Technology Basics
What is Laser Marking?
How laser marking achieves permanent, consumable-free codes.
Laser marking uses a focused beam to alter a substrate's surface — through ablation, foaming, or color change — creating a permanent mark without any ink or ribbon.
Because there is no consumable to replenish, laser systems have very low running costs and high uptime once installed. However, many films require a laser-reactive additive to mark clearly, which is a cost paid to the film supplier and easily overlooked when comparing running costs.
Laser is best justified at high volumes where the elimination of ink/ribbon logistics and the permanence of the mark outweigh the higher upfront investment.