History of the UPC Bar Code on 35th Anniversary

The UPC Code is celebrating it's 35th anniversary this month and everyone is remembering barcode history with stories from the grocery store - but that's only one aspect of the uses for the ubiquitous little database address. All the UPC was ever intended to be is simply a code which returns basic information attached to that code when scanned. In the case of the UPC symbol - an item name and a price - this is the function which is getting the most attention as UPC codes reach 35 years old.

UPC bar codes simply store grocery item names and prices.

Here's a condensed rundown drawn from the Wikipedia page on Barcodes.

• Wallace Flint began it all in 1932 while at Harvard University with a grand concept of catalog warehouse automated sorting of products for delivery to customers, but the great depression kept the expensive project from getting off the ground.
• Bernard Silver at the Drexel Institute of Technology began a project with friends Norman Joseph Woodland and Jordin Johanson that used ultraviolet inks, but those faded and were expensive.
• Woodland and Johanson moved on with the idea extending it to incorporate stretched Morse Code dots and dashes as an optically scannable strip - but later switched the idea to use a circular pattern.
• Woodland and Johanson filed a patent application on 20 October 1949
• The pair attempted to interest IBM in the process, but nothing was ever done to move forward on the concept. Patent US Patent 2,612,994 was granted three years later in 1952
• In 1952 Philco purchased their patent, and later sold it to RCA.
• A new contributor named David Collins began work on a system to identify rail cars in 1959 while working at Sylvania.
• Pet food manufacturer Kal Kan requested a labeling system from Sylvania for pet food inventory control and this attracted interest from the grocery industry.
• Collins left Sylvania and formed "Computer Identics" which worked on various refinements to the bar code and types of readers.
• Computer Identics installed two systems, one at General Motors manufacturing in Pontiac Michigan, used to identify car axles produced in the plant.
• In 1966 following a grocery industry meeting RCA, who had purchased rights to the original Woodland patent, set up an internal project to develop a system based on the bullseye code.
• In mid 1970 the National Association of Food Chains (NAFC) sent a contract to develop a grocery bar code labeling system to Singer, National Cash Register (NCR), Litton Industries, RCA, Pitney-Bowes, IBM and many others.
• RCA owned the patent but IBM employed one of the original the inventors, Norman Woodland. They set Woodland up to develop their version.
• On 3 April 1973 the IBM UPC code was selected by NAFC as their standard
• NCR installed a testbed system at a Marsh supermarket in Troy, Ohio, near the factory that was producing the equipment.
• On 26 June 1974, Clyde Dawson pulled a 10-pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit gum out of his basket and it was scanned by Sharon Buchanan at 8:01 am.
• The pack of gum and the receipt are now on display in the Smithsonian Institution.

There are several other barcode types, including the most commonly used Code 39, EAN13 and UCC128.

UID Compliance Made Easy with IUID Mobile Installation

Camcode was the first, and remains the leader in high performance labels and data plates. Our materials and process technologies ensure the longest label life in the harshest of conditions. Bar codes on Camcode labels remain machine readable in conditions where all others have failed. Camcode knows more about materials, adhesive technologies, and how to meet your application needs than anyone.

Camcode IUID Label Installation Service: Mobile Asset Tagging Solution

Camcode is a highly experienced IUID label specialist. We have thousands of customers and have labeled millions of assets. Camcode takes into account our customer's entire process and delivers a solution to make the complete project successful - not just part of it. Our customers have asked how to achieve fast and accurate physical asset marking. We have replied with an exclusive and effective solution we call the Mobile Asset Tagging Solution.

If you have legacy assets to label, or you have a project that requires replacing a current asset label with the required IUID label, then this news is for you! The effort required to install IUID labels on thousands of assets is greatly underestimated. Few people recognize how time-consuming, labor-intensive (i.e. expensive), and how difficult it is to do this accurately.

Camcode delivers an efficient and accurate way to quickly install IUID labels on thousands of assets, regardless of their order or location. And we're talking about the hard stuff here - installing construct 2 UID labels or custom labels matched to a specific asset.

