold Storage

Designed specifically for warehouses that operate in cooling conditions such as meat warehouses.

 

7. PVC

PVC Polyvinyl chloride labels are among the most commonly used labels around the world. The reason is that they are extremely malleable. They can be used in sheet form on labels with various dimensions, colors & thicknesses. They can easily print security information, logos, signs.

 

8. Floor

Extra strong labels that stick to the floor. They can be designed & with removable glue. They are usually made of synthetic material, made of plastic (P.P). They are ideal for applications such as lane & runway marking.

 

9. Use of space tag.

Tags can be used in:

• Shelves
• Pallet racks
• Storage bins
• Floor
• Aerial, elevated
• Vertically

 

10. Tags used to track small quantities & low volume inventory.

Having the ability to track the smallest parcels, containers, etc., excluding pallets, we can integrate 100% of the warehouse into the program, making all the goods traceable during transport and storage.

11. Vertical totem tags

There are many benefits to using vertical barcode labels (or totems) in your facility.
Eliminates the need to scan a long distance.
Facilitates pick-and-scan operations.
Minimizes the margin for human error & scanning error.
Improves operator scanning accuracy.
When combined with complementary location tags, it greatly improves accuracy and efficiency.
Enables consistency across multiple locations for efficient cross-navigation within the warehouse.

12. Aerials

Tags that are aerial & in an elevated position are usually made of reflective material, to have the best conditions in terms of long range scanning. They are extremely useful when not placed in the space at the beginning of the corridor, a vertical colored totem, with a categorization of the items present in the corridor, which includes & the highest levels. The reflective material, due to the intense reflection of light, gives better scanning accuracy.

 

Need for long range scanning with today's data.

The number of warehouses expanding the premises but the number of warehouses born in recent years has increased significantly, in the last two years. The industry of companies that build industrial business premises is on a growth trajectory. Another "sign" of the "boom" & developments brought about by the rapid, almost unreal growth of e-commerce.

The needs for bulk storage & high-capacity racking bring the corresponding changes in the matter of specifications in construction & organization.

Now there is extensive exploitation of the height, resulting in the more and more frequent use of "high bay" shelves in the facilities. Therefore, the need to create the application of more advanced, new systems, including the need for long-range scanning solutions, is becoming more and more imperative.
 

Long distance scanning solutions

BLP CONNEXION can supply you with reflective material shelf labels that support warehouse requirements for long range scanning.

Depending on the requirements & warehouse construction combined with the use of the right scanners & the appropriate labels we can reach a scanning range of up to & 24 meters. Extremely helpful workflow data, which gives result & with an amazing ROI, for these tagging solutions.
 

Advantages

Improved barcode scanning accuracy – improves productivity & readability for new lot entry & sorting.
Increased warehouse utilization – since long range scanning is possible, the warehouse can exploit & maximize space potential by placing shelves at higher levels.
Reduced margin of error in sorting - there is now the ability to accurately & quickly pick/sort the right merchandise.

Long range scanning to use overhead & overhead warehouse labels.
The overhead tags located in an elevated position are extremely useful for the identification & management of bulk stock in warehouse sectors. Usually, they contain a barcode image, & letters or numbers which are human readable.
Having reflective label signs & the right scanner means staff can scan bulk stock without leaving the forklift.

Placement

Before we move on to placing these types of labels, the floor should be professionally marked with space demarcation strips, for a more intuitive workflow. We also need to have the knowledge & experience to position the signs at the correct angle to maximize scanning efficiency.