If you’ve ever wondered how steel components stay traceable through extreme heat, pressure, or harsh environments—Direct Part Marking (DPM) is the answer. In industries like automotive, aerospace, and heavy manufacturing, DPM provides permanent, laser-etched or dot-peened codes that hold up where labels fail.
But marking is just one part of the story. How do you know the code is readable when you need it most? That’s where verification—and the international standard ISO/IEC 29158—comes into play.
Why Standardised Verification Matters
Unlike printed labels on smooth packaging, DPM codes are etched straight onto tough surfaces like steel. These surfaces are often rough, curved, or reflective, which can make the codes difficult for scanners to read. That’s where traditional verification methods fall short.
ISO/IEC 29158 was introduced to solve that problem. It’s the global standard specifically designed to test the quality and readability of 2D matrix codes that are applied directly to parts—especially in challenging environments.
What Makes ISO/IEC 29158 Different?
Released in 2020, this standard builds on existing ones like ISO/IEC 15415 (which focuses on printed codes) but adds tools to tackle the unique challenges of DPM. Here’s how it’s tailored for industrial environments like steel manufacturing:
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🔍 Adaptive contrast measurement – handles reflective or uneven surfaces better
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🌓 Improved binarisation – helps scanners distinguish light and dark areas more accurately
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🧩 New metrics like Cell Modulation (CM) and Cell Contrast (CC) – focus on the clarity of individual code cells
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⚫ Support for dot-peen and dot-style codes – ideal for marking curved or contoured surfaces
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💡 Tilted illumination setups – make it easier to inspect codes on angled or textured parts
Why It’s Crucial in Steel Manufacturing
Steel components go through a lot—heat, friction, corrosion, the works. Traditional labels don’t stand a chance. That’s why DPM is essential. But if those codes can’t be read due to poor quality, the consequences include:
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Lost traceability
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Production slowdowns
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Regulatory issues (especially in safety-critical industries)
Verification ensures that each mark is up to standard and readable—before it ever becomes a problem. That means better reliability, smoother production, and full compliance.
How It Fits with Other Standards
ISO/IEC 29158 doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It works alongside other major standards, including:
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ISO/IEC 15415 – the base standard for verifying printed 2D codes
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SAE AS 9132 / DIN EN 9132 – widely used in the aerospace industry
Together, these standards offer a solid framework to ensure your part marking process is robust, consistent, and inspection-ready. REA and our UK partners ensure that we are always bringing you the very best, and latest marking technologies.
👇 Want to Learn More?
At REA UK, we specialise in reliable, high-contrast marking systems and code verification tools that help manufacturers meet tough standards—no matter the surface or environment.
If you’d like help implementing ISO/IEC 29158 or improving DPM traceability in your production line, get in touch with our team.