Unreadable, smudged or faded labels can be the fatal flaw in a laboratory data trail. Labelling systems from the Brady Corporation, developed its own laboratories, provide comprehensive solutions to these problems.

Indecipherable handwriting, crowded because of limited writing space, can make hand written labels notoriously hard to read - and of course they cannot be read by machine. Hand writing inks are particularly prone to smearing when handled and to fading after long term storage, and accidental contact with chemicals and solvents can simply wash away vital information. Printed labels do not necessarily provide a complete solution: if created using incompatible print media, they can suffer from similar problems.

According to Brady, their thermal transfer print technology offers no less than 72 combinations of labels and print ribbons to ensure maximum legibility and permanence under all conditions, with print speeds up to 70 labels per second and crisp, clear, readable text at sizes from 4 point upward. Brady supply only own brand labels and ribbons and provide full technical support to ensure the correct match.

Barcodes are of course the route to compatibility with LIMS and other data systems, and Brady printing technology yields the excellent contrast between black and white bars needed for 100% decoding. Using these systems, 2-dimensional barcodes will be readable even after 30% of the printed area has been accidentally destroyed or removed.

Brady's labelling systems are developed by scientists with first-hand knowledge of the issues surrounding sample identification in the laboratory, in the corporation's research facilities located in the USA and Europe. The Brady Corporation has operations in 24 countries and is represented in over 100.