Basic Information About Numbers On Products

By Keren Kipfer


Every product manufactured and sold in the market has some type of number on it that most people tend to ignore. Oftentimes, this number can be found on the labeling of the product and occasionally, imprinted to on the item itself. Though they may seem to be nothing of value, those numbers actually were placed there for a reason. It is essential to educate ourselves about what those numbers represent and how they are used especially if you are a business owner, either on the manufacturing or retail side. Here is some important information about the numbers found on everyday products.

Whenever the term numbers on products are mentioned, it often refers to the strip of black bars found on product labels. This strip of black bars is what we call a bar code which is a scannable piece of data that can be interpreted using a specialized device and computer program. They are usually used at retail shops and grocery stores as a way to identify the price of a specific item. It is important to note that there are different types of product coding systems today. The most widely implemented product numbering systems used by major brands in the world are the Universal Product Code and the Electronic Product Code.

UPC or the Universal Product Code is a specific type of barcode commonly used in countries such as Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand for tracking products delivered on stores and other retail outlets. The UPC is a 12 digit number that is unique for each product. Every UPC barcode is composed of strips of black vertical bars and white spaces that can be scanned. Each bar and space corresponds to a specific number. A theoretical maximum number of one trillion unique barcodes can be made using the UPC system.

The second widely used product numbering system is created to serve as a universal identifier. The EPC or Electronic Product Code system creates a unique ID number for all material items manufactured in the whole world. They are often used on RFID systems but can also be made to work with the usual barcode programs. This particular number coding scheme was initially created to be flexible enough to cater the needs of various businesses in all industries. EPC is compatible with other number coding systems and has the ability to come up with new code styles if needed.

Of course, EPCs and also UPCs are not they only numbers that need to be placed on products. Foods and beverages, for example, need to have expiration dates printed on the product or package. Other numbers, such as batch and serial numbers also might be needed. Such crucial information must be printed on products before they are shipped out to retailers. A particular type of printer is needed for this job. Such specialized devices are called ID coders. There are many suppliers offering this type of printer. Some of the most favored brands are VideoJet, Altima and Domino.

New coders can be quite expensive, so it might be best to consider purchasing a used and refurbished coder. Some product id companies rebuild coders and restore them to near-new condition and this can be an excellent money-saving alternative to a new Domino coder, a VideoJet coder or some other type of CIJ coder. Branded inks are not necessarily needed and you can still get the same excellent result using generic types of ink and these product id companies also often create very high quality versions of Imaje ink, Domino ink and many other popular brands.




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