Standardization movements, at both national and international levels, are under way for anti-counterfeit security, product identification and tracking solutions through 2-Dimensional (2-D) data code matrix marking. At national level departments like Department of Defense (DoD) and NASA have developed their own standards. DoD selected Data Matrix (Military Standard 130) for the mandatory unique identification of assets for all of the services. The pharmaceutical industry on the other hand will, in the near future, have a global standard for product and package marking with 2-D data matrix codes. The implementation of standard would allow detection of counterfeit pharmaceutical products in the market and reduce medication errors in hospitals1. It would save lives as well as reduce the estimated $75 billion annual loss to the pharmaceutical industry2. Law enforcement officials are pushing for passage of legislations such as ammunition accountability act that would make it mandatory for manufacturers to mark ammunition for identification and tracking purposes3. Thus there is a whole range of issues faced by the industry and the public at large that can be solved by individual marking of products with 2-D data code matrices and implementation of marking standards.
The reason laser technology, despite being superior to other marking technologies, has not been used at large scales for serial 2-D data code matrix marking is the lack of a laser marking solution that can keep up with the production speeds of assembly lines. The high-speed function of the VLS Laser Marking Technology provides a novel and vital solution that can help solve the problems haunting both the public, the government and the industry.
1 In 1999 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report, "To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System." According to the report, between 44,000 and 98,000 deaths may result each year from medical errors in hospitals alone and more than 7,000 deaths each year are related to medication errors.
2 Source: World Health Organization, Media Center report on Counterfeit Medicines, Fact Sheet No 275, Nov. 2006.
3 (http://www.ammunitionaccountability.org/Legislation.htm) The link provides a summary of legislations that have been introduced across United States.
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