Company News • 13.11.2009

UC3-line scales - Labelling now available with GS1 DataBar

With GS1 DataBar, retailers can encode key fresh food segment information such as best-before date or weight in a bar code. A shortly realizable scenario: the labelling on pre-packaging of self-service counter goods.

From 1 January 2010, the GS1 DataBar will be approved for PoS use following bilateral agreements. This also means that use of the internationally-distinctive GTIN global article numbering System is possible for items with variable amounts such as fruit, cheese or meat.

The GS1 DataBar, which can be read from any direction and position, is significantly smaller than EAN 13/8 and EAN 128. With its range of features it is able to meet requirements that EAN 13/8 and EAN 128 cannot when it comes to labelling consumer goods. With the GS1 DataBar, items with variable amounts are not only clearly identifiable worldwide using the GTIN contained within.
Important secondary information regarding traceability and quality assurance can be incorporated into the barcode. What’s more, makeshift solutions using national catalogues in order to display net weight in an EAN code could be dispensed with.

Labelling for self-service counter
One question remains: How can these advantages of GS1 DataBar be already used starting from January 2010? One scenario is the GS1 DataBar labelling on pre-packaging of self-service counter goods. “All METTLER TOLEDO UC3 line scales support such a labelling”, explains Gerd Griesohn, Product Manager Retail Scales of METTLER TOLEDO. “The legibility of the labels printed by the UC3 line scales using GS1 DataBar is successfully tested with scanners from leading manufacturers on the market.”

Possible data identifiers of GS1 DataBar in this set-up include for example EAN/GTIN, net weight, packing date, number of units, sell-by >…<, best-before date, net sales price. “This, for instance automatically prevents fresh food items which have exceeded their best-before or storage date being sold when they are scanned at the checkout”, says Gerd Griesohn.

GS1 DataBar availabiltity for UC3 line scales
Support of the GS1 DataBar requires an upgrade of the scale application along with the firmware in the printing unit. All newly-delivered UC3 line scales feature the necessary upgrades for the GS1 DataBar ex-works. Customers who wish to upgrade their existing installed scales are asked to contact: inforetail.mtd@mt.com