Carleton, Author at Express

How Does RFID Work for Vehicle Gate Entry?

Published: 12/05/201902/10/2023

RFID

An RFID tag, or radio frequency identification tag, is something you might find in everything from wrist bands at amusement parks to identification tags in secure location. It can be used to mark objects that might require tracking or locating in some way. RFID offers a fantastic way to control such objects as vehicle gate entry systems, too. It is the sort of nimble and flexible solution ideal for vehicle access control at a residential location as well as a commercial or industrial setting.

How would an RFID tag work within a vehicle gate entry system?

A good way to answer that question is to begin with a clear understanding of just how RFID operates at the most basic level.

RFID Tags 101

An RFID tag contains technology that allows it to support tracking, and it accesses radio frequency waves in order to do so. At the most basic level, it is a technology that features two parts. One is a “transmitter” and the other is a receiver. The tag contains the receiver, which is often described as an integrated circuit or chip. This chip stores the information that the tag is used to contain.

For example, the tag may have been placed on a vehicle, and it contains such information as the vehicle’s make and unique ID or it may even contain user information, such as employee or residential data. It may allow the user to also enter the gate, opening the vehicle gate entry.

And this is where we can start to see just how vehicle access control and an RFID tag system are a match made in heaven.

Your Vehicle Gate Entry Will Benefit from RFID Vehicle Access Control

A singular challenge in modern security is controlling access to a facility (whether industrial or residential), while upholding the level of protection required. The traditional solution is a gated entry or security gate built in the center of a security fence or other structure. While it is always possible to have human-powered security gates with guards who check and clear those seeking entry and allow or deny access, it is not cost efficient or easily managed. It is an outdated system in the face of an RFID tag and vehicle access control system.

Why? There is the risk of human error and fraud that can allow someone to gain entry when they have no reason or right to do so. Just consider that guards or sentries at gates have everything from paper lists of names and approved users, to simply being flustered by someone who insists on going through.

The same can be said of the flaws and challenges of things like “clickers” or remote control devices that can come up with an untold number of glitches. From dead batteries to outdated systems that can allow security codes to be stolen right out of the air, there are too many risks inherent in hand-held devices meant to communicate with most radio frequency systems.

Lastly, there are frequently delays between the cuing of a system and its actual operation. For example, a traditional gate that lifts and lowers has that pause that can take a count of five or ten before it kicks back into action. When there are four or more vehicles at such a vehicle gate entry, the delays can be excessive. There are always going to be traffic issues associated with the manual vehicle gate entry and vehicle access control systems, too. Just visit any industrial, commercial or residential facility during peak commuter hours and you’ll see how this sort of access control can prove problematic. It can even cause street traffic issues.

So, there are many challenges, including the expenses of maintaining round the clock staff that can operate at optimal levels. There are also the infrastructure expenses of investing in devices that have to be installed and maintained, and then used properly by those who require access through a vehicle gate entry.

And once you discover RFID tag technologies, and the fact that they can be integrated into a vehicle access control system and paired to a vehicle gate entry, you can see how they might be a premium or optimized approach to security and control.

How RFID Works With Vehicles

While it will always be necessary to pair any RFID tag system with preferred software and technologies that allow the user to make the most of it, the simplest truth is that vehicles can be fitted with affordable tags that will convey the data needed.

As a simple illustration, Express offers those in need of vehicle access control at a vehicle gate entry such solutions as RFID tags in:

Key fobs – Residents or employees and vendors can slip a tag on to their car key fob and the technology will interact with the fob every time the car nears the gate.
Rearview mirror hang tags – Residents and employees or vendors can just hang the tag on the mirror and let it work as far away as 25 feet from the gate, maximizing the speed of the system
Windshield tags – Residents and employees can be issued tags that stick right to the windscreen of any vehicle, and it too might allow them to access the vehicle gate entry or vehicle access control system from up to 20 feet or more

A system for vehicle access control can use the two parts to an RFID tag system. It can have the antenna that waits for any messages from the tags to reach the proximity zone. The passive, vehicle-mounted fob, hang tag or windshield tag can send out little more than a number assigned to it. This can be used to match it against a data set of vehicle tags allowed to pass through the entry. In seconds, the data can be exchanged, the vehicle gate entry opened, and the community or facility kept secure.

