LASER LABELLING OF PLASTIC

Plastic laser marking with EcoMark

Depending on the type of plastic, either a fibre laser, YAG laser or CO2 laser can be used. However, it is important to know the characteristics of the various plastics. For hard plastics such as thermoplastic acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS for short) pulsed fibre lasers are most suitable. For soft, flexible plastics such as polyethylene, a continuous wave fibre laser is more practical. The different laser labelling processes are therefore also deployed using fibre lasers as well as CO2 lasers. The various reactions of plastics should be noted so that the best possible laser labelling process is used. A choice should be made between removal, foaming, carbonisation or colour change.

The field of application for laser labelling or laser branding varies widely for plastics. Automotive parts, particularly buttons and switches with day and night design, as well as sensors, keypads or electrical components, can be laser marked quickly, precisely and permanently.

Laser engraving with CO2 lasers