When and where any given business manufactures products, parts or components of any kind, it is of course of the utmost importance to make sure these products are marked. From company logos to barcodes to model numbers to part numbers and so on and so forth, there needs to be some kind of identification mark present on every product across the board. Without such marks, it would be much more difficult for customers and indeed businesses to identify parts in order to request replacements for repairs as and when necessary.
Of the various options currently on the market when it comes to marking products, conventional printing remains the most commonly used. The use of standard printers and labels can certainly get the job done to a degree, but there is in fact a far more cutting edge solution which has the potential to lead to not only superior results, but generally work better in the best interests of the business.
Printers and labels may get the job done, but laser cutting machines offer an enormous array of unique benefits.
What exactly is laser engraving?
As the name implies, laser engraving is a technique which is used to create markings on a specific product or material. From number sequences to characters to barcodes and even right through to complicated graphics, laser engraving has the potential to do considerably more than standard marking ever could. But what’s uniquely interesting about laser engraving is the way in which the process is carried out without there being any physical contact between the engraving tool itself and the material. Rather than physically ground or cut into the material, the result is instead achieved by use of a concentrated laser.
In terms of the laser engraving machines used for industrial applications these days, there are significantly different machines on the market for different purposes and environments. There are simple desktop machines which use low power lasers for light applications, while on the other end of the spectrum there are massively heavy-duty machines that can not only create incredible markings but can also do so at an undeniably impressive speed.
TheBenefits of Laser Engraving
In terms of why it is that any given business would be wise to consider laser marking over and above other types of marking and engraving, here’s a quick look at just a few of the most important benefits to expect:
- Despite the fact that laser engraving is so technologically advanced and high quality in terms of the results, it can also be one of the most cost effective methods of marking available. The reason being that there are no consumables involved which of course cannot be said for standard printing and the use of labels.
- What’s also worth bearing in mind is that while the ink fades with time and stickers have a habit of falling off, laser engraving is permanent. It really doesn’t matter what kind of punishment the part or product is exposed to, the engraved part will remain in place long term. This is of course especially important if you are manufacturing parts or components which are designed to last for years or decades on end and only need replacing perhaps once every 10 or 20 years.
- There’s also much to be said for the very appearance and aesthetic of laser etching in its own right, which looks and feels considerably more professional and high-quality than the use of standard labels and ink. It could therefore be said that in terms of giving your business’ reputation and image something of a boost, laser etching and engraving could be one way of making it happen.
- One of the biggest benefits of all with laser engraving is the fact that even when compared to standard printing and labelling processes, it is incredibly fast and efficient. And what’s more, the machines if sourced from a reputable manufacturer require little to no maintenance whatsoever.
- Last but not least, there will always be certain limitations to work within when it comes to using standard ink and label marking methods.Some print methods (non-digital) rely on plates/screens/pads so changing the mark during the process is not an option and any design change can be costly in terms of time/money.However, laser engraving can be used for pretty much any material, part or product across the board and guarantees consistently flawless output each and every time.
- Another bonus for laser marking is it is hard to counterfeit: anyone can print a label!