There are many moving parts in modern security, but an RFID tag can really streamline things and protect security to the greatest and most user-friendly degree possible.

What Is A RFID Tag?

Published: 12/03/201902/10/2023

RFID

An RFID tag, or radio frequency identification tag, is a remarkable gadget. It is a wireless and “no contact” tag that relies on radio frequency waves in order to transfer data. They are incredibly helpful to those who use them because they are unlike other ID tags in that they have no “line of sight” requirement to communicate data. In other words, they don’t have to be seen in order to be read if the appropriate device is at work looking for the signals.

And though it is common to see an RFID tag using a permanent mount on something like a piece of costly equipment, you can find a stunning array of RFID tag options and uses. They include:

Key fobs
Wrist bands
Credential tags
Rearview mirror hang tags
Windshield tags
Standard hang tags
Standard tags
Extra-durable (industrial environment) tags
Metal-mount tags
High temperature tags
Indoor (all purpose) tags made of plastic, polyester and other materials, and much more

And while there are RFID tags in this wide range of designs and purposes, there are also the different properties that they feature. For example, you will find them in different frequencies, read ranges (such as being readable from 10 feet away), and functional in a diverse range of settings. Some are designed for industrial purposes, some for everyday use, and some for difficult settings, such as high temperature locations.

The Pros and Cons of RFID Tag Technologies

Apart from using them for their specific purposes, such as the wrist bands that are easily scanned by gates in amusement parks or other settings, RFID tags are great because they can work so well in such a wide array of settings. Unlike other tags that might become unseated and lost if near liquids or extremes of heat or cold, RFID tags remain firmly in place and well-performing. They also adhere easily to the widest pool of materials, including metals of all kinds.

The downside for some potential users is that their read ranges are not always expansive. Yet, that “con” is negated when you realize that other ID tags are even less likely to deliver a comparable performance. As an example, a standard barcode ID tag might be unable to be read from a few feet away. That same tag, however, might easily send out the essential data if an RFID, and provide the user with the essential information and data.

And what about complaints of limited memory or data? That too is negated by the fact that any RFID tag can operate in a similar manner as a barcode, i.e. it can be associated with equipment and files that enhance the data available. For example, the RFID on a wrist band can open (if desired) into a screen of further data fields. Yes, it may only convey that initial, essential cue, and no further data, but that does not limit the data available upon scanning the code.

If you require some sort of data tagged items or equipment, RFID may be for you. At Express, a top manufacturing company providing barcode and labeling solutions for more than 30 years, you can find any labeling need or technology, including entirely customized RFID tags.

Asset Tag vs. Barcode Label: A Quick Primer

If you are a business owner and starting to explore asset management strategies, you are probably wondering about the answer to the asset tag vs. barcode label question. In other words: What is the difference (if any) between the asset tag and the barcode label? Actually, there is quite a bit to know about the…

Asset Tag vs. Barcode Label: A Quick Primer

Published: 11/25/201902/10/2023

Barcode Labels & Asset Tags

Actually, there is quite a bit to know about the asset tag vs. barcode label debate. First and foremost, barcodes and asset tags are both printed separately and applied to something at a later time. They both also tend to feature barcodes, though an asset tag might also contain a customized array of numbers and letters that are pre-defined by the company using them.

That is where similarities in the asset tag vs. barcode label issue end and where the differences begin.

When Barcodes Are More Than Barcodes

As you get into a discussion about the differences between the barcodes and the asset tags, it is best to define each separately. Let’s start with barcode labels.

Barcodes are printed on labels which are then applied to products and other items. Their black lines and bars are read by a scanner and translated into data in a specific system. They are put to use tracking goods in warehouses, packages and shipments, offices, and most commonly in retail settings. They can be used in bulk, such as a single barcode label applied to thousands of items and containing the same data. The latter is how barcode labels work in grocery stores and retail settings.

