Camcode's Metalphoto® SandShield UID Label
...the Navy study confirms that the materials submitted by Camcode perform well in a wide variety of conditions including abrasion, chipping, heat, and chemical exposure.
Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) November 15, 2011
The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Corona Division recently announced the results of a year-long evaluation of Item Unique Identification (IUID) label materials. Results revealed that the UID labels submitted by the Camcode Division of Horizons Incorporated, a global leader in asset tag and barcode solutions for UID applications, consistently received the highest test scores.
Item Unique Identification requires all military assets specified under MIL-STD-130 to be marked with an individually unique, two dimensional barcode that will survive the normal life expectancy of the item to which it is affixed. The study by the NSWC was commissioned to provide an unbiased, government-sponsored comparison of durability, which could help item managers navigate the wide variety of commercially available UID label materials.
A total of eight companies submitted 26 label materials, which included printed polyester, laser markable acrylic, Metalphoto® photosensitive anodized aluminum and ceramic coated stainless steel. The labels were subjected to eight laboratory tests designed to simulate desert, marine and submarine operating environments, including chipping, abrasion, chemical, temperature and salt fog exposure.
Camcode submitted three UID labels to be tested: Metalphoto Anodized Aluminum; Metalphoto Anodized Aluminum with Durable Metal Overcoat; and Metalphoto Anodized Aluminum with SandShield. Combined, these materials achieved a top score on 9 of the 10 tests in which they were subjected. All three materials achieved the highest score in the Taber abraser test, which simulated accelerated wear. Only two other materials also received the highest score. In addition, Camcode’s Metalphoto with SandShield labels received the second highest score out of all materials in the chipping test, which simulates the debris impact a label could experience while in the field. This material was only one of two that passed the chipping test.
Metalphoto, produced by Camcode’s parent company, Horizons Incorporated, was the only material to pass every test that was not conducted to failure (all materials failed the MIBK chemical immersion test). In addition to UID labels, Camcode manufactures a wide variety of durable asset tags using Metalphoto.
Although real-world operations subject labels to several environmental conditions at once (i.e. heat, abrasion and fluids), the Navy study confirms that the materials submitted by Camcode perform well in a wide variety of conditions including abrasion, chipping, heat, and chemical exposure. For specific details about the Corona IUID Center’s tests, review the complete report here.
Camcode's Metalphoto UID Label is constructed of an anodized aluminum face stock with a high-performance permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive designed to permanently bond to metals and low surface energy (LSE) materials. The label has excellent resistance to chemicals, abrasion, solvents, and will withstand exterior exposure in the harshest environments, including extreme cold, heat and UV. Expected exterior life is 20+ years. A Durable Metal Overcoat, consisting of a two-component polyurethane coating, can be added to increase durability.
Camcode's Metalphoto SandShield UID Label and SandShield Label Cover are designed for applications requiring extreme sand or gravel abrasion resistance. The SandShield UID Label is constructed of a Metalphoto anodized aluminum label, over laminated with an 8.0 mil highly abrasion-resistant coating. This UID tag has extremely good sand, gravel and abrasion resistance, good UV resistance and good resistance to most general purpose cleaners, mild acids, oil and water. Camcode's SandShield is also available as a Label Cover, supplied as pre-cut clear blanks, which can be laminated over customer made labels for added abrasion resistance.
Click the link for more information on Camcode’s full selection of UID labels and materials.
ABOUT CAMCODE: Founded in 1979, Camcode is a recognized worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of durable pre-print barcode labels, such as asset tags and UID labels for asset tracking and unique identification (UID) applications. Camcode’s asset tags improve the efficiency of asset tracking systems by eliminating errors caused during manual data collection and increasing data acquisition speed. Camcode’s Metalphoto® anodized aluminum barcode labels, premium plastic label constructions, and proprietary coating technologies satisfy the most demanding applications. For more information, visit http://www.camcode.com or call 800-627-3917.
Metalphoto® is a registered trademark of Horizons Incorporated.
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