One QR per model or one per serial number?
One QR per model is easier to print, but takes everyone to the same page. If the model has variants, options or different software versions, the user cannot tell which manual applies to their machine.
A QR per serial number opens the page of that specific machine: the manual composed for its configuration, in the planned languages, with the declaration and the version history. It is also the basis for knowing, years later, what was delivered with each machine.
The address must outlive the company website
The QR code printed on the nameplate cannot be updated. If it points to a page of the company website, a redesign or a domain change is enough to break it. A dedicated address works better, for example a subdomain such as instructions.company.com, run by a system designed to stay online for the whole expected period.
What to show on the page that opens
- Model, serial number and configuration of the machine.
- The instructions in the version valid for that serial number, with a language choice.
- PDFs to download and print.
- The EU declaration of conformity or of incorporation.
- Previous versions, marked as superseded.
- A simple way to request a paper copy.
The page must load well on a phone in the workshop, with a weak connection.
Label materials and printing
The QR code must stay readable for years in environments with oil, dust, heat or washing. The most common solutions are laminated polyester or polypropylene labels printed by thermal transfer, or anodised or engraved aluminium plates. A larger QR code with a white margin around it reads better even when it gets a little damaged.
Always run a read test after printing and before applying the label.
How TARGA does it
TARGA generates a QR code for every serial number, with a public page ready for phones. From the Pro plan the QR codes can use the company's own domain. The label station prints QR codes or complete nameplates on Zebra printers or on A4 sheets, with a check after printing and tracked reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a different QR code for every machine?
It is not mandatory, but one QR per serial number lets you show the right manual for that machine's configuration and track what was delivered.
What happens if I change the company website?
If the QR code points to the company website, the link can break. That is why a dedicated, stable address designed to stay active for at least 10 years is the better choice.
Can the QR code replace a written address?
The Regulation asks you to indicate how to access the instructions. Adding a short web address next to the QR code helps those who cannot scan it.