That is also a key differentiator in the discussion of asset tag vs. barcode label because asset tags are usually entirely unique.

Asset tags are labels made of different materials but which are affixed to equipment, inventory, or tools and which are used to track an asset’s whereabouts, condition, and other details. Asset tags are used individually, and though (as noted), they may feature a barcode, that series of bars and lines are associated with that one, single asset.

For example, an asset tag might be associated to a laptop owned by a company and when scanned it might reveal which employee is responsible for the computer, when it was bought, where it is located, which operating software it has, which vendor supplied it, serial numbers, and more. That data can be automatically or manually updated, and the information about the laptop can be used to gauge everything from depreciation to whether or not it has been lost.

So, if you have been weighing the asset tag vs. barcode label issue in the hopes of determining which is the best for your company’s needs, you might now know that both have their place. The asset tags are part of your asset management strategy and use barcodes, but barcode labels can be used for inventory of a more general nature. If you are eager to begin developing an access tag strategy, contact EXPRESS today and enjoy identification and asset tags made simple and to your specific needs.

Express Aces ISO Re-Certification Audit

Express recently completed its annual ISO 9001 re-certification audit and passed with flying colors. Congrats to all the team members and thank you for your hard work – Quality makes a difference! To learn more about ISO 9001 and why it’s important to partner with quality-certified manufacturers, visit: https://www.iso.org/iso-9001-quality-management.html

Express Aces ISO Re-Certification Audit

Published: 11/19/201902/10/2023

In the News

Express recently completed its annual ISO 9001 re-certification audit and passed with flying colors.

Congrats to all the team members and thank you for your hard work – Quality makes a difference!

To learn more about ISO 9001 and why it’s important to partner with quality-certified manufacturers, visit: https://www.iso.org/iso-9001-quality-management.html

How to Use Property Tags

Today, it has become the modern practice of large public and private corporations that own a large number of assets to tag such assets for easy identification, among many other reasons. If you have decided to tag the assets owned by your organization, you need to decide which assets need tagging and what type of…

How to Use Property Tags

Published: 11/18/201902/10/2023

Barcode Labels & Asset Tags

What are property tags and how are they used?

Does your organization own a lot of office equipment like laptops, printers, and scanners? Business enterprises all over the world use different types of equipment relevant to their field to get work done. With so many employees working at a high pace using so many inventories at the same time, keeping track of all these inventories represents a challenge that they take very seriously. The only way organizations do this successfully is through Asset Management.

To better manage your assets effectively, you have to tag them with barcodes or unique serial numbers, which will then be used to track them at every point in time. To make your tags more aesthetic, you may even consider using your organization’s logo for better identification. In addition to this, there is no restriction on the type of tag you use based on their materials, color, or sizes. What is most important is that the tags serve the purpose for which they were produced.

Tags have multipurpose usage and some of the things you can use a property tag for include:

Equipment Tracking: If you own a warehouse and there is a lot of plant and machinery in the warehouse in need of management, you can use labels like RFID and barcodes to track each individual piece of equipment as it moves from one point to another. This can also prove pivotal if assets in your warehouse tend to be moved out for external use by employees.

Inventory Control: One of the most fundamental uses of property tags is to keep stock of inventories. If you place tags on your inventory, you can track the quantity of inventory you have all year round without having to do a headcount every time.

Maintenance Schedule: Maintaining just a few types of equipment is not a hard task, but things become a lot more complicated when you are dealing with hundreds and thousands of pieces of equipment. With tags, you can easily identify the equipment requiring maintenance before they break down. You can also monitor the maintenance history of each individual asset.

Where are property tags used?

Now that we know the purpose of property tags, we will identify locations and industries where they are commonly deployed.

1. Healthcare Industry

Property tags have been massively deployed in the healthcare industry for a long time. Biomedical engineers, for instance, use property tags to track hospital equipment and other medical devices used regularly in a hospital setting.

