Are your UID labels tough enough?

Let’s say you have just received a contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to produce a large batch of equipment. You might be thinking ahead, picturing the completed order lined up in your warehouse, ready to ship.

It also might be wise to think about the UID labels on each piece of equipment — and where those labels will go over the life of those items.

The UID labels contain a Unique Identifier that is required for each piece of equipment as specified in DoD’s MIL-STD-130. The identifier, which is in the form of a 2-D Data Matrix barcode, allows the military to track the asset throughout its lifetime. This helps streamline inventory management and improve combat readiness.

Automated readers are used to scan the Data Matrix and translate the pattern into usable information. The Data Matrix can only do its job if it is readable. That means the MIL-STD-130 marking must be extremely durable to last the potentially decades-long life of the equipment. The labels might encounter harsh environmental conditions such as extreme heat or cold. And of course they’re subject to wear and tear as the equipment is put into use. Placement of the label in a relatively protected area can help in this regard. Applying a protective coating over the MIL-STD-130 marking not only protects against scuffs and dirt, but also may prevent damage from light or chemicals.

The method used to attach the label to the equipment is also an issue. Adhesives can degrade over time, creating a risk that the label will fall off. If a rigid adhesive is used, the attachment may fail due to different amounts of expansion and contraction of the adhesive and the surface as temperatures fluctuate. A flexible adhesive may be a better choice.

With so many factors to consider, contractors might want to turn to an expert in the area of MIL-STD-130 marking for help. Jet City Laser Inc. offers a wide variety of UID labels to suit nearly any application. Stainless steel, aluminum and polyester are just some of the label materials available. 

They’ll also ensure that the labels pass the important IUID verification step — a measure that grades the quality of the data matrix symbol after it’s produced. Jet City labels are 100% verified. When circumstances call for bypassing a label and applying the UID mark directly onto the equipment, Jet City can help there as well.

Learn more about Jet City Laser at their website, www.uid2go.com.

New products help meet UID requirements

For manufacturers of military equipment, complying with Unique Identification requirements is a multi-step process. And each step takes more time — and potentially costs more money — for the defense contractor. At the same time, businesses that specialize in UID systems are coming up with more products and services that can streamline the process for defense contractors and help ensure they’re compliant with DoD rules.

The first step in complying with the UID requirements is to familiarize oneself with the rules, which are spelled out in the DoD’s MIL-STD-130. The concept is that each item of equipment is marked with a unique identifier, which is encoded in a 2-D Data Matrix symbol. This makes it easier for the military to track the equipment throughout its lifetime, improving inventory management.

Next the contractor must decide how to place the Data Matrix symbol on the equipment. There are direct and indirect marking methods; each has advantages and disadvantages. With indirect marking, a label containing the identifier is attached to the equipment. The labels can be produced in large quantities, saving time and money. Direct marking is required when a label might throw a piece of equipment off-balance (when high-speed rotation is involved, for example) or if the label could cause the equipment to fail if it fell off. Direct marking methods include chemical etching, laser engraving and dot peening. For indirect marking, the label material must be selected — aluminum, stainless steel, and various fabrics are among the choices — as well as the method of attachment. Jet City Laser Inc. (www.UID2Go.com) is a company that works with direct and indirect labeling and can offer advice on the best method to use.

Another step in the Unique Identification process is checking the quality of the Data Matrix symbol through UID verification. Simply scanning the symbol to see if it’s machine-readable isn’t enough; MIL-STD-130 includes a set of criteria for grading the symbol. UID verification helps ensure that the marking will be readable in the long-term and under various conditions. Jet City’s partner, ID Integration Inc., now sells a hand-held device for UID verification. This makes it easier to verify the identifier symbol on large machinery that’s in the warehouse or out in the field.

Finally, the identifier information needs to be entered into the DoD’s central registry. Jet City Laser offers a product called UID2Register that submits the data directly to the registry via a workstation. This avoids the headaches of submitting the information manually online.