A Brief Asset Tag Tutorial

What is an Asset Tag?

Asset Tags are durable labels that are added to an organization’s assets to easily facilitate monitoring and tracking. They are used to uniquely identify each individual item to maximize tracking of equipment, tools, IT assets, and other enterprise asset items. Asset tags often are printed with the unique Tag ID number represented with a barcode and human readable text. Other text such as ‘Property of Your Company Name’ can also be added for additional security.

Can I print Asset Labels?

Although you can print your asset tags in-house, we recommend purchasing pre-printed tags or labels. This allows the ability to tag new assets and simply scan the barcode and capture the associated details. It removes the problem of running over to a printer and then matching up to items as a second step. It also gives you the flexibility to obtain tags made of materials that match the environment for the items you are tracking.

What Type of asset tag should I buy?

Panatrack has a longstanding partnership with Metalcraft (www.IDPlate.com) for asset tags and labels that can be used with our Panatracker solutions. They offer a large variety of label sizes and materials including polyester, polypropylene, foil and metal. They can provide you with a solution with various specialized types of labels including destructible, tamper evident, cable labels, high-temp nameplates, and small round tags.  Bottom line is you will want to invest in asset tags or labels that last as long as the items they are attached to and withstand the environment they are subjected.

Examples of Asset Tag Options

Metal Barcode Tags

• A popular option because of dependability, options on thickness, adhesives and sizes.
• Ideal for customers who require a permanent nameplate and to stand up to harsh environments.
• Available with pressure-sensitive adhesive or holes for mechanical fasteners.

Polycarbonate Barcode Labels

• Extremely resistant to abrasion.
• Subsurface printing can also protect from caustics and acids.
• Specially designed adhesives can provide adherence to plastic surfaces and withstand short-term temperatures up to 250 degrees.

Polyester Barcode Labels

• Subsurface printing options protect against extreme solvents, caustics, acids and moderate abrasion.
• Offered in various thicknesses to support excellent adhesion to uneven, rough, or slightly oily surfaces.

Teflon Coated Nameplates

• Dirt, grease, or dried paint is easily removed.
• Teflon coating provides protection against long-term exposure to weather, extreme heat or cold, UV rays, and temperature fluctuations.
• Designed for extremely harsh environments.

Foil Barcode Labels

• Durable, reliable, and versatile.
• Conforms easily to radius surfaces.
• Effective in an office setting as well as on the production floor.

Metalized Polyester Barcode Labels

• Designed to look and perform like foil.
• Adhesive bonds well to plastics and metal surfaces.
• Appearance of metal without the cost.

Destructible Labels

• Tears apart if removal is attempted deterring theft.
• Unique coating aids in destruction of label but protects barcode and copy from cleaning and mild abrasion.
• Virtually impossible to remove them in one piece.

Tamper Evident Barcode Labels

• Clear visual indication for attempt to remove the label or tamper with the item.
• Discourages product modification and theft.

To learn more about these tags and other asset label options, please contact Panatrack. Our team is happy to provide product pricing for your evaluation.