2. Education Industry

Property tags are also used by schools and colleges to track their assets and equipment. Audiovisual equipment like IT gadgets, laptops, and tablets are common examples of such assets.

3. Warehouses

If there is any location where you will surely find property tags, it is at large warehouses where there are multiple different types of equipment performing advanced functions. Administrators use property tags to streamline workflow and to control inventory usage.

4. Utility Companies

Companies that operate outside a controlled environment where their movable assets are exposed to harsh weather elements often use property tags. RFID labels may even be used, so long as they are durable enough.

Why has labeling assets become so important?

Labeling assets is important because such practices help you develop a robust maintenance strategy. It also helps you store your records in a single, central platform for present or future use. Property tags also:

Aid in access to relevant information about each individual asset
Eliminate human error as far as asset management is concerned
Improve intra-department collaboration
Inspect and audit of assets for regulatory control
Calculate the lifecycle depreciation for each individual asset
Reduce the risk of theft

How to decide on the right property tag

Before you deploy property tags, you first need to decide in advance which assets you wish to tag. Here are some of the ways you can shortlist assets according to selected criteria.

Movable Assets: Have a high risk of misplacement or theft, so they have to be tracked. Make sure you tag office equipment that is used at multiple locations. Labeling kits and bundles of such equipment also makes it easy for managers to monitor them at external worksites.

Fixed Assets: If your organization uses a large number of fixed assets like tables and chairs, computers, etc., tagging them and regulating their use will help in avoiding frequent breakdowns.

High Value Assets: All high value assets should have property tags, even if the asset is fixed and secure. If there’s a chance your office, store, or warehouse can be broken onto, you should use property tags.

What kind of assets require property tags?

Not all assets require property tags. Assets such as consumables should not be tagged as doing so will be a waste of the company’s resources. Furthermore, assets with a limited shelf life should not also be tagged. These two factors should be considered when deciding on property tags.

What are some common property tags?

Some common property tags in use are:

Barcodes: Widely used by public and private entities, Barcodes are categorized into Code 128 and Code 39.

RFID: RFID has become increasingly popular and more accessible with recent cost reductions.

QR Codes: They have the capability to retain a lot of data and can be scanned using a smartphone camera.

GPS: GPS is among the oldest tracking technology in use and also one of the most advanced. It enables users to read data about assets at specific locations in real-time.

A Beginner’s Guide to RFID

Published: 11/11/201902/10/2023

RFID

Do you know what RFID stands for? Do you know what it means, and have you used the technology before? The answer many people give to this question is negative, and they are often emphatic about it. It will interest you to know that RFID is a lot more common than you think. In fact, you just might have an RFID tag or label close by as you read this guide. Read on to understand what RFID is all about and how it works in modern applications.

What is RFID?

RFID is basically an acronym that represents “radio-frequency identification.” This technology is simply digital data encoded in an RFID label or tag. The data in such a tag can then be captured by a device (reader) via radio waves. Similar to barcoding, the data an RFID tag contains can be captured by a special reader that stores the information in a database. However, RFID has a notable advantage over barcode systems as an asset tracking software. For instance, radio-frequency identification data can be read without a line of sight, but barcodes, on the other hand, can only be read with an optical scanner.

How Does Radio-Frequency Identification Technology work?

RFID is a part of technology grouping called Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC). AIDC technology works in a specific kind of way in identifying objects, data collection, and data entry into computer systems with or without human intervention. In a similar vein, RFID uses radio waves to carry out the above functions. On a basic level, the technology comprises of three structural components which are

An RFID Label
An RFID Reader
An Antenna and integrated Circuit for data transmission to the Card Reader

When active, the Reader converts the waves into a usable data form. The information collated from the RFID tag is transferred through a communication medium or interface to a host computing device. When the computer receives the data, it automatically stores it in a database for future analysis.

