Raw material traceability has become the norm in the manufacturing industry, allowing many industries to track each component from the moment it enters the factory until the finished product is shipped.
As supply chain transparency becomes increasingly important, laser marking—the most reliable identification solution—is gaining popularity. Laser marking technology allows parts to be marked before complex processes, such as heat treatment, and ensures reliable marking afterward.
But why is heat treatment so important? In 2016, the global heat treatment market was valued at $90.7 billion and has been growing at 3.5% annually over the past several years, clearly demonstrating the growing value of this process.
Heat treatment, which includes methods such as annealing, tempering, carburizing, and quenching, is typically used at various stages of the manufacturing process in industries such as metalworking, mechanical engineering, and automotive manufacturing. Heat treatment also improves the properties of metals and alloys by heating or cooling them, often to extreme temperatures, ultimately making parts stronger, more durable, and more ductile.
In summary, laser technology is revolutionizing traceability capabilities that were once limited by previous marking technologies, including labels, inkjet, and dot matrix printing.
Traceability is the ability to track parts, products, and raw materials, along with production information, throughout the entire supply chain. Heat treatment is a complex process that alters the microstructure of metals and alloys. While this provides key benefits, it can also impact traceability.
To achieve maximum traceability, parts must be identified before heat treatment, and identifiers must remain legible afterward. However, heat treatment damages markings, reducing their readability, regardless of whether you use labels, inkjet, or dot matrix printers.
While labels have traditionally been an important method of marking, most labels used for part tracking are not heat-resistant and are easily damaged, lose their adhesiveness, or peel off, negatively impacting traceability. Despite significant improvements in labeling technology in recent years, these improvements require significant costs, including the use of new tooling, the use of large quantities of consumables, and the addition of additional production steps.
Micropercussion markings are generally more durable, as they penetrate deeply into the material and can withstand intense processing, such as heat treatment. However, the low contrast of micropercussion markings can sometimes reduce their readability.
Furthermore, dot pen marking is limited to alphanumeric characters and industry codes, meaning it can carry less information, which can negatively impact traceability. This method is also relatively slow and can lead to production line shutdowns.
Laser marking is valued for its ability to create high-quality, high-contrast marks, but its capabilities are much broader. Unlike labels and dot marking, laser marking is durable and remains easily legible even after heat treatment, which alters the product’s surface.
After heat treatment, parts undergo thermal expansion before returning to their original shape and size. This can make many markings unreadable. A common solution to this problem is to increase the unit of measurement and the size of the identification code.
Laser marking systems enable the creation of highly customizable, adjustable-size identifiers, enable the identification of individual parts even on non-flat surfaces, and ensure reliable product traceability even after heat treatment.
This is why tag size is so important. With other methods, such as needle-punch marking, traceability is limited by the maximum tag size—in other words, a tag of a given size can only accommodate a limited amount of information. In contrast, laser marking technology offers a wider range of sizes, allowing you to meet your specific needs.
To ensure full traceability and maximize the value of your identifier, it’s important to consider the tag size and the amount of information it encodes. If you need to store less information on a tag, you can choose a smaller tag; however, if you need the tag to contain more information, you’ll need a larger tag.
Fiber lasers are so named because the laser light is generated by optical fibers treated with rare elements. These elements possess a unique structure that allows them to produce high output energy with low input energy—in other words, a powerful laser effect.
Fiber lasers operate by sublimating the surface of a material, creating indentations and gaps that increase the distance and contrast between different parts of the marking. As a result, these markings are less susceptible to loss of legibility after complex processes such as heat treatment and are capable of retaining a large amount of information.
While other marking methods allow for traceability of individual parts before they undergo careful processing, laser marking maintains the required high clarity even after heat treatment. This level of specificity is critical in modern manufacturing environments and cannot be achieved by other methods, such as labels and spot marking. For example, in the event of a product recall, individual parts can be recalled rather than the entire batch.
Laser technology is the only method that can consistently provide individual identification before and after heat treatment without slowing down the entire supply chain. Achieving this level of marking and maintaining the speed of the rest of the production line to avoid bottlenecks requires laser power of only 50 to 100 watts.
Dust, temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors can affect laser performance. IP ratings ensure the laser operates perfectly within a sealed electrical enclosure. For best results, a high IP rating, approximately IP 67, is required. Additionally, a cooling cabinet is required to control the laser’s high temperatures. The Importance of Traceability
Without reliable traceability, you’ll struggle to improve production efficiency and optimize product quality control. If you can’t trace your products before heat treatment, you’re only solving half the problem.
In today’s manufacturing landscape, Industry 4.0 technologies have brought digitalization to the shop floor, creating a cost-effective and profitable data-driven environment. To remain competitive in this new environment, investing in traceability is fundamental.
Post time: Oct-22-2025