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This section provides an overview for barcode readers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 33 barcode reader manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked barcode reader companies as of December, 2024: 1.Gems Sensors & Controls, 2.Banner Engineering Corporation, 3.SICK AG.
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Categories Related to Barcode Readers
A barcode reader is a device that optically reads the numbers and characters represented by a barcode and picks up the information contained in the barcode.
Most barcode readers on the market today consist of a light source using an infrared laser, a part that receives the reflected light, and a part that sends the scanned data to a PC.
Barcode readers are used to read barcodes on products to manage the distribution of goods in the logistics industry. Barcode readers are also indispensable for other purposes, such as managing drugs in the medical field and cash registers in supermarkets and convenience stores, in order to improve convenience.
QR codes, which are familiar through smartphone applications, are also a type of 2D barcode, and there are barcode readers on the market as well as smartphones that can read these codes.
The principle of barcode readers is based on the physical phenomenon that laser beams emitted on the black areas of a monochrome line are absorbed and only laser beams emitted on the white quiet zone are reflected. When a laser beam is applied to a barcode and scanned, the light receiving element recognizes the presence or absence of reflected light and reads the line information of the barcode as an analog signal.
Next, the weak analog waveform acquired by the light receiving element is amplified and converted into a digital signal, with the values exceeding a certain threshold being set to 1 and other values to 0, and decoded.
At this time, care must be taken not to irradiate the laser at a right angle to the barcode. If the laser is irradiated at a right angle to the barcode, the barcode will receive strong direct reflected light, which will cause its output to be too large compared to the other diffuse reflected light, and a clean analog waveform will not be obtained. For this reason, many barcode readers must be set up so that the laser is obliquely incident on the barcode.
There are several types of barcode readers in terms of the codes they read and the way they read them.
The reading accuracy of a barcode reader is determined by the "read rate" and the "false read rate." Read rate is defined as the number of successful reads relative to the number of barcode scans performed. For example, if the number of barcode scans is 1,000 and the number of successful reads is 995, the read rate is 99.5%. The false read rate is similarly defined by the number of false reads relative to the number of times read.
The read rate varies depending on the quality of the barcode label, the resolution of the barcode reader, the number of times it is read, and the decoding algorithm. Of these factors, the quality of the barcode label is the most significant.
If the barcode is free of dirt or scratches, the width of the code is within specifications, and the contrast is high, it can be read at a read rate close to 100%. However, the actual barcodes to be read are rarely clean, and manufacturers need to be able to read barcodes at a high read rate, even under adverse conditions.
The communication interface used to read barcode reader data into a PC includes USB, RS232C, and PS/2 wired interfaces, as well as products with wireless connectivity, such as Bluetooth. Recently, the use of the USB type, instead of RS232C or PS/2, has been increasing along with the increased use of thin notebook PCs. Note that some USB type products are compatible with some PC operating systems, while others are not.
Fixed barcode scanners are important devices in the manufacturing and logistics industries. Built into manufacturing equipment or installed in a fixed position, they use optical sensors or laser technology to read the barcodes of products or packages automatically as they flow down a conveyor. Depending on the reading distance and angle, short-range scanners and long-range scanners are available for efficient production control and tracking.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Gems Sensors was founded in 1955 and is a global manufacturer and supplier of sensing and control solutions based in Plainville, United States. The company is a division of Fortive Corporation, a Fortune 500 company. Gems Sensors have designed and manufactured a broad portfolio of liquid level, flow, and pressure sensors, miniature solenoid valves, proximity switches, and integrated fluid management solutions, from agricultural equipment to medical devices. The company manufactures its products via fully equipped and ISO-certified facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia, shipping over 5 million sensors annually.
Mountz Torque, founded in San Jose, CA, in 1965 is a manufacturer of torque products such as Robotic Screwdrivers, Torque Calibration, and Measuring Torque. The company's product portfolio includes Preset Torque Limiters, Torque Sensors, Run Down Adapters, Calibration Equipment and Torque analyzers and Sensor Accessories. Their products are used in the energy sector for wind turbine assembly and maintenance, critical aerospace components and systems and automotive assembly lines and maintenance applications. The company serves industries such as Oil and Gas, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Construction, and Power Generation.
Banner Engineering Corporation, established in 1966 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a manufacturer and supplier of industrial automation products. They offer an extensive range of sensors, including proximity sensors, photoelectric sensors, and limit switches, for detecting object presence, position, and speed. Additionally, Banner provides a different types of switches, such as pushbuttons, toggle switches, and rotary switches, to control electricity flow and offer system feedback. Their wide array of controls includes PLCs, HMIs, and motion controllers, enabling automation of industrial processes.
