Metal Identification Tags for
U.S. Department of Defense UID

InfoSight's Metal Identification Tags

Our PERMALABEL® metal identification tags have been proven to survive the conditions and environments required of UID tags.  The tag is produced from anodized aluminum to give it a tough, virtually mar-proof finish. The tags are attached via adhesives, riveting or welding. PERMALABEL® tags are specifically designed to survive in an abrasive environment. Read the durability report from Oregon State University InfoSight's LabeLase® and KE28xx series of printers may be used to image UID Data Matrix codes, human readable numbering and lettering and even your company's logos onto the tag in real time.   We also provide pre-print services where we will produce UID tags for you that include your information. For GSA contract purchases, please contact SYS-TEC Corporation, our partner in UID printing applications. For all other purchases, contact us or locate a representative or distributor in your area.

Sample UID metal identification tags on PERMALABEL® tag material (click for full size image)

What is UID?

The U.S. Department of Defense has instituted a mandatory program to uniquely identify property, equipment, materials and supplies.   The Unique Identification Program is mandatory for all DoD solicitations issued on or after January 1, 2004 for items that:

• Cost over $5,000
• Serially managed
• Mission essential
• Controlled inventory
• Consumable item or material where permanent identification is necessary

UID is an asset identifier that is globally unique and unambiguous and ensures data integrity and quality throughout life.

The Technology

The technology used to support UID is the two dimensional "barcode" such as Data Matrix ECC 200,  PDF417 or other approved 2D codes.   The Data Matrix code, for example, can store up to about 2000 characters, so it can contain 100 times the data of a linear barcode of the same size.  It can be read from any direction, can supply accurate data even if damaged and can be easily scaled up or down to fit the application space.

UID Data Format

The UID tag contains both man-readable and machine (barcode) readable information.   The UID specification requires specific information to be encoded into the code in specific formats.   To determine the data in your UID code, you must first have the following information:

Enterprise Identifier (EID)
Each enterprise that needs to print UID tags must have a code that identifies the enterprise.

Issuing Authority Code (IAC)
The enterprise obtains its EID from an international authority that is authorized to issue them.  Each issuing authority is identified by a code.

Original Part Number (PN)
If the enterprise serializes its items within part numbers, then the UID must contain the original part number.

Serial Number (SN)
This is a unique (within the enterprise or within the part number) number assigned to the part.

These four (or three if serialization is within the enterprise) data items are combined into a data stream that is specially formatted and identified with special flags and then encoded into the 2D Data Matrix code.   Before you can construct the UID, you must know these 4 (3) pieces of information.

In the above example tag, the CAGE code is the enterprise identifier (ID) for the Allied Committee 135 issuing authority (IA).  The enterprise serializes its items within the part number, so Construct 2 is used which includes the part number in the data.

UID Calculator

We have created an online calculator to aid you in generating your UID data strings.   The calculator is specific to InfoSight's line of metal tag printers.   You can use the calculator to compute the UID string, and then import it into the software that controls our tag printers.

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