The nitty-gritty of Smart RFID tags or labels

As can be seen from the previous paragraph, RFID tags have integrated circuits and a transmission antenna. These tags also contain protective materials that shield them from hazardous external conditions. The protective material a tag will contain varies depending on what it is used for. For example, ID cards worn by the staff of organizations have protective materials made of plastic with the tag embedded in between two or more plastic layers. Another thing you should also know is that RFID labels may either be Passive tags or Active tags.

Passive Tags: Passive tags are the most common today. To function, they have to be powered up by an RFID reader.

Active Tags: Have a power supply board (battery) for data transmission at all times. They are active round the clock.

Is there a difference between Smart Labels and RFID tags?

Yes, there are slightly different from RFID tags. Why so? Smart Labels have essential structural elements that make them both barcodes and RFID at the same time. Smart Labels contain adhesives embedded with a tag inlay, and depending on the specific purpose and design, they may also have a barcode or other information. Despite the relative ability of a Smart Label to function with radio-frequency waves if so designed, the most notable difference is stark. Smart Labels can be printed or encoded, but RFID tags, on the other hand, require more advanced technology.

Uses of RFID technology

RFID technology has been in use for over half a century now, and in recent times, the demand and use of this technology have continued to grow. This growth has been influenced by directives issued by the US Department of Defense as well as the Mega Chain store, Wal-Mart’s mandate to suppliers to make their products RFID traceable.

Inventory Management: Supermarkets, manufacturing plants, and large business use RFID technology to keep track of their inventory within and outside work sites. This helps managers account for each item and its location.

Asset Tracking: RFID Labels serve a similar purpose to inventory tracking. Businesses can identify with a high degree of certainty, the location of their assets.

Personnel Tracking: This technology makes personnel administration and management a lot easier, particularly if you are working with staff numbering hundreds and even thousands at the same time.

Access Restrictions: Areas where sensitive materials are stored need maximum security at all times. RFID tags can be used to prevent unauthorized individuals from gaining access to such locations without the need for security manning the entry point.

Badging: Staff can be identified using RFID enabled Identity cards. These cards may also be used by staff to access locations or information that non-staff or unauthorized individuals should not.

Supply Chain Management: For the effective movement of supplies from one point to another, RFID technology simplifies coordination.

Anti-Counterfeiting: We find this technology deployed in the Pharmaceutical industry where drug manufacturers use it to authenticate their products.

Some other uses of RFID technology include

File Tracking
Race Timing
Textile and Laundry Tracking
Logistics Tracking
Tolling
Animal Tracking
Real-Time Location
Tracking of Returnable Transit Item (RTI)
Vehicle Tracking
Marketing Campaigns

The Complete Guide to Nameplates, Data Plates & Rating Plates

Durable Industrial Nameplates Express is a full-service manufacturer of custom industrial nameplates, data plates, rating plates, and tags. All industrial nameplates are engineered to identify your brand and communicate essential product information in the harshest natural and industrial environments. Choose from aluminum, stainless steel, brass, polycarbonate, or vinyl for lifetime identification in any environment. All…

The Complete Guide to Nameplates, Data Plates & Rating Plates

Published: 11/08/201903/14/2023

In the News

Durable Industrial Nameplates

Express is a full-service manufacturer of custom industrial nameplates, data plates, rating plates, and tags. All industrial nameplates are engineered to identify your brand and communicate essential product information in the harshest natural and industrial environments. Choose from aluminum, stainless steel, brass, polycarbonate, or vinyl for lifetime identification in any environment. All Express nameplates are manufactured in the USA, custom-designed, and produced in-house through our complementary processes, including chemical etching, laser etching, sub-surface printing, screen printing, and digital printing.

Industrial metal and plastic nameplates play a critical role in communicating vital information to end users, including company brand, product information, serial numbers, safety and hazard warnings, operating instructions, maintenance records, and barcoded equipment data. All metal and plastic nameplates are designed to withstand the harshest natural and industrial environments and last the life of your part.

