6 Types of Durable Bar Code Labels for Harsh Environments

Chemicals, caustic cleaners, paint, abrasives, outdoor exposure and weather elements, extreme heat and coldthe list goes on of harsh environments common to the industrial setting. While industrial organizations have valuable assets that must be tracked and maintained, standard bar code label solutions just don’t have the durability required to withstand these conditions. Re-labeling your assets every year or even every few months clearly isn’t practical.

Fortunately, there’s a solution: Durable Bar Code Labels. Here’s a look at the various types of durable bar code labels designed specifically to meet the demands of enterprises working under harsh conditions.

Metalphoto® Aluminum Durable Bar Code Labels

Image via Camcode.com

Anodized aluminum provides superior durability for Metalphoto® Aluminum Durable Bar Code Labels, enabling them to withstand harsh environments and last the full usable life of your assets. With crisp black images sealed beneath a protective layer of anodized aluminum, readability is never an issue no matter how caustic the chemicals or other conditions these labels are exposed to. Metalphoto® Aluminum Durable Bar Code Labels are ideal for situations in which they’ll be regularly exposed to:

• Chemicals
• Abrasion
• Solvents
• UV
• Extreme heat
• Extreme cold

That means these durable labels can be used in both interior and exterior settings. These labels are attached using a permanent, pressure-sensitive adhesive designed to bond securely to textured and contoured surfaces, high surface-energy plastics and metals. They can also be attached using mechanical attachments for added versatility.

Teflon on Aluminum Barcode Labels

If your working environment exposes physical assets to conditions such as painting, e-coat or powder coating processes, cleaning or pickling, a Teflon® on Aluminum Barcode Label is a workable solution. These labels come in two options: A laminated barcode sticker which resists temperatures up to 300°F, and a fused product capable of withstanding temperatures up to 500°F. Both types are resistant to caustics and strong acids for maximum versatility in various environments.

Teflon on Aluminum Barcode Labels resist:

• Chemicals
• Abrasives
• Paint
• Acidic or caustic environments
• UV
• Extreme cold
• Extreme heat

These labels are printed with crisp black graphics, including options for all common symbologies and even custom graphics, such as logos. Thanks to the protection of a sealed layer of anodic aluminum, barcodes remain readable for 20 years or more in exterior conditions.

Extra High Temperature (XHT) Aluminum Barcode Labels

For environments with assets regularly exposed to extreme heat, you need a durable bar code label that can hold up while retaining readability. Extra High Temperature (XHT) Aluminum Bar Code Labels are capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1200°F.

Extra High Temperature Aluminum Barcode Labels are ideal for industrial high-heat applications. These labels offer exceptional resistance to:

• Chemicals
• Abrasion
• Solvents
• Extreme temperatures
• UV exposure

If your organization has difficulty finding durable bar code label solutions capable of withstanding the harsh environments your assets are exposed to regularly, XHT Aluminum Barcode Labels are durable enough to withstand the harshest industrial environments while maintaining readability for 20 years or more.

Stainless Steel Barcode Labels

Applications involving frequent exposure to caustic cleaners, such as food processing, laboratory, chemical, medical, petroleum, textile and marine applications, benefit from the durability and superior resistance offered by Stainless Steel Barcode Labels.

Stainless Steel Barcode Labels come in Type 316 alloy or Type 304 stainless steel, offering resistance to:

• Chemicals
• Solvents
• Caustics
• Salt
• Intermittent heat

Type 316 Stainless Steel Barcode Labels offer a more decorative look with a brushed finish, while Type 304 Stainless Steel Barcode Labels are ideal for chemical, textile, petroleum, and food processing environments. Type 316 Stainless Steel Barcode Labels are designed for use in food processing, medical and laboratory environments.

Need a durable label, but not labels quite as rugged and industrial as stainless steel? There are other options with superior durability, as well.

Metalphoto® Foil Labels

Metalphoto® Foil Labels are designed specifically to maintain readability over the lifetime of your assets. With an anodized aluminum face stock and high-performance permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive, these labels bond permanently to textured or contoured surfaces as well as high-energy plastics and metals.

These metal foil labels offer excellent resistance to:

• Chemicals
• Abrasion
• Solvents
• Extreme temperatures
• UV

Metalphoto® Foil Labels are ideal for a wide variety of applications. Superior resistance to chemicals, abrasion and other environments provide exceptional durability for applications ranging from education to manufacturing. Stainless steel labels are extremely durable, but they’re also rigid—making metal foil labels better suited for non-flat surface applications. A low-surface energy adhesive is another option for added versatility. The expected exterior life of metal foil labels is 20-plus years.

With applications spanning education, healthcare, government and manufacturing settings, metal foil labels provide a solid foundation for maintaining precise inventory counts, accurate documentation and reporting, coordinating more efficient use of assets across an organization and more.

Paint Mask Barcode Labels

Production line applications which involve a painting process struggle with finding the perfect label that can withstand this environment while maintaining readability and appearance. Paint Mask Barcode Labels are specifically designed for this type of process, with a temporary, removable paint mask that peels off cleanly—leaving a pristine, readable barcode label behind.

These labels offer good resistance to general purpose cleaners, mild acids, oil and water. Paint Mask Barcode Labels use a pressure-sensitive adhesive with high initial task and high shear that bonds permanently to painted metal surfaces, low surface-energy plastics and a variety of rough-textured surfaces.

No matter how harsh the working environment, Camcode durable tags offer a solution that meets your needs. From various metal-based barcode labels with exceptional durability to aluminum-based labels and flexible alternatives for rough, textured and contoured surfaces, no application is unmet. Today’s industries make heavy use of assets and have strict labeling requirements. Fortunately, the asset label industry keeps pace, constantly developing new products to meet the demands of today’s modern enterprises.

Author Bio-

Nicole Pontius writes for Camcode durable tags, a company helping users stay systematized and updated on new ways to keep inventory, clients, and employees organized in the work place.