Metrologic Industrial Focus Review

	Product:	Industrial Focus MS1890
	Manufacturer:	Metrologic
	Type:	2D area imager
	Support:	Metrologic provides a two year, manufacturer warranty. POSGuys.com offers lifetime support.

Metrologic has revamped their Focus by creating the Industrial Focus, featuring a rugged, rubber-lined exterior and practical metal hook. Still retaining the great qualities of the area imager, the Industrial model improved the reading of both 1D and 2D barcodes.

Typical uses and environments:
As a more ruggedized area imager, the Metrologic Industrial Focus would do well in industrial environments such as shipping and logistics, including any use in warehouse settings. The IP54 seal fashions a barrier that protects it from being wiped down for cleaning or sterilization purposes which makes the Industrial Focus ideal for Health Care as well.

Unique Features & Advantages:
An IP54 seal assures that the Metrologic Industrial Focus can be used in harsh conditions without being affected by sprays of water, dirt, or dust which makes it ideal for steamy, dusty, or dirty industrial locations. Featuring widespread configurability and barcode data manipulation, reorganization of data from barcodes as you desire and creating a durable and versatile fixture in your workplace.
A Durable metal hook sits on the back of the head, adding to the new industrial feel of the Focus. To create higher efficiency, the metal piece can be hooked up to a tether and put into auto sense mode, allowing workers to simply pass the barcode by the front of the scanner to get a read.
First Flash technology presents flashing red LED’s on the scratch resistant lens to help scan barcodes without having to be perfectly aligned. The omnidirectional scanning provides the Industrial Focus with the tools to scan the barcode on the first pull of the trigger, regardless of angle or distance. In addition, multiple code select allows the Focus to read up to seven barcodes at the same time due to the flashes emitted by the scanner. It can also be programmed to output the data into a desired order.
Programmable for seven different tones or for no beep at all using barcodes found in the User’s Manual. The Industrial Focus can also program the depth of field the scanner reads for even faster scanning.

Standard Features:
The box contains the scanner, cable, holder, configuration guide, user’s manual, and a supplemental configuration guide that supply the tools necessary for seamless instillation and configuration if special requirements are desired. As with most Metrologic scanners, the Industrial Focus has 7 scan tones to choose from to suit its environment.
The Industrial Focus features Linear Illumination; a slightly darker strip of red light that appears prior to scanning to help aim. Controlled by a sensor, the beam initiates when anything comes in front of the scanner to ensure an accurate read of the correct barcode, which proves necessary for barcodes located close to each other. Status lights typically indicate power to the scanner, successful scans, and malfunctions. On the Industrial Focus, The blue light indicates that the scanner has power, the white light flashes when a successful scan is completed, and the yellow light illuminates with the scanner in the stand.
Other upgrades to the Industrial Focus feature an orange and black coloration throughout the scanner and rubber along the head, handle, and heel. Essential for industrial settings, the added rubber to vital areas of the Focus help decrease damage if dropped or used too forcefully on merchandise. The rubber even extends around the cable boot, used to protect the cable enclosure from damage. To remove the boot, pull the rubber downwards to reveal the actual cable. The boot should only need to be removed if replacing the cable, which can be done by inserting a pin into the small hole after removing the rubber boot.

Drawbacks:
The only drawback with Industrial Focus was when attempting to scan a barcode; the Focus produces a strobe light effect with the LEDs that can become straining on the eyes. This would only really be an issue if you’re using the scanner during extended periods of scanning in a dark location.

Performance Testing:
To determine the capabilities of the Metrologic Industrial Focus, we ran it through a battery of tests designed to determine the optimal focal range, ability to scan dense, wide, damaged, or multicolored barcodes, as well as resistance to light. Our tests reveal Industrial Focus to be an improvement from the regular Focus and slightly above average compared to its class.

In testing the range, we discovered the Industrial Focus to have an optimal scan range of .25 to 12 inches. This is an average range for industrial scanners in day to day use. Compared to the regular Focus, the Industrial Focus has improved in the reading of PDFs and wide barcodes. It could also impressively read through 8 layers of plastic, blue, green, brown on black barcodes, and 4.9 mil barcodes. While we did not test the scanner for durability, Metrologic states that the Industrial Focus can withstand multiple drops to concrete from 6 feet.
During testing, it became apparent that the greatest advantage to the Industrial Focus dealt with its results of the light test. The scanner is fully immune to the effects of light, making it an ideal scanner for bright locations.

A breakdown of the Metrologic Industrial Focus’ capabilities is listed in table
and graph form below.



1D Results

Highest Density Barcode Scanned	4.9mil	Good
Widest Barcode Scanned	187.96mm	Good
Shortest Barcode Scanned	38 mm	Good
Range Ideal Conditions (Standard 100% UPC-A)	.25 inches – 12 inches	Average
Scratched Barcode	3 of 3	Good
Worn Barcode	3 of 3	Good
Warped Barcode	2 of 2	Good
Curved Barcode	1 of 2	Average
Multiple Barcodes in close proximity	Relatively accurate, but dependent on distribution of barcodes relative to thickness of beam	Average
Scan through plastic layers	8 Layers	Great
Multicolored Barcode Scanned	Blue, Green, Black on Brown	Good
Multicolored Barcodes Not Scanned	Red, Yellow, Grey	Average
Simulated Sunlight Test	Correct scans until spotlight was at 0”	Excellent

Conclusion:
The Metrologic Industrial Focus has great features that make it a well-situated scanner for industrial settings, two of which are the IP54 seal and industrial metal hook. In addition to industrial environments, the MS1890 Focus would be ideal in health care or other applications that might require applying moisture to the unit for cleaning or sanitizing.

To Purchase this product, go to the Metrologic Industrial Focus page.

To see our complete line of barcode scanners, visit our Barcode Scanners section.

For Additional Reviews, visit our Product Reviews page.

Metrologic Scanners	Ideal Setting	Description
Metrologic Industrial Focus	Industrial and Health Care	Updated to an industrial area imager including more rubber and an IP54 seal with slightly higher scan power.
Metrologic Fusion	High Volume Retail	An omnidirectional scanner with option of handheld and includes code gate technology. Only scans 1D barcodes.
Metrologic Focus	Medium to High Volume Retail and Health Care	A 2D Imager with omnidirectional scanning with First Flash and Linear Illumination technologies
Metrologic Focus BT	High Volume Retail, Health Care, and Light Industrial	The Focus BT area imager has Wireless Bluetooth to 130 feet and includes code gate and range gate technology.

Testing and evaluation results for the Metrologic Industrial Focus

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