Express manufactures custom metal nameplates and data plates for ultimate durability against extended outdoor exposure, extreme temperatures, chemical exposure, and cleaning processes. Industrial nameplates are designed to meet many Department of Defense standards, aerospace specifications, and related industry standards. Our advanced manufacturing capabilities ensure reduced lead times and minimal tooling charges, while our Design Team ensures conformance to your exact specifications.
Express has a wide range of materials, technologies, and processes to produce attractive and durable nameplates for your identification needs. Express can chemically etch, laser etch, and print industrial nameplates on any material – stainless steel, aluminum, brass, polycarbonate, ceramic, vinyl, and plastic.

How to design custom industrial nameplates?

The easiest way to design custom industrial nameplates is through our Universal Designer, where you can specify every nameplate element, including size, text, logo, background, corner radius, hole diameter and placement, and data sequence. You may also submit an engineered drawing or call to speak with one of our design specialists. Our design team and 30+ years of industry experience allow Express to evaluate business needs and develop lasting identification solutions for large-scale deployment.

How much do custom industrial nameplates cost?

The minimum order cost for custom industrial nameplates is $300. Higher-volume orders significantly reduce the per-unit cost. Since all nameplates are fully-custom, the exact price depends on the label material, size, and quantity.

Why should I use a custom nameplate provider?

With decades of experience manufacturing custom nameplates, Express has honed its ability to understand unique customer requirements and applications, manage complex data sequences, parse complex engineered drawings, satisfy the strictest tolerances, manage multiple shipment dates and locations, and deliver on the tightest deadlines. All these factors make Express a premier manufacturer and a leader in the industrial identification industry.

The Complete Guide to Asset Labels

Asset Label Materials Express only uses the highest-quality materials in manufacturing custom asset labels and tags. All material components—substrate, ink, and adhesive—are critical in forming a premium product durable enough to withstand the toughest business and industrial environments. All asset labels are backed with multi-purpose permanent pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive that secures these premium labels…

The Complete Guide to Asset Labels

Published: 11/08/201903/14/2023

In the News

Asset Label Materials

Express only uses the highest-quality materials in manufacturing custom asset labels and tags. All material components—substrate, ink, and adhesive—are critical in forming a premium product durable enough to withstand the toughest business and industrial environments. All asset labels are backed with multi-purpose permanent pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive that secures these premium labels for permanent attachment and extended service life.

Asset labels and tags provide long-lasting and dependable asset identification for indoor and outdoor environments. Proper asset identification through barcode labels and tags increases accountability, deters theft, and tracks asset location and status. Express manufactures durable asset labels and tags to withstand the most demanding environments. Choose aluminum asset labels for lifetime asset identification, polyester and vinyl asset labels for economical identification, or destrutible and void-indicating asset labels for theft-deterrence and security.

Aluminum Asset Tags

Aluminum asset tags are a rugged identification solution where outdoor durability is essential. Express uses sub-surface imaging and printing to embed the barcode and text deep within the surface of the aluminum tag for permanent lifetime protection from wear and tear. The final product is pure aluminum providing superior resistance to abrasion, chemicals, and harsh environmental conditions.
Subsurface-printed aluminum asset tags are the pinnacle of this manufacturing art, resisting the most extreme conditions and ensuring solid protection and reliable asset tracking for the life of your assets. For those who prefer the very best, it’s Subsurface-printed aluminum.

Polyester Asset Tags

Polyester asset tags are an economical alternative to aluminum tags and perform best in moderate environments. The graphic images are printed on the underside of the clear polyester material and fused with a durable substrate. Polyester asset tags deliver flexible, long-lasting protection for years of service.

Vinyl Asset Tags

Vinyl asset tags are an economical solution for indoor assets and mild environments. The barcode and other information is printed on the surface of .0038” thick vinyl, backed with a general purpose adhesive.

Security Labels

Destructible asset tags break into small pieces and show evidence of tampering. Void indicating labels show a VOID pattern upon attempted removal. Both are excellent security labels that deter theft and show evidence of tampering.

Custom Asset Labels

How to design custom asset labels?