Camcode has perfected a method for installing labels that reduces installation time by up to 80% and improves accuracy by electronically confirming every label. The Mobile Asset Tagging Solution accommodates even scattered assets across multiple locations. And when complete, you know which assets have been marked, when, and by whom.

Camcode provides the software, hardware, labels and leadership to accomplish the task on schedule. Importantly, the whole solution is scalable. It can be useful for 2,000 assets in one room or 100,000 assets in four different buildings or four different states.

There is no new software to buy or learn, no hardware to depreciate, and the labels you need are included. The solution is customized to your exact situation and is ready when you need it with no recurring costs. And, as always, Camcode uses the most durable long-lasting labels in the business, produced in our facility to your specifications.

Don't get tripped up by this hidden aspect of UID compliance. Contact Camcode and accelerate your project. The Mobile Asset Tagging Solution.

Warehouse Bar Code Labels Track Asset Location

Camcode is more than just a bar code label company. Understanding your needs allows us to deliver bar code solutions that improve data collection and save you time and money. Our team has helped hundreds of customers implement successful WMS projects, and we invite you to apply our experience to your next project.

"Camcode Helps Whirlpool Corporation Achieve "Nearly 100%" Inventory Location Accuracy"

A mainstay in the lives of consumers, Whirlpool Corporation is the company that outfits so many homes with appliances ranging from cooking and refrigeration to fabric care and water filtration. However, when it came to keeping their own warehouses running smoothly, Whirlpool Corporation was in need of an upgrade. They were using numeric location signs without a bar code, which provided no system validation that inventory was being moved to, or taken from where it was supposed to be. This lead to a lot of inefficiency and potential for late shipments.

With a company-wide move toward larger mega-warehouses, Whirlpool Corporation recognized the need for an integrated warehouse management system using bar codes to track the movement of inventory more efficiently and accurately.

Request White Paper.

Read how Camcode worked with Whirlpool Corporation to find the ideal bar code solution for their application, helping warehouse managers track about 250,000 units of inventory at any one time. According to David Salerno, Whirlpool Corporation's manager of supply chain operations, "Camcode's signs have helped us to achieve much greater inventory location accuracy, nearing 100 percent."

• Polyester Rack Labels
• Long-Range Retro-Reflective System
• Multi-Level Rack System
• Floor Label System

Our most popular rack label, Polyester Rack Labels are more durable and longer lasting than typical paper labels. Graphic elements are added to eliminate confusion and improve functionality. Permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive provides lifetime adherence.

Designed to reach scanning distances up to 40 feet with long-range scanners, these label systems provide the ultimate in functionality. Various attachment options include adhesive, two sided, fixed-mount, hanging, and pipe mount.

We design each rack label for your application by considering your inventory system, scanner type, scanning distance and angle, and mounting method. Graphic elements are added to remove the confusion of which rack to scan. Foam tape adhesive makes assembly easy.

The protective 1/8" beveled aluminum frame easily attaches to the floor with four concrete anchors. The SO354® aluminum bar code label is placed in the frame followed by a Lexan® cover layer. The frame protects the label from the abuse of pallets and vehicular traffic.

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Meet IUID standards on Government Furnished Property

Whether you are reporting for facility management, complying with IUID standards for Government Furnished Property, or simply looking for labels to tag equipment and furniture, Camcode's durable asset labels will help identify, control and track your valuable assets for the life of the part.

We offer durable aluminum and polyester bar code labels; and security labels, including destructible vinyl. Our standard services include maintaining data integrity, full verification, validation and documentation, as well as reviewing specifications and drawings for compliance. It doesn't get any easier!

Foil Asset Labels

Our most durable and popular tag. Made of anodized aluminum, the graphics are sealed beneath the anodized layer creating a remarkably durable asset tag. Combined with our super strong adhesive, these tags will last for the life of your assets.

Premium Polyester Asset Labels

Second only to Foil in durability and popularity. Our polyester bar code labels have a protective overlaminate to shield against chemicals and abrasion. Permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive provides lifetime adherence.

