Overview
ISO/TR 17350:2013 - Direct Marking on Plastic Returnable Transport Items (RTIs) - is a Technical Report from ISO/TC 122 that gives guidance for identifying and directly marking plastic RTIs used in logistics and supply chains. It covers RTI types (pallets, slip sheets, returnable boxes, partitions), recommended identification codes, specifications for two-dimensional (2D) symbologies, methods for direct marking (direct part marking, DPM) and practical reading methods for marked items. The report is informative in nature and includes experimental evaluations and detailed annexes on marking and reading equipment.
Key Topics
- RTI types and use cases: Describes common RTIs such as pallets, sheet pallets (slip sheets), returnable boxes and partitions.
- Unique identifier requirements: Guidance on data field identification, data structure, character set and maximum data length for RTI identification (supports consistent owner management and traceability).
- 2D symbology: Specifications and requirements for QR Code and Data Matrix symbols as preferred 2D carriers (higher data density than linear barcodes; more robust than OCR).
- Marking methods: Compares label-based marking with direct marking (DPM) and provides guidance on selecting durable marking techniques suitable for plastic RTIs.
- Marking technologies: Practical reference to laser marking (e.g., CO2, FAYb), dot-peen, and ink/paint options - with annexes detailing equipment specifications.
- Reading and verification: Recommendations for handheld and fixed scanners, LED lighting, verifiers and reading evaluation procedures; includes experimental test results and considerations to achieve reliable read rates.
- Experimental validation: Several experimental tests and evaluation results (Annexes M–O) demonstrating performance across materials, colors and marking methods.
Applications
- Logistics and supply chain traceability for reusable packaging and RTI pools.
- Packaging engineers and operations teams implementing RTI-owner management systems.
- Manufacturers and third-party pool operators selecting durable marking methods (laser, dot-peen) and 2D symbologies for long-life plastic RTIs.
- IT and automation teams integrating RTI identification into warehouse management systems (WMS), transport management systems (TMS) and reverse-logistics processes.
Who Should Use This Standard
- Packaging and logistics engineers
- Supply chain managers and pool operators
- Asset-tracking solution providers and integrators
- Quality assurance and marking equipment vendors
Related Standards
ISO/TR 17350 references broader standards on pallets and automatic identification (for example ISO 445 and ISO/IEC 19762 family). Implementers should align RTI marking schemes with existing barcode/2D and asset-identification policies and system requirements.
Keywords: ISO/TR 17350:2013, direct marking, RTI identification, returnable transport items, 2D symbols, QR Code, Data Matrix, DPM, laser marking, dot-peen, logistics, supply chain.