The easiest way to design custom asset labels is through our Universal Designer, where you can specify every label element, including size, text, logo, background, corner radius, hole diameter and placement, and data sequence. You may also submit an engineered drawing or call to speak with one of our design specialists. Our design team and 30+ years of industry experience allow Express to evaluate business needs and develop lasting identification solutions for large-scale deployment.

What factors to consider when choosing custom asset labels?

Environmental Resistance – what type of conditions will your asset label have to endure? Express manufactures asset labels to withstand prolonged exposure to UV radiation, caustic chemicals, repeated abrasion, extreme temperatures, multiple freeze / thaw cycles, moisture, salt spray, and other environmental challenges.
Surface – what type of surface will your asset label adhere to? Smooth and clean surfaces are best for adhesion. Rough surfaces are more challenging and asset labels may need to be attached with rivets or screws. The surface material is an important consideration because metal and plastic surfaces have different adhesion characteristics.
Size – asset label size and X-dimension are critical to ensure barcode integrity and machine readability. In a linear 1D barcode (Code 39 or Code 128), the X-dimension refers to the width of the narrowest bar in the symbol. In a 2D symbol (Data Matrix or QR Code), the X-dimension refers to the height and width measurement of one cell (square element). Express has standard X-dimensions and can advise on the proper label size to ensure barcode quality and integrity.

What are the benefits of custom asset labels?

By investing in asset labels solutions with a focus on asset management and tracking, our customers realize significant gains in efficiency, data integrity, and profitability.

Asset labels eliminate human error – an asset label scan is significantly faster and more reliable than manual data entry.
Asset labels are extremely versatile – asset labels can be used for any kind of business data collection in any indoor or outdoor environment.
Asset labels drive business efficiency – because asset labels can accurately track the location, status, and quantity of equipment and inventory, asset labels give managers greater insight into their business operations and enable businesses to save time, reduce inventory levels, and reduce overhead costs.
Asset labels promote better business decisions – with greater transparency and access to more data, business managers are able to make better decisions that save time and money.

What asset management technologies are supported?

By focusing on each customer’s experience and producing a truly-custom identification solution, Express can design and manufacture asset labels that are compatible with any hardware or software asset tracking system.

How much do custom asset labels cost?

The minimum order cost for custom asset labels is $300. Higher-volume orders significantly reduce the per-unit cost of custom barcode labels. Since all asset labels are fully-custom, the exact price depends on the label material, size, and quantity.

Why should I use a custom asset label provider?

With decades of custom asset label manufacturing experience, Express has honed its ability to understand unique customer requirements and applications, manage complex data sequences, parse complex engineered drawings, satisfy the strictest tolerances, manage multiple shipment dates and locations, and deliver on the tightest deadlines. All these factors make Express a premier manufacturer and a leader in the industrial identification industry.

Supply Chain Management Best Practices

Efficient supply chains rely on highly effective logistic and distribution processes to keep inventory moving. Barcode labels and RFID tags from Express optimize this process and help meet your warehouse and distribution center requirements, receive, route, cross-dock, re-label, and control inventory throughout your entire supply chain. Supply Chain Management Best Practices Integrate everything – comprehensive system…

Supply Chain Management Best Practices

Published: 11/08/201902/10/2023

Warehouse

Supply Chain Management Best Practices

Integrate everything – comprehensive system and process integration is critical in the digital age and can facilitate real-time information sharing and communication throughout the supply chain
Invest in technology – a host of new supply chain management systems leverage automatic data capture technology and provide full supply chain transparency
Leverage your data – a fully-integrated and technologically-equipped supply chain provides real-time data that drives smarter decision-making and improves business performance

Benefits of Barcode Integration

End-to-end predictive visibility – over-the-road, ocean, drayage & rail, and parcel
Implement a full end-to-end, over-the-road tracking system
Calculate predictive measurements such as arrival time, transport time, and transport delays
Yard management – reduce inventory shrinkage and minimize product loss through real-time visibility of all assets
Comprehensive supply chain visibility – from origin to port, plant, distribution center, and store
Tighten inventory management – reroute shipments in real-time based on weather, traffic, and changes in demand
Deliver superior customer service – confirm deliveries and notify customers in advance of any potential supply chain issues
Full traceability to verify conditions and treatment of cargo throughout transportation stages

