Patent ID: 8380336

Claim:
A method for individual tracking of metallic tubular bodies, comprising the steps of: applying with a marking device, which is rotatable about the tubular body and comprises at least one marking head, on a circumference of the tubular body a unique identification as data-matrix-code marker having at least two identically repeating segments dividing the circumference, wherein the marker is applied in each segment by a rotation of the marking device by less than 360° and the segments have an axial offset in a longitudinal tube axis of the tubular body which is greater than an axial width of the data-matrix-code automatically reading the unique identification as a video image in a feed region during onward transport of a tubular body to a downstream manufacturing and test stations independent of a transport direction, recording the identification of the individual tubular bodies when passing through the downstream manufacturing and test stations, comparing the recorded identification with previously inputted identifications, and associating a manufacturing or test step performed in the manufacturing and test stations with the recorded identification.