Protecting our belongings from the weather is a top priority here in Australia, where the climate can be quite unforgiving. We protect our cars from the sun by parking in a garage, protect our skin by applying sunscreen and protect our pets by letting them sleep inside. Barcodes are no exception to the rule; they spend a lot of time outdoors, travelling across long distances through sun, rain and wind. So, naturally, we want to preserve these barcodes so that they don’t get damaged in transit.

Today, we’ll explain a couple of great ways to protect your barcodes from the weather so that you never have to worry about them become damaged or unidentifiable.

Consider the material of the surface

Every barcode gets stuck to a surface, so what type of surface are you sticking them to? Certain substrates like plastics, painted metals and fibre drums need the right adhesive and label material so that they stick to the surface and don’t peel off easily. For these substrates, polyester barcodes are recommended as they’re durable and work well when used with the right adhesive.

Cardboard, on the other hand, is suited to paper barcodes which can be made with a laminate coat to give them more weather-resistant qualities.

UV-resistant barcodes

UV-resistant barcodes are highly sought-after in Australia due to the extreme UV levels in the hotter months. Barcodes materials with high UV-resistance include polyester and vinyl which are far more effective at resistant the rays of the sun than paper, for example.

Rain-resistant barcodes

You have a few different options for waterproofing your barcodes. Plastic materials such as polypropylene, polyester and vinyl are generally the best for waterproof barcode labels, as plastic is not effected by water. As a more cost-effective option, you can also apply a top laminate coat to your paper barcodes to give them more waterproofing and UV-resistance.

Cold-resistant barcodes

The best way to safeguard your barcodes from freezing temperatures is to make them from polypropylene. This type of plastic is incredibly effective at handling cold environments such as supermarket freezers and laboratories.

Protection from chemical exposure

Chemical exposure is another important consideration for certain industries. Barcodes can be protected from chemical exposure if they’re made from the correct material. Polyimide is the most common material for barcodes that need to be resistant to chemical exposure. Polyimide barcode labels can withstand temperatures of up to 400 degrees Celsius and harsh chemical exposures while still providing accurate reads.

Barcodes can be protected from just about anything. To make sure your barcodes are built to handle their environments, contact the team at Barcode Labels. They offer high quality labels in a range of different materials so that your barcodes are durable in any situation. Talk to Barcode Labels today to find the best barcode material for you.