Many people choose to fix after-market barcode labels to all their stock items so that they can be tracked effectively. If you then asked a proportion of these people what the most important characteristic of these labels is, most would say durability.
Durable barcode labels are essential in a factory or other industrial environment where the harsh conditions may play havoc with a simple paper barcode label. Durable barcode labels are able to withstand corrosion, exposure to chemicals, extreme temperatures, exposure to UV radiation and constant abrasion.
If a barcode label were not able to withstand any of the above conditions the unique code on the label may be damaged and the electronic reader would then not be able to scan the code, which is why they always need to be clearly visible.
There are now many kinds of durable barcode labels available. These include labels which are made from aluminium, labels which have a polyester or vinyl coating and even labels made from ceramic. Ceramic labels, for example, have a stainless steel base, so will not rust and can withstand very high temperatures and corrosion from strong acidic compounds. This makes ceramic barcode labels the perfect type of label to use in a factory or industrial premises.