The Demands of the Automotive Industry

The automotive industry needs large-scale, reliable marking. A long-trusted solution is laser marking - a process that utilises light beams to create permanent marks and designs on surfaces ranging from metal to plastic. Laser engraving stainless steel is an almost 100% automated process, producing consistent, reliable results. This streamlines the manufacturing process, reducing potentially expensive scrap. 

Integration of a laser solution into the existing manufacturing process is made particularly easy with out-of-the-box turnkey solutions. Modern laser etching equipment has been designed to be easy to learn and use.

Designs do not need to be made on any proprietary software, as most laser marking applications can import files created from the most common design software. Marking with dynamic data, such as data matrix codes, part numbers and batch numbers, is well within the standard capabilities of most laser applications.

What Are The Benefits of Using Automotive Laser Marking?

Automotive laser etching is a well-developed technology with various turnkey solutions, making it easy to integrate into any production line. Our laser marking system commonly comes bundled with its own software package that has been designed to be user-friendly.

The system can work with dynamic data to make progressive marks with minimal user intervention. Being almost entirely automated, laser marking systems are not labour-intensive and will free up technical operators to concentrate on the more involved steps of the manufacturing process. The low level of user intervention also means that laser engraving technology is highly accurate and reliable. Since laser marking systems have very few moving parts, their maintenance needs are also lower compared to other similar technologies.

Automotive laser marking provides high precision and accuracy, high contrast, permanence, and durability, making it ideal for producing permanent, high-quality markings on automotive parts. It is also faster, more flexible, and more cost effective than traditional marking methods such as mechanical engraving or chemical etching.

Non-Contact, Fast Technology

Laser engraving for automotive parts is the only non-contact technology used to mark equipment parts and traceability codes. This reduces wear and tear on the parts of the laser marking equipment - reducing repair and replacement parts. The contactless technology also reduces the chance of damage during the process, which can often be seen in more traditional part marking and methods such as dot-preen engraving.

Laser marking technology is also incredibly fast. Even highly detailed designs, such as small barcodes or QR codes on printed circuit boards (PCBs), hardly take more than five seconds to finish.

Permanent and Cost-Effective

Laser engraving marks are precise and accurate, as well as legible and permanent. This is incredibly important in automotive parts that experience incredibly high temperatures and frictional forces - for example, individual components of the braking system or piston engine parts.

A brake rotor can heat up to a temperature of 900°F when brakes are engaged at high speed, making a part number that does not degrade with heat particularly important.

Compared to other methods of marking automotive parts, laser etching technology is much more cost-efficient. This is due to full automation and fewer moving parts, reducing the workforce required and part replacement costs. 

Contactless laser technology also reduces the likelihood of production defects, as well as any need for costly waste disposal.

Why Use Needham Laser Tech Solutions for Your Automotive Needs?

The automotive industry is one of the most diverse, fast-paced fields in modern manufacturing. As technology continues to evolve, so too do the processes used to complete work within the automobile industry.

Laser marking has been a viable option in the automotive industry for a few years, offering various benefits such as permanent marks with precision accuracy, no physical contact with parts and materials, and very high-speed production rates. However, recent advancements in laser marking technology have reduced costs and increased output quality, all while reducing the parts needed during the process. The technological progression, pioneered by Needham Laser Tech, makes it ideal for applications such as producing serial numbers, batch numbers, logos, QR codes and graphics onto vehicle components.

When it comes to laser marking cars, there are two main parameters that determine how suitable this technology is for an application: material type and surface finish. The material type (typically metals or composites) can drastically affect how well a laser beam can penetrate the surface. Certain materials are more susceptible to laser energy than others, which can make them easier or harder to mark. Surface finishes also play an important role here because they can reflect or absorb laser energy depending on their composition.

Once these parameters have been determined and the appropriate equipment is chosen, an operator will feed information into software that runs the entire process automatically from start to finish. Markers are typically exported from a