Daisy Data Displays, Inc., established in 1983 in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, is a manufacturer of industrial computers and monitors. Some of their products include rugged computers and monitors which serve purposes like process control, machine vision, video surveillance, and HMI. Their products are designed for harsh environments and find applications in various industries, such as manufacturing, food and beverage, healthcare, transportation, and utilities. Daisy Data Displays also offers other products like keyboards, mice, and KVM switches. The company holds ISO 9001:2015, UL listing, and CE certifications for its quality management system.
Sick AG, founded in 1946 and headquartered in Waldkirch, Germany, is a manufacturer of sensor and sensor solutions that aid in in production, logistics, and processes automation. The company’s expansive product portfolio includes industrial sensors, encoders, and analyzers. It has over 50 subsidiaries and equity investments as well as several agencies worldwide, and in the 2022 fiscal year, it generated around €2.2 billion. The company established the first subsidiary in France in 1972 and opened another subsidiary in USA in 1975. It changed to a joint stock company in 1996 and the first employee shares were issued in 1999.
Pepperl+Fuchs, Inc. was founded in Mannheim, Germany in 1945 developing the forerunner of the proximity switch. Pepperl+Fuchs continues to develop proximity sensors as well as other industrial sensors including ultrasonic sensors, rotary encoders, positioning systems, display and signal processing, vibration monitoring, industrial communication, and signal processing as well as related accessories and software. Explosive protection products include safety barriers, surge protection, wireless solutions, HMI systems, power supplies, electrical explosion protection equipment, level measurement, and related software.
ifm efector (ifm) is a subsidiary of ifm electronic, founded in Germany in 1969. ifm has developed, manufactured and marketed sensors and controls technology to industries that include assembly and robotics, automotive, material handling, metal forming, mobile equipment, plastics, and food and beverage. Ifm produces sensors, condition monitoring equipment, image processing, safety technology, industrial communication, IO-link, systems for mobile machines, displays, software, connection technology, voltage supplies, as well as other accessories.
Zebra is committed to empowering teams with the mobility and insight to deliver at the cutting edge of excellence. More than just providing intelligent hardware, they offer solutions that give organizations complete visibility to make smart, nimble decisions about what action to take now and how to plan for tomorrow. With 52 years of innovation covering ten industries, such as retail, healthcare, and banking, Zebra takes pride in creating a culture of respect, collaboration, inclusion, and innovation that gives organizations a competitive edge. Using decades of innovation, they design scanners, mobile computers, tablets, and printers with features and form factors made for you.
America Fujikura Ltd. (AFL), established in 1984 and currently a subsidiary of Fujikura Ltd., is a manufacturer headquartered in Duncan, South Carolina, United States, specializing in fiber optic products and associated equipment. The company’s product offerings encompass cable assemblies, field-installable connectors, connectivity accessories, rack-mount patch panels, as well as panels for fiber optic connectivity. Additionally, the company provides cleaning tools like sticks, tips, and swabs tailored for fiber optic connector maintenance, along with products for fiber optic testing and inspections, such as optical power meters. These products find applications in various industries, including communications, electric utilities, energy, service providers, and transportation sectors.
Honeywell International Inc. was founded in 1885 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Honeywell is a diversified technology and manufacturing company to global customers in many industries such as aerospace, building technologies, performance materials, manufacturing, and safety. Honeywell produces hardware and software solutions for each industry it serves. In building technologies, Honeywell designs access controls, electrical and wiring, fire life safety, and employee training services. In aerospace, Honeywell designs cockpit systems and displays, engines, cabin management and cleaning, and health and usage monitoring.
Mettler Toledo was incorporated in 1945 in Toledo, Ohio, and is today headquartered in Greifensee, Switzerland. Mettler Toledo is a manufacturer of various analytical instruments for use in laboratories, industrial and manufacturing, and food retailing applications to customers globally. Mettler Toledo offers many products across product lines for uses such as product inspection, process analytics, jewelry scales, moisture analyzers, and software for laboratory weighing. Mettler Toledo also offers numerous accessories such as density kits, hands-free accessories, weighing tables, and weight accessories.
DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED was established in 1976 in Aichi, Japan provides industrial solutions through its manufacturing technology by developing and producing automatic identification equipment, industrial robots, controllers, and system solutions. The company is known for creating QR codes and cloud services, which are registered trademarks of DENSO WAVE Inc. These codes and services are used for anti-forgery measures and in business cards or catalogs. Their AUTO-ID products include terminals, scanners, RFIDs, and software that enables various operations. These products are supported by customized system solutions such as QR code solutions and IoT solutions (Internet of Things).
Foshan KLS Metal Clad Materials Co., Ltd., established in 2013, is a manufacturer and supplier of metal clad materials based in China. The company produces quality metal clad products that cater to a wide range of industries. Specializing in stainless steel clad plates, titanium clad plates, and other composite materials, Foshan KLS Metal Clad Materials Co., Ltd. has become a popular. Foshan KLS Metal Clad Materials Co., Ltd. continues to push the boundaries of engineering and manufacturing. Their devotion to excellence and their ability to deliver tailor-made solutions have made them a preferred choice for businesses seeking ingenious metal clad materials.
SmartMore Corporation, established in 2019 in Hong Kong, is a software developer and manufacturer specializing in manufacturing optimization and machine vision. The company’s products include its VS800 series code scanners with liquid lenses for QR or barcodes, its SMore ViMo-branded industrial platform utilizing machine vision and deep learning, and its Smart Manufacturing Lab-branded management software for developing and mass-producing integrated or embeddable devices. The company’s products are used in the optical, semiconductor, and logistics industries.
Label Value, established in 2005 and headquartered in Tampa, Florida, United States, is a manufacturer and supplier of labeling and packaging products. The company's products include tag label makers, industrial label printers, and metal tape embossers. It also offers custom wrap-around label production, which can be used for consumer product containers, bottles, and beverage cans and is available in silver film matte and gloss laminate. Customers can design and order these custom labels directly through its website. Its custom-printed packaging products include shrink sleeves and flex packs.
Advantech Co., Ltd., established in 1981 in Neihu District, Taipei, is a pioneering manufacturer and designer of a range of products, solutions, and services. The company boasts an extensive product portfolio that includes system integration, customer-centric design services, cutting-edge embedded systems, automation products, and global logistics support. Its aim is to usher in an era of an intelligent planet through its automation and embedded computing products and solutions. These diverse products and services empower smarter ways of working and living to enhance the quality of life and productivity across various industries.
Cubiscan Integration Services is based in Farmington, Utah, USA, and is a manufacturer of cubing and dimensioning systems for end-of-line applications established in 1982 as a division of Quantronix, Inc. The company primarily offers cubing as well as dimensioning systems for logging the physical parameters of assets such as boxes or pallets before loading into industrial carriers. It also offers barcode scanning systems, checkweighers for ensuring order accuracy or quality control, and print-and-apply systems for labeling. The company is ISO 9001:2015-certified, and chiefly serves clients in the warehousing, transportation, and logistics sectors.
Omron Corporation, started in 1933 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of automation components, equipment, and systems, and it developed the first contactless proximity switch in 1960. It has four domains, including industrial automation, electronic components, healthcare, and social systems, and it provides products and services in around 120 countries and regions. Some of its products include microsensing devices, access control systems, industrial robots, surveillance cameras, and blood pressure monitors. In 1971, it developed the first online cash machine, and in 1972, it established Japan’s first welfare factory.
Newland AIDC, founded in 1999 as a subsidiary of Newland Digital Technology in New Zealand, is a manufacturer of data acquisition device components and electronic components. The company offers numerous products, including barcode scanners, auto identification, and RFID scanners used in its handheld scanners, desktop scanners, and embedded 2D barcode, barcode, and QR code scanners used for mobile payments, data capture, and identification by the retail, logistics, warehousing, and healthcare markets, as well as many OEM, ODM, and JDM manufacturers. Newland AIDC also offers a repair service for Newland-branded products that are under warranty.
Trefinasa de Mexico S.A de C.V is a reputable manufacturer based in Mexico, established in 1995, specializing in the production of quality industrial refractory materials. Trefinasa has consistently delivered refractory solutions to a diverse range of industries. Their main products include refractory bricks, castables, and mortars designed to withstand high temperatures and harsh conditions. Trefinasa's aim is to provide refractory solutions that enhance the performance and longevity of industrial processes. They cater to sectors such as steel, cement, glass, and petrochemicals. Trefinasa stands as a partner for companies seeking dependable refractory materials to optimize their operations.
CipherLab, established in 2000, is a Plano, Texas-based designer, manufacturer, and distributor of automatic identification and data capture & collection products and systems. The company’s production line is segmented into mobile computers, barcode scanners, and RFID readers used in warehousing, retail, manufacturing, and transportation & logistics applications. The barcode scanners are available as general-purpose, business, and pocket-sized scanners with the choice of linear imager, laser, and 2D imager. The CipherLab Application Development software, including terminal emulators, scanner software, programming tools, deployment tools, and device management tools, are used to customize the devices to workflows and enable web-based processes.
Unitech Electronics Co., Ltd., established in 2008 in Taiwan, is a manufacturer of electronic components and data acquisition devices and a distributor of software and hardware information for barcode printing, scanning, reading, and data collection-related equipment. The company offers over 1,200 products across three main categories that include rugged PDAs, barcode scanners, and RFID readers used by the medical, public institutions, postal services, and military markets, including use by police units. Unitech Electronics Co., Ltd. offers customized production as well as full distribution, retail, logistics, and warehousing services.
Synertron Technology Inc. is a United States-based manufacturer and supplier headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, California, specializing in industrial computing solutions. The company develops embedded computing for specific tasks within larger systems, commonly applied in industrial automation, medical equipment control, and transportation systems. It also offers industrial-grade personal computers (PCs) and touch screens, particularly for factory automation control panels, human-machine interfaces (HMI), and digital signage. In addition, the company designs rackmount server and fanless embedded systems, along with universal serial bus (USB) cameras and microphones equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
Ma Stoken Solution, established in 1998 and based in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer and supplier of automatic identification systems. The company's product portfolio includes handheld barcode scanners, barcode verification machines, RFID printers, image processing systems, and other related systems. These products are used in various industries, including pharmaceuticals, transport, construction, distribution, retail, and more. The company holds the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System and ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certifications, and also provides services such as design, operation, sale, and maintenance.
Hikrobot Co. Ltd. is a manufacturer and supplier of mobile robot and machine vision products established in 2016 and headquartered in Hangzhou, China. The company offers forklift mobile robots for automated transfer of bins or pallets across a facility, and carton transfer units for unmanned picking or handling operations. It also offers machine vision products, such as area and line scanning cameras, and smart code readers for DPM and standard barcodes. The company mainly serves clients in the industrial automation and packaging sectors.
Extronics is a UK-based company founded in 1992 that specializes in providing wireless communication solutions for hazardous areas. They serve industries such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, mining, and pharmaceuticals. Their product range includes galvanic isolators, antennas, RTLS hardware and software, deployment tools, UHF passive RFID, barcode scanners, uninterruptible power supplies, batteries, and cameras. Extronics' products enable seamless communication and data transfer between mobile devices and control systems, improving efficiency and productivity in hazardous environments.
OMRON Corporation is a Kyoto based electrical equipment manufacturing company founded by Kazuma Tateisi in 1933. OMRON’s product portfolio includes medical equipment like nebulizers and digital thermometers, automated teller machines for the finance industry to AC, DC and custom control systems for the oil and gas industries. The company has over 30,000 employees and offers its products and services in 120 countries. It primarily serves the healthcare, energy, casino, and automated test equipment industries.
Custom Sensors, Inc., an American company based in Auburn, New York, specializes as a manufacturer and supplier of barcode scanning products. The company's range of scanning products includes wireless barcode scanners, fixed-position barcode readers, and chip-level decoders. These products are used in various sectors, including retail—where the barcode readers facilitate inventory management and point-of-sale transactions—as well as in the food and beverage, logistics, and distribution industries. The company offers product catalogs, technical support, and a return policy for its equipment.
ECOM Instruments is a company that was established in 1986 in Assamstadt, Germany that specializes in developing and manufacturing portable devices for use in hazardous areas. The company focuses on manufacturing rugged tablets, safe mobile devices, and explosion-proof communication devices that meet the stringent safety requirements for use in industries such as mining, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and oil and gas. ECOM Instruments offers a wide range of products designed for use in hazardous areas, including intrinsically safe mobile devices, explosion-proof communication devices, rugged tablets, portable lighting, and gas detection devices.
Saveo Scan is a supplier of barcode scanning solutions headquartered in Dublin, Ireland since 2014. The company specializes in barcode scanning solutions for smartphones and tablets. Its products allow you to convert your mobile device into a barcode scanner that can be used in various applications, such as retail, logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare. Its product lineup includes Saveo BOLT, Saveo Pocket Scan, Saveo Ring, and Saveo DS. Its products are compatible with Android, iOS, and Windows devices. It is also supported by various software applications, such as barcode scanning apps, inventory management systems, and point of sale (POS) systems.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gems Sensors & Controls |
9.4%
|
| 2 | Banner Engineering Corporation |
8.7%
|
| 3 | SICK AG |
8.7%
|
| 4 | AFL |
8.6%
|
| 5 | Zebra Technologies Corp. |
7.8%
|
| 6 | Mountz Torque |
7.6%
|
| 7 | Daisy Data Displays, Inc. |
6.9%
|
| 8 | Mettler-Toledo |
6.4%
|
| 9 | Pepperl+Fuchs Inc. |
4.9%
|
| 10 | Trefinasa de Mexico S.A de C.V |
3.5%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the barcode reader page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
10 | 52.6% |
|
Japan
|
3 | 15.8% |
|
China
|
2 | 10.5% |
|
Taiwan
|
2 | 10.5% |
|
Germany
|
1 | 5.3% |
|
United Kingdom
|
1 | 5.3% |
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Unitech Electronics Co., Ltd.
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