Destructible Vinyl Asset Tags

Virtually impossible to remove in one piece. The destructible label breaks into tiny pieces if removed, discouraging unauthorized asset transfers.

Tamper-Evident Labels

If the label is removed, the word "VOID" is left behind on the surface of your asset and the back of the label to prevent tampering and protect against unauthorized transfer. Tamper-evident polyester labels are also available with color.

Asset Tags Tracking Study: Norfolk Street & Traffic Signs

Camcode has a new use case study available illustrating the utility and value of property identification and labeling of municipal assets. Those who request our Asset Tracking Whitepaper will be sent the case study, which details the successful use of asset tags by the City of Norfolk, Virginia to track over 100,000 road and traffic signs over 66 square miles of the city to meet Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) compliance rules.

Until now, those signs were recorded by hand and relied on vague location descriptions for Norfolk's road crews to perform maintenance or carry out installations and removals, making it very difficult to keep track of each sign and it's location.

Read how Camcode responded to their need to comply with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requirement by gaining an understanding of the project and recommending the right product that would last years in even the harshest environments.

Lonnie Tebow, Superintendent of Traffic Operations said, "Camcode helped at every stage in the development of our labeling program ... to be sure we would be satisfied with our final product."

With the use of electronic tables, road crews will now be able to locate sign assets and track maintenance activities, helping to lower labor, material and equipment costs.

Request your copy of the Camcode Asset Tracking Whitepaper today.

NPMA National Property Management Association & UID

This year's conference and show of the National Property Management Association, National Education Seminar (NES) for Summer 2008 is being held as this is written in Reno-Sparks Nevada. Camcode is participating in the exhibit hall at booth #215 where we're proud to be showing UID Tags and other Asset Tag and Asset Label solutions.

At the conference sessions, UID labels were discussed on Tuesday morning at a session titled Streamlining Solutions for UID Compliance. Bar code and mobile computing expert Peter Collins discussed the technology and processes that are necessary to read all UID compliant formats, store the information and report on all government items under contract to the IUID registry

The topic was discussed again Tuesday afternoon at a session titled "AIA Panel Discussion: Industry Views on Current Issues" where the "DFARS Clause on GFE UID Reporting and pending new DFARS clauses on UID" were covered.

Finally Tuesday, at The New FAR Property Rule and Its Impact on Contractors—Part 45 (Part 1 of 2) Pamela McFarland, CPPM CF of Raytheon discussed "Item Unique Identification (IUID), radio frequency tags, bar-coding, and the general trend toward commercialization of components."

General Asset Management issues were discussed throughout the conference sessions and included an awards slate of seven different awards, including the top honor of "Jack Griffiths Property Person of the Year Award".

Item Unique Identification (IUID) Standards for Tangible Personal Property

The Department of Defense has issued a directive, signed on June 16, 2008, which establishes Item Unique Identification (IUID) Standards for Tangible Personal Property. (PDF) The directive is effective immediately and established policy guidelines for UII (Unique Item Identifiers) for Asset Tags on Government Furnished Property (GFP). Quoting from that DoD document:

2. APPLICABILITY AND SCOPE
This Instruction applies to:

2.1. OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the 
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint 
Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the 
Inspector General of the Department of Defense, 
the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, 
and all other organizational entities within the 
Department of Defense (hereafter referred to 
collectively as the “DoD Components”).

2.2. Personal property with UII that meet the 
requirements of References (b) through (f).

2.3. Financial, property accountability, acquisition, 
supply, maintenance, and logistics systems.

The document itself points to government sites with further information on UID Asset Tags in the links below:

E3.5. WHERE TO GO FOR MORE INFORMATION
IUID Website
WAWF Website
Federal eBiz Website

UID Asset Labels Showcased at UID Forum

Camcode announced today that company representatives will be visiting Huntsville Alabama next week, April 8-9 for the UID Forum to showcase UID Asset Labels. A press release distributed Wednesday announced Camcode's participation in this show.

Partners and suppliers participating in that conference can visit Camcode's booth on the show floor for more information on UID labeling solutions.