Barcode.com

I use a mobile printer at work, so I know firsthand the benefits they can provide, but do you?  I thought it’d be good to take a look at a first-rate mobile printer to see what you might be missing out on.  I chose to focus on Intermec’s PB50 mobile label printer pictured at left.  The PB50 is Intermec’s newest mobile receipt and label printer and is the fastest portable receipt printer around.   The PB50 is a direct thermal printer that supports a variety of media, including- receipts, tags, fan-folds and labels.  Also capable of printing 2″ to 4″ labels, the PB50 is perfect for applications that require flexibility.  Equipped with Bluetooth and WLAN connectivity, the PB50 allows you to print labels or receipts wherever you need to.

Providing your workers with mobile printers keeps them productive and can increase the efficiency of your operations.  I experience this increased productivity and efficiency daily because of mobile printing.  When I need to print a label or tag I don’t have to worry about leaving the floor to return to a printer, my printer is with me at all times.  The PB50 can be with you at all times as well, and can be worn with a shoulder strap, belt clip, or mounted on a vehicle or cart.  Mobile printers like the PB50 are also rugged enough to be used in demanding environments such as warehouses and out in the field.  For more information, you can read the entire product profile for the PB50 Mobile Label Printer.  If you have any other questions about mobile printing or mobile computers that work seamlessly with these types of printers, please contact me at ehodges@barcode.com

I just finished reading a very interesting Intermec white paper about a unique programming tool for printers, Intermec’s Fingerprint.  This printer application tool allows users to customize any printer function and is only available in select EasyCoder models.  In fact, no other manufacturer offers a tool like Fingerprint.  Comparable printers are instead equipped with a static command language that controls the printer with the help of a computer.  Fingerprint printers provide software flexibility because they are preinstalled with both a command language and the printer-resident language Fingerprint.  Unlike a static command language, Fingerprint is dynamic and can be programmed to meet special requirements without the help of a computer.  Intermec printers equipped with Fingerprint are actually more like computers that can print instead of just printers.  With Fingerprint, the printers are programmed to receive host data and to pick the appropriate information from the data string for printing, no computer needed.  Some of the other benefits offered by Intermec’s Fingerprint include:

• Flexibility for changing application requirements
• Opportunity to develop own proprietary printer application programs
• Leverage many operating modes across one printer platform
• Control other equipment and reduce hardware purchases

Intermec offers a wide variety of EasyCoder models that are Fingerprint capable, including the Easy Coder PM4i pictured at left.  For more information about which Intermec models support Fingerprint, how to develop a Fingerprint application and specific examples of what Fingerprint is capable of, you should read the Intermec white paper What is Intermec Fingerprint?  If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me as well.

I recently read the Intermec white paper Top Ten Supply Chain Technology Trends and I wanted to share some of their findings with you.  According to Intermec, the top ten trends and technologies changing the supply chain are:

1. Comprehensive connectivity- 802.11 wireless LAN, Bluetooth, cellular networks

2. Voice and GPS integrated into rugged computers

3. Speech recognition

4. Digital imaging

5. Portable printing

6. 2D and other barcode advances

7. RFID

8. RTLS

9. Remote management

10. Wireless and device security

Today we’re going to take a look at how the first five trends/technologies are affecting the supply chain and tomorrow we’ll finish up with the last five.

Connectivity-combining multiple forms of wireless connectivity technologies into one device is providing mobile workers with increased convenience and functionality.

Voice and GPS- converging data and voice into one device cuts down on the number of devices that need to be supported, providing operating cost savings.  Similarly, the integration of GPS into mobile computers is just one more additional feature that can be added so that one device can do it all.  For example, the Intermec CN3 and CN3e pictured at left, include wide-area wireless voice and data, 802.11, Bluetooth and GPS connectivity.

Speech Recognition- now speech recognition can be easily embedded into numerous legacy software packages.  This allows hands-free data entry and increased productivity because your workers aren’t stuck staring at a computer screen.

Digital Imaging- capturing images with digital cameras integrated into mobile computers allows mobile workers to capture proof of delivery, proof of service, record damage and more.

Portable Printing- mobile printing provides labor savings and increases productivity by saving your workers a trip to a central location to print something.  Combining mobile printers and mobile computers allows your workers to print delivery receipts, purchase orders, work orders and inspection reports on-the-go.  In fact, according to Intermec, mobile printing is one of the fastest-growing segments in the printing industry.

Visit me tomorrow to find out how the last five trends/technologies can help make your supply chain successful.

Here is some more information about UV barcodes provided by my friend Kevin Berisso, Director for the AIDC Lab at Ohio University.  Kevin has expanded on UV barcodes and explained some other interesting ways to print “invisible” barcodes as well. -Erin

What the good people at barcode.com are referring to is the substitution of regular black (or whatever color you want) ink with a UV based ink that is only visible with a blacklight. Packaging and corrugate companies have been using this for awhile to allow them to print information on the package or corrugate that is not visible to the end user. By far, I would have to say this is the easiest and cheapest solution.

However there is a company that went a bit further with this concept. I can’t remember the name at the moment, but they developed a near-infra-red (ir) transparent paint that allowed someone to print a bar code (or really do anything including write on the item with a marker) and then paint over it. The paint only allowed some wavelengths of light through and as a result you could “see” through the paint with the scanner, but not the human eye. If I can find the company again, I will report it.

Another option out there that is not real cheap is NASA’s magneto-optical imager (MOI) which allows you to read through regular paint or other non-ferrous coatings. By using a special ink the system is able to view the magnetic fields of where the paint is.

This short video Kevin sent me shows the MOI unit in action.  Check it out, it’s pretty cool.

I’d like to thank Kevin for providing this interesting information.  Don’t forget to check out some of the great things that the Ohio University AIDC Lab is up to.

Intermec announced the end-of-build and end-of-sale of the 3400e, 4420e and 4440e barcode label printers in October 2007, but they still have some units available, so this is your last chance to buy the following Intermec fixed printer models.

These are available on a first-come/first-served basis and only while supplies last, so don’t delay.  All sales are final and no changes will be made to these configurations.  For more information on any of these models, or product availability please contact an Intermec customer service representative or an Intermec authorized distributor, such as Barcoding Inc. at www.barcoding.com.