Why coding is integral to the construction industry

The construction industry continues to thrive in SA despite tough economic conditions but in order to remain competitive it needs to keep control of costs. An integral part of this control is ensuring products are coded with quality marking equipment. Wastage can occur if materials are not marked with appropriate inks by appropriate machinery.

Manufacturers of construction materials need to be able to print details such as manufacture dates, times, batch numbers, barcodes, product identification and logos as well as moisture levels, panel grades and inspector ID information.

CHALLENGES FOR CODING IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

• Construction materials are often exposed to abrasive handling and harsh elements for extended periods of time. Inks therefore need to be lightfast to ensure that markings remain visible.

• Stacking: Often, materials are stacked on top of each other which means that fast drying inks are exceptionally important to avoid smudging and transfer of markings.

• Printing directly onto bags of cement will result in a reduction in pre-printed inventory holding costs and lead times. However, when printing on already bagged powdered materials, coding can be distorted due to an inconsistent throw distance. In this instance, the coding solution needs to take into account both the dusty conditions and the need to accommodate a variable throw distance.

INDUSTRIAL CODING SOLUTIONS

HLS Coding and Marking provides industrial coding solutions to many industries, including steel and metal, wood, plastics and cabling. Established in 1993, we understand the need to provide robust, flexible and hardworking coding solutions for our clients in the construction industry.

HLS Ink 011 864 3248; 060 524 6721; sales@hlsinkcoders.co.za.