The Complete Guide to Asset Tagging: Methods, Best Practices, and More

Asset tagging is very important for organisations planning to manage large volumes of business equipment in an efficient way. Companies can acquire different types of assets to facilitate their daily operations. Different tools and equipment get circulated within various departments or even across different locations. This increases the risk that comes with misplacement, loss and…

The Complete Guide to Asset Tagging: Methods, Best Practices, and More

Published: 11/06/201903/14/2023

Barcode Labels & Asset Tags

Different tools and equipment get circulated within various departments or even across different locations. This increases the risk that comes with misplacement, loss and theft. To reduce administrative overheads, companies have to track their assets carefully. The best way to do this is to label all the tools and equipment with asset tags and ensure they follow asset tagging best practices from the get-go.

Asset tags are basically adhesive labels that can be attached on equipment for better inventory control and easy asset identification. They contain unique asset codes or serial numbers that give specific details about the location, group or any other element of the asset. Today, two of the most popular asset identification methods are RFID and using Barcode labels.

Organisations can use barcode label asset tags to quickly and easily identify inventory across the whole organisation or in the entire supply chain. Barcodes are assigned a unique identification number or symbol which can only be scanned using an asset tracking software solution found in handheld scanners or mobile devices. Some barcode label software can even include maintenance schedules, warranty information, maintenance history for assets, and so much more.

Even though organisations use labels that scan and produce additional information about the item in question, they still require to come up with a proper asset tagging solution. Any company that uses asset tags for asset identification needs a clearly defined and efficient process that manages the assets. By tagging and monitoring assets throughout their lifecycle, they can plan and execute inventory control and ultimately business performance.

Asset Tagging Best Practices

Labelling assets is not an easy task. There are many elements at play such as the type of assets you want to label, the conditions the asset tag has to go through and the data one has to include in the label. Here are some asset tagging best practices that organisations should embrace:

Pick item IDs with care

If your employees tend to travel a lot with tools and machines, your organisation should learn to implement an asset labelling routine that incorporates the location, item, and department code within the item ID or AIN itself. To increase efficiency, one can assign different codes to different locations, such as TX for the branch in Texas. If you were to implement this, each device category can have its own specific code.

For instance, if you can input L00 for laptops, then choose a specific set of numbers to distinguish different departments, such as 100 for IT. The result showcasing a certain laptop from the IT department in Texas could be identified as TXL00100. This effectively enables one to know all the important details of an item right from the item ID.

Including Procurement Details

For high-maintenance assets, it is essential to record the year of purchase right on the asset label. This makes eases depreciation and maintenance management so that new items undergoing maintenance can be quickly identified for more exclusive examination. It also makes it easier to identify an item that is almost completing its useful life, therefore, no extra costs should be spent for its upgrade.

Use Color-Coded Tags

Companies that have new projects every season can find it hard to maintain different packing lists and have straight custody records. Regular businesses might get confused in differentiating assets from different departments, or assets that look similar but encompass different properties. To make it easier for you, colour coding makes asset identification seamless. For example, if you have the same HP laptops but one with 4GB RAM and the other with 8GB RAM, you can use different for either.

Customize Data

Depending on the assets you have, you can record specific data to have a database that actually provides worthy insights. For instance, barcode labels can entail the manufacturer’s name, serial number and tracking number, including information on which project the asset is tied to. This makes it easier for employees to access detailed information of a certain item, and gather reports to improve future operations.

How Asset Tagging Improves Efficiency

Asset tagging can be very complicated if one starts off wrongly. Having an outline of your organisation’s assets in place can simplify asset tagging and support efficient lifecycle management. Firstly, one can choose the right labelling strategy by having a good understanding of your business goals and objectives. Ultimately, it will seamlessly encourage better efficiencies according to your operations. One can lower costs, improve equipment ROIs, and forego the risk of asset loss, theft and misplacement.