Bulk Generate Code 128 Barcodes
Learn how to generate large, high-density Code 128 barcodes in bulk for tracking massive warehouse pallets and inventory shipments.
Pallet License Plate Numbers (LPNs)
In a bustling fulfillment center or distribution warehouse, tracking inventory at the pallet level is crucial for maintaining accurate stock counts. When a massive wooden pallet loaded with 50 shrink-wrapped boxes arrives at the receiving dock, it is assigned a single, unique "License Plate Number" (LPN).
Because these LPNs can be long, alphanumeric strings (like RCV-PALLET-884920), the warehouse needs a barcode symbology that can encode large amounts of data without becoming too wide. Code 128 is the industry standard for this. Its high-density compression allows a long LPN to be printed as a large, readable barcode that a forklift driver can scan from 10 feet away.
Thermal Printing in Bulk
If your warehouse receives hundreds of pallets a day, you must generate these LPN labels in bulk to keep the receiving dock clear.
Using a Bulk Barcode Generator, the inbound receiving workflow is vastly accelerated:
- Export the list of expected daily LPNs from your Warehouse Management System (WMS).
- Paste the rows directly into the bulk generator.
- Select "Code 128" as the symbology.
- Download a ZIP folder containing every LPN barcode as a high-contrast PNG image.
- Send the image folder to your industrial thermal printer (e.g., Zebra) to spool out large 4x6 or 6x8 adhesive pallet labels.
Why High Contrast PNGs?
Industrial thermal printers rely on heat to activate chemicals on the label paper. They don't print "shades of gray." By exporting your barcodes as crisp, pure black-and-white PNGs, you ensure the thermal print head lays down a perfectly sharp barcode that scans instantly, even in poor warehouse lighting.
The SSCC-18 Standard for Pallet Identification
When tracking shipping pallets across global supply chains, the standard license plate is the Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC), encoded in Code 128 / GS1-128:
| Element | Digits | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Application Identifier | (00) | Standard GS1 prefix indicating an 18-digit SSCC pallet ID |
| Extension Digit | 1 digit | 0-9, used to expand numbering capacity by the shipper |
| GS1 Company Prefix | 7-10 digits | Your company's registered GS1 prefix |
| Serial Number | 6-9 digits | Unique sequential serial assigned to this specific pallet |
| Check Digit | 1 digit | Modulo 10 check digit verifying payload integrity |
Pallet Label Placement Guidelines (GS1 Logistics Standards)
- Two Labels Per Pallet: Always apply two identical labels per pallet — one on the short side and one on the adjacent long side. This ensures forklifts approaching from either direction can scan without repositioning.
- Application Height: Position labels between 400mm and 800mm (16 to 32 inches) from the floor to align with standard automated conveyor scanners.
- Stretch Wrap Application: Apply labels to the outside of the stretch wrap. Barcodes trapped under multiple layers of wrinkled plastic film suffer high scan-failure rates.