Buy | Create A Barcode - Dragon Solutions Barcoding

Where do you buy a barcode & can you make your own?:

Bar codes used only to be available as Film Masters from reputable manufacturers. Made to a high level of precision, these were supplied as pieces of film (in pos or neg to suit your printing process) Still supplied in this format although with the advent of modern digital page makeup, are often supplied as digital file via ISDN or the Web.

If your product is to be sold via large retailers, the code will normally have to be incorporated into the packaging design rather than a 'retro-fit' label due to aesthetics.

AXICON LTD of Bicester provides a superb service for both film and digital clients.

What about bar code labels..?

Bar coded labels are acceptable in certain retail outlets - the large DIY sheds, health food shops, motor factors etc. as point of sale codes. Not generally accepted as PoS codes in large grocery stores and supermarkets.

Of course they are used extensively in the distribution industry on chilled foods and outer cases generally, and throughout the rest of industry.

On our site here we offer a fantastic range of thermal label printers.along with the software to allow you to create and print your own bar code labels.

SO YOU HAVE TO START BAR-CODING

YOUR PRODUCTS.....?

A RETAIL PRODUCT..?

If your product is being sold via retail outlets, then it must carry a standard EAN-13 bar code on its point of sale packaging. If you wish to supply traded units (large outer packs into the distribution chain, then it will have to bear an ITF-14 or an EAN-128 code.

If you've not had to do this before, please read the following:-

If everyone could make up their own registration numbers and put them on their cars, then we can imagine the sort of mess we could all get into..! We'd have duplications and mistakes and the Police would take a very dim view of things!

GS1 UK, based in Central London is to barcodes what the DVLA is to car registrations. They allocate code numbers to each particular company, whether they are UK based manufacturers, importers, processors etc

The service is chargeable and depends on what your company turnover is. The maximum you would have to pay would be £280.00 per year. This gives you up to 1000 unique bar code numbers - if you want more numbers, then a small additional charge would apply.

GS1 UK is the centre of influence for bar coding in the UK. They are extremely helpful and have a wealth of information at their disposal to assist you in providing the retailer and wholesaler with exactly the right type and standard of bar code.

A MAGAZINE OR NEWSPAPER...?

Your publication must carry an ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) Bar Code on its outer cover. You must get in touch with the British Library who will allocate the number.

The ISSN number is another form of EAN-13 (European Article Number, 13 digits)

A BOOK WITH AN ISBN BARCODE...?

You must contact the UK ISBN Agency who will allocate an ISBN Bar Code (International Standard Book Number)

AN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCT..?

Codes which are used in industry tend not to be controlled as tightly as retail products. Code types such as code 39 and code 128 tend to be used rather than the EAN type of code. A good label printing program such as LABELVIEW or BARTENDER coupled with a Mid Range or Industrial Thermal Label Printer will enable you to create industry acceptable bar code and text labels.

The bar code you apply to your product must be in an acceptable form and of a sufficient quality to satisfy your client.

Please consult the excellent web site of GS1 UK to learn how you can meet your customers expectations and don't forget that bar codes should be verified at all stages of the print process.

| Hand Held / Portable Bar Code Verifiers | PC-Based Bar Code Verifiers | Bar Code Fonts |

| Which Bar Code Reader? | Which Bar Code Printer? | Why Verify Your Bar Codes? |

| Need an Engineer? | Got a Faulty Scanner? |

Thermal Print Heads - DATAMAX - INTERMEC - TEC - ZEBRA/ELTRON

Labels & Ribbons - DATAMAX - INTERMEC - TEC - ZEBRA/ELTRON

|General EAN.UCC Specification v8.0 | Speed Up Adobe Reader! |

At Dragon Solutions, we have something like 30 years experience in the bar code field. In a previous life (as AXIS MULTIDATA) we produced high quality bar code film masters to the printing and publishing industries. Our customers included such clients as Kelloggs, Dorling Kindersley, Virgin & Premier Foods. We know what we are talking about when it comes to Bar Codes!

Can you print bar codes on a laser or ink jet printer..?

Yes you can, and it can be quite inexpensive!

For £99.00 we can supply you with Labeller X which contains all the sorts of codes you could think of - even Marks & Spencer and Ethel Austin specific codes!