“Learn about the adaption of ultra-rugged barcode scanners in different industrial segments”
We see the use of barcode scanners in our day-to-day lives. Whether it is at retail stores, supermarkets, or police checkpoints. Generally, they are stationary on-counter scanners or small handheld scanners. Presently, there is a particular type of scanner getting quite popular. These are known as ultra-rugged scanners. Many industries are shifting from traditional scanners to ultra-rugged barcode scanners to optimize their tracking operations.
So, let’s talk about these scanners and their industrial segments.
Best Industrial Segments for Ultra-Rugged Barcode Scanners
These scanners provide the greatest protection against damage-causing factors and situations, making them the best option for long-term use. So, you might be wondering why don’t we just use these types of scanners, everywhere. The answer is simple, cost.
Although extremely functional, these scanners are also the most expensive type of barcode scanners in the market. But there are some industries, where they businesses prefer these scanners over the conventional ones, regardless of their exorbitant pricing.
(A). Manufacturing
Ultra-Rugged barcode scanners are extremely popular in manufacturing, due to the extremely harsh conditions in this industry. The environment in these facilities has extremely high temperatures, chemical exposure, high chances of scratches and impacts, etc. In order to survive and function properly in such environments, the barcode scanners need to be very strong and durable.
(B). Warehouse
An essential stop in the supply chain of any industry, warehousing facilities see the movement of large volumes of products/assets on a daily basis. These buildings are usually spread over a vast area and have polished concrete or epoxy-coated concrete floors, to reduce wear & tear. However, this gives rise to the problem that any impact on the floor can cause damage to equipment.
Luckily, ultra-rugged barcode scanners are usually rated to survive impacts to the concrete floor from a height of 5 to 10 feet.
(C). Construction
There are many damage-causing agents in a construction environment like dust, water, scratches, smudges, drops, tumbles, etc. Therefore, many businesses within the construction industry have started to invest in ultra-rugged barcode scanners for their asset identification & tracking needs.
(D). Brewery
When it comes to the breweries, keep care of the storage temperature and conditions. To clarify, brewery storage facilities operate under freezing temperatures to keep your favorite brews fresh and full of flavor before they reach you. However, that can become a problem for electronic components like barcode scanners, as freezing temperatures can have a permanent negative effect on electronics by damaging batteries and circuits.
Luckily, ultra-rugged barcode scanners are completely sealed and designed to operate in freezing temperatures, some like the 1990iXLR Scanners can work in temperatures as low as -40° C.
(E). Law Enforcement
The primary use of scanners in law enforcement field operations is to scan and read IDs and other documents. Now, we don’t need to remind you that law enforcement jobs can get a bit physical at times. Having tools & equipment that can get easily damaged can be a bit counterproductive and not to say, heavy on the pockets of the government.
Equipping law enforcement agents with ultra-rugged scanners can save the police department a lot of money and let the officers work without worrying about the safety of their equipment.
What are Ultra-Rugged Barcode Scanners?
As the name suggests, these are a type of barcode scanners designed to resist a lot harsher conditions than a regular scanner. An ultra-rugged scanner consists of an outer protective shell made to withstand extreme physical impacts.
Do you know what the biggest reason business has to replace barcode scanners or have damaged scanners is? It is accidental falls or tumbling, this is due to the fact that most industrial environments have hard concrete floors. An impact with these floors usually results in normal barcode scanners breaking into pieces. However, the outer shell of ultra-rugged scanners prevents them from sharing this fate.
They are also sealed and designed to provide a very high IP rating. Most of these scanners have an IP rating of at least IP65 or IP57, meaning that they are completely sealed off against dust and other solid particles. And extremely resistant or in some cases in sealed off against liquids. Ultra-rugged barcode scanners with ratings of IP67 and above are waterproof and can survive being submerged in water completely.
Benefits of Ultra-Rugged Scanners over Other Types of Scanners
By now you probably understand why ultra-rugged barcode scanners are so popular. They provide excellent performance and make AIDC barcoding operations easier and more effective.
(A). Durability
The biggest benefit of ultra-rugged barcode scanners, as the name suggests is their durability against harsh environments and physical damage from falls and tumbles.
(B). Latest Technology
These scanners are made using premium parts and materials, meaning that they provide the best performance in their product type. These scanners usually have a longer read range than conventional barcode scanners. Some ultra-rugged barcode scanners can have a scanning range of up to 21.4 meters.
In addition, many newer models use 4G data carrier technology to communicate information using the internet. Making sure that the device is always connected to the network.
(C). Immune to Water Damage
Lastly, the biggest hazard for any electronic is moisture and water. Aside from short-circuiting the device, exposure to moisture can also lead to corrosion within the device’s circuitry. However, rugged scanners are designed to be completely sealed against liquids, ensuring such problems do not occur.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Do barcode scanners work in the dark?
Depending on the technology, yes, barcode scanners can operate in the dark. Any scanner that is equipped with an internal IR (Infrared) light, can illuminate the barcode on its own and read it successfully.
Q2. What is a laser barcode scanner?
A laser barcode scanner uses laser light to illuminate the barcode and use the reflected light to scan the barcode. These scanners work by using a laser emitter to project a horizontal beam of light onto the barcode.
Once the light is reflected from the label back to the scanner, a sensor inside the scanner uses the difference in the wavelength pattern of the reflection to differentiate between different bars in the code. Then convert the information into binary format and sends it to the receiver.
Q3. Which type of barcode scanner is best?
There are many factors that are needed to determine the best barcode for a particular operation, business, or individual. These can be performance, cost, scan volume, environmental conditions, etc. However, going on functionality alone, Ultra-Rugged 2D-Imaging Scanners are the best barcode scanners available currently.
These scanners are extremely durable and made of the best quality materials and parts. In addition, being a 2D scanner, they can read all types of barcodes (both 1D & 2D).
Q4. Which is better RFID or barcode?
Depending on your operation and application, either can be considered better than the other. They are both a type of AIDC technology, AIDC stands for Automatic Identification & Data Collection. When it comes to functionality, RFID is the clear winner. It provides greater automation, fewer chances of errors, better visibility & tracking capabilities, etc.
However, if talking about the cost, RFID costs almost 10 times more than barcodes, not including the exorbitant installation & implementation cost and training required for RFID technology.
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