The Best Heavy Duty Retail Scanners – Industrial Barcode Scanners

Durable Barcode Scanners

The advent of self-service retail stores has produced the necessity for devices that quickly scan and identify products. The most convenient is labeling using barcodes. To read the information embedded in the barcode, you’ll need a special scanner. After scanning the code, the scanner transfers data to a computer, cash register, or terminal. These scanner options are more sturdy, heavy-duty, or better suited for industrial use. Not all manufacturers guarantee stable performance, but we list a few of the market’s best options here. We base our ranking on models that displayed excellent results while working in changing conditions.

How Are Industrial Scanners Designed?

Industrial scanners by design are ultra-rugged and built with extreme conditions in mind. They can be waterproof, dustproof, and heavy-duty. Hence, some of the casing is rubber, not plastic. Although they are handheld, you get unquestionable durability and reliability on outdoor job sites. They come in both wired and wireless alternatives, leveraging the latest Bluetooth technology, which guarantees a clean scan of up to 100mm.

What Are Industrial Scanners Ranking Criteria

• Compliance of technical characteristics with the declared data on the seller’s website;
• Price-quality ratio;
• The presence of more than 97% positive reviews from real users.

When choosing a model, you also need to look at reading, distance, and width characteristics. Look at minimum exposure, band, the contrast of the barcode, security, operating temperature, weight, and scanner size. Our overview of some of the best industrial scanners will help you determine the ideal tools for automating your enterprise’s business processes.

Industrial Barcode Scanners are heavy-duty devices often constructed of durable plastic polymers to function in harsh environments. These scanners are sometimes classified by the Ingress protection (IP) rating, revealing their resistance to moisture, dust, and heat. But if you are planning to purchase an industrial barcode scanner, you also need to consider the following factors

Industrial Barcode Scanners – Corded or Cordless

Since industrial barcode scanners are designed for outdoor use, you preferably want a cordless device. But you’ll need to make sure it has a good lithium battery that will work for at least 10-12 hours on a single charge- or you will never get any work done.

Durable Scanners | IP Rating

In general, you should look for the IP rating. Those with an IP rating of 54 or 65 tend to be suitable outdoor devices. You also need to select a device that is best suited for your environment- so you’ll need to read the label.

Industrial Barcode Scanners – Environmental conditions

If you plan to use the scanner outdoors, you’ll also need to consider if it will work in dim light, high humidity, or hot temperatures. Some scanners may not work well in very bright light or low temperatures- so you’ll need to read the device’s label.

Type of Barcode Scanner

If you can afford it, purchase an imager scanner since these devices are more advanced than laser scanners. In addition, opt for a model that comes with Omnidirectional scanning functionality, which will allow you to read 2D barcodes.

Industrial Barcode Scanners Connectivity

Since most industrial barcode scanners are used in outdoor environments, you’ll need to ensure that the device can connect via Bluetooth or wifi over long distances. This will also allow you to transmit any data to the central database or your PC.

Barcode Scanning Capability

You ideally want a scanner that can read 1D, 2D, and other shipping barcodes with ease.

Industrial Barcode Scanners – Operating system

Most industrial barcode scanners operate on Android and carry the corresponding built-in software. But other barcode scanners work on iOS or Microsoft Windows systems. You need to ensure that whatever scanner you buy is compatible with your hardware, or you will need to download specific drivers.

Barcode Scanning Distance

Barcode scanners are designed to work closer to the barcode. If you have a large inventory, you should select a barcode scanner that can decode at a distance of 8-12 inches. At the same time, you want a scanner that can read fast, perhaps 50-100 images a second.

Industrial Barcode Scanner Warranty

No matter what industrial barcode scanner you buy, you need to make sure it comes with an extended warranty. These warranties are helpful if you will be using the scanner in adverse environments.

Cost

Image capture scanners are more expensive than laser scanners. The cost depends on the capability and functionality of the device. Standard scanners will cost anywhere from $80-$600, the image scanners may cost anywhere from $800-$1200, and the rugged devices which can scan both 1D and 2D barcodes can cost more than $1400.