Industrial barcode reading with handheld readers
When codes are not to be read automatically at a fixed station, handheld readers are often the most flexible solution.
They are used at the workplace, in goods receipt, in production, during assembly, in order picking or at dispatch and - depending on the version - capture classic 1D barcodes, DataMatrix and QR codes as well as direct part marked DPM codes.
VISIONTECHNIK helps you choose the right industrial handheld reader for your code, distance, interface and environment.
Discuss your applicationTypical applications
Handheld readers are used wherever staff need to identify specific products, workpieces or containers.
- goods receipt
- material staging
- order picking
- assembly workstations
- production feedback
- tool and equipment management
- quality assurance
- serial number capture
- warehouse management
- dispatch
- machine configuration via barcodes
- reading direct part marked DPM codes
Which handheld reader suits the application?
The first and most important question is the code itself.
Well-printed barcodes on labels place quite different demands from small DataMatrix codes on electronic components or laser-marked codes on metal.
- Code type
- Depending on the reader, 1D barcodes, DataMatrix, QR code, PDF417, further 2D codes and DPM can be read.
- DPM - direct part marking
- The code is applied directly to the part, for example by laser, dot peening or engraving. Such markings can have low contrast, reflections or irregular structures - a reader explicitly rated for DPM should be chosen for them.
- Small codes
- For very small codes the minimum module size is decisive. High-density versions are used here.
- Long distances
- For warehouse, pallet or forklift applications, extended or long-range readers can make sense.
- Corded or cordless
- At fixed workstations a corded USB or RS-232 reader is often perfectly sufficient. Where staff have to move around freely, Bluetooth or other wireless versions are the better choice.
Take the industrial environment into account
A reader in an office and a reader on a production line face different demands.
On the shop floor, dust, oil, impacts and frequent drops all play a part. Ingress protection and mechanical robustness therefore matter just as much as raw reading performance.
This information helps us make a selection
Example values - a photo of the code together with these details is the most useful thing you can send.
- Code type
- DataMatrix, laser marked
- Code size
- 6 × 6 mm
- Module size
- 0.15 mm
- Reading distance
- 50 - 150 mm
- Connection
- USB or Bluetooth
Suitable product groups
You know your code but not the right reader?
Send us a photo of the code, the approximate code size and the reading distance you need.
Find the right handheld readerFrequently asked questions
Can a 2D handheld reader also read ordinary barcodes?
With most industrial 2D imagers, yes. The exact support should still be checked against the specific symbologies.
What does DPM mean?
DPM stands for direct part marking. The code sits directly on the part and is laser marked, engraved or dot peened, for example.
What is high density?
High-density readers are designed for particularly small codes and small module sizes.