Identification products can fall into a wide range of categories, which can include names on a computer, or the nameplate attached to an executive‘s door. In the advertising industry, identification products are the things, such as emblems, that are used to make a product stand out and differentiate it from the competition. They are an essential method for removing a single item from a group, much like having a name plate on your desk or attached to your car.
Though we can think of identification products as a frivolous item that can identify a product or person, they have other purposes beyond simple labels. In manufacturing and production, identity products can serve the purpose of labeling materials for groupings and categorizing materials.
On the practical side, identification products call attention to hazards, label or mark equipment, and provide critical and necessary information. The ways that we use identification products are limitless and expansive. Every aspect of life depends on these critical items to offer us guidance and give directions regarding our surroundings.
In the production process for sensitive materials, each item that comes off the assembly line has to be identified and labeled. At one point in time, the process was completed by an experienced worker who was specially trained in determining the difference between each of the various components. As an item came to the end of the line, the highly trained employee marked with a pen or marker.
The problem with the process was finding someone with the same expertise to fill in for the worker when he was gone. A group of engineers devised an identity method that could be added to the component when it reached the last station. The development of this simple device sped up production and saved hours of down time.
There are many methods for the creation, design, and manufacturing of identification products, which vary between the use of a copier, to ones that are cut from metal and engraved. The way an identification product is made does not determine its importance. In some cases, the simplest of labels can be a critical part of a lifesaving tool, vaccine, or procedure.
The one factor that separates identification products is their purpose. In the case of machinery, the identification product may be placed as a safety precaution, offer instructions on the machine‘s operation, or be the identifying information for inventory purposes. For medications and medical tools, identification products are used as coding of the products date of purchase and last date of usefulness.
In each instance, an identification product provides data, information, assistance, and guidelines regarding the product or item to which it is attached. Though we may take such items for granted, they are essential for safety and efficiency. This seems to be the nature of identification products. They instantly give information that will help us perform a job or complete a task.
Identification products help companies reduce human error, reinforce training principles, and streamline facility procedures and methods. Every operation has a set of standards and guidelines that make processes go smoothly and efficiently. These are enhanced and supported by properly and strategically placed identification products.
As technical processes become more critical and essential in production and manufacturing processes, identification products will become a necessary part of helping all members of the workforce to understand their role and be able to function efficiently with precision. In a simple few words, a crisis or problem can be averted and resolved.
Laser cutting is a low-distortion hot cutting process that most commonly uses a CO2 laser for the cutting of material, usually metal or sheet metal. Thus, a laser is sometimes also called a metal laser.
"Laser" is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation; it emanates a light that contains a decent amount of electromagnetic radiation. This extremely focused radiation of a wavelength does not dissipate like conventional light beams. A laser beam is way stronger and denser than any other type of light that we have known so far. The beam emission device can be programmed and the intensity of the laser beam can be manipulated according to the requirements of the application. Learn more about laser cutting.
Lasers produce beams of monochromatic, coherent radiation (light) and are designed to concentrate high amounts of energy over a defined point.
The term laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. This helps us understand that, through stimulated emission, lasers release a beam of electromagnetic radiation (beam of light).
Learn more about lasers.
The term "marking machinery" encompasses a wide range of machinery and equipment that is used to create markings for and on a variety of products and parts.
Once these markings have been designed and fabricated, they are then put onto packages by labeling machinery.
Learn more about marking machinery.
Metal etching, also referred to as metal engraving, is the process of creating grooves, fine lines or impressed designs on metal parts or sheets.
Metal etching is used for a wide variety of reasons, including decorative and architectural purposes. For example, manufacturers sometimes employ decorative etching in order to smoke surfaces so that the lines will be more visible. In addition, metal etching can be used to help a metal part meet restrictive weight demands by removing a surface layer of a part through chemical or mechanical means.
Some of the industries that have use for metal etching include jewelry, furniture, architecture, music, art, healthcare, woodworking, aerospace, electronics and arms and defense. Examples of the many products that manufacturers can produce or improve through metal etching processes include: stencils, printing plates, musical instruments, plaques and trophies, foil-stamping dies, metal stamps, precision parts, stents, implants, cathodes, printed circuit boards, engraved or reduced missile skin panels and jet frames. Learn more about metal etching.
Nameplates are plaque-like displays of information, specially designed with signs and symbols that identify things.
Nameplate manufacturers fashion nameplates out of an extensive variety of materials for use in an equally extensive variety of applications. Office nameplates, desk nameplates and door nameplates are used in professional companies, industrial facilities and institutions to identify the occupants of desks and offices.
Note: Nameplates are not the same thing as labels. They differ from labels in that nameplates are usually designed for long term person or product identification, whereas labels are designed for fairly easy removal. In addition, labels almost always use adhesive, whereas adhesive is only one of the options available with nameplates. They are also not the same thing as tags or dog tags. Tags fall under the category of jewelry. Learn more about name plates.
Labeling equipment are various machines, including label printers, label applicators, printer-applicators, and labeling systems, that apply labels to various products and packages.
The equipment used to produce and attach labels is as varied as the applications it employs. To begin, labeling equipment must first produce the labels, which takes place within a label printing machine. Label printers are generally high-quality, fast-working thermal transfer printers. Tape, fabric, plastic and metal may all be used as label material, therefore requiring label printers to be available in a plethora of styles. Specialized label printers exist for a variety of applications such as laboratories and hospital wristbands, which require varied information with each use. Comparatively, printer-applicators both print and apply labels for nearly any packaged good. Labels may identify the product and brand or they may have added information such as nutritional facts, product warnings, or bar codes. Among the industries that utilize labeling equipment are shipping and handling, textile manufacturing, food and beverage, automotive, electronic, agricultural and medical. Because labeling is one of the easiest and cheapest methods to prepare goods for a consumer context, label makers are everywhere.
Label applicators, which can also be known as label dispensers, are used to apply labels to a product. They come in air-blow and tamp-blow varieties that blow labels onto products quickly and accurately. Wipe-on applicators, which wipe labels onto products, are also available for applying labels to unusually shaped objects. A specific example is a bottle labeler, which is specially designed to label the spherically shaped glass, metal and ceramic objects. Other adhesive attaching techniques are used for bottles as well though, including pressure sensitive and heat shrink. Labeling systems are integrated systems that provide label printing and application through the use of integrated conveyor belts and computerized controls. For other applications, specialized labeling equipment also exists. Examples include rotary labeling systems for bottles and special printers and applicators for RFID and security tags. Regardless of the technique or material, there is a piece of labeling equipment right for any application. When choosing a printer, applicator or labeling system, the buyer should consider the material of the label as well as what it will be attached to, the size of the label as well as the amount being produced, label inks as well as mechanical specifics like productivity and accuracy rates and adjustability. Learn more about labeling equipments.
