Print in house or buy barcode label?

For many years bar code users and would-be users have been wondering whether to buy or print the bar code in house. The solution to a dilemma seemed never ending and recently people have finally pointed out some solutions to this problem.

There are two basic processes in which to produce bar code labels. They can be purchased (the bar code printing hardware and software are available in the market) or they can be produced in-house.

Preprinted bar code label vendors are able to provide labels containing a variety of information. You can order for rolls of sequentially numbered labels printed on vinyl label stock. If one opts to use preprinted bar code labels, then the requirement for label printing equipment, the staff to run the equipment, and the management required to assure a quality label is eliminated. This is due to the fact that preprinted label vendors have the bar code printing expertise and are responsible for making the labels that gives proper scanning result.  

It is always profitable to buy the printed bar code labels. If wide numbers of barcode labels are required for one time and there is a large amount of capital then it is preferable to go for printing on site.

Printing Techniques

Any printing process can produce preprinted bar code labels. In fact, some preprinted labels are created by making use of the same printing systems available in on-site printing systems. However, mostly used preprinted label are produced by printing systems which have good speed and accuracy like Film Master/Printing Plate, Ion-Deposition, or Photocomposition.

1. The film master/printing plate produces an extremely accurate photographically produced film master of the bar code. A printing plate is produced and the plate is used in a large number of commercial printing presses in order to create the preprinted label. The data coded in the film master bar code is fixed and cannot be altered and so this particular system cannot produce sequences of bar coded serial numbers, or bar coded variable, or even customer supplied data.
2. Ion deposition is one of the electrographic, non-impact imaging processes which is capable of printing bar codes and various other information on substrates such as paper, vinyl, polyester, and tag stock at very high speeds. The ion deposition printing station is almost similar to that of a xerographic photocopier.  
3. The "best" preprinted bar code is produced by photocomposition. The overall quality of the bar code image is better than other methods. There are high density messages as well as flexibility in label size and construction in order to meet special application requirements.