Fire brigade trials barcoded tags

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team May 11, 2006

As part of its new computer-based asset management system, Cleveland Fire Brigade is trialling a new range of Thermal Identification barcoded tags from specialist identification company ritchey-id.

As part of its new computer-based asset management system, Cleveland Fire Brigade is trialling a new range of Thermal Identification barcoded tags from specialist identification company ritchey-id that resist high temperatures and chemicals.

The new system being implemented throughout the brigade's area of 15 fire stations will see every item of equipment - from delicate defibrillators to robust hydraulic cutting equipment - identified by a unique barcoded tag printed on demand by the brigade using ritchey-id's windows-based thermal printer.

Designed to identify objects traditionally difficult to identify discretely, ritchey-id's new TIPS tags resist high temperatures, flammability, chemicals and weathering - making them ideal for use by fire and rescue services to manage mobile and fixed assets.

Explains Implementation Manager Mark Shaw, "Our area stretches from Yarm in the South through to Hartlepool in the North and we have one of the highest chemical risks in the country".

"Identification tags run the risk of being burnt and dragged through various corrosive substances on a regular basis so we needed a tag system that was robust enough to withstand such conditions and one that we could replace quickly as necessary".

Extremely durable, ritchey-id's Wrap, Sleeve and Tip Tags can be over-printed with barcodes in code 39 and 128 format, as well as two dimensional codes.

The addition of company logos and safety critical symbols enables assets to be efficiently and effectively identified for asset base management for legislative and health and safety inspection.

The Richey Wrap Tag can be heat shrunk and further specialist labels with associated clear laminates offer added protection and versatility.

Other current users of the system include Rolls Royce, the military, local authorities and other fire brigades, as well as companies in the electrical supply sector.

Tags can be supplied printed or customers with a large print requirement can purchase their own printer and plain tags direct from ritchey-id.

Tags can then be printed in any volume as required from the customer's existing database, cutting out expensive set up and reprint costs.

The windows-based thermal transfer printer is user-friendly and comes with full training, after sales package and 12 month warranty.

Cleveland Fire Brigade has also purchased 30 agricultural sticks for use in case of local flooding.

The high number of call-outs in such cases makes a huge demand on resources and where a fire appliance is not available or applicable such sticks, more usually used to control wayward sheep, enable officers to safely evaluate the depth of often-dirty water.

While parent company Ritchey plc has a 35 year track record in manufacturing the supplying ear tags to the UK livestock industry, ritchey-id's tags now provide one of the strongest, most durable methods for identification to a diverse range of industry sectors worldwide.

Fulfilling identification, asset management, HSE legislative and insurance company requirements, the tags are manufactured by ritchey-id and can be supplied plain, custom laser printed, barcode or RFID enabled.

Robust enough to withstand extremes of weather and temperature, ritchey-id labels are equally at home underground or underwater and are unaffected by grease, grime or solvents making them the perfect partner for RFID and barcode technology where they form the tangible link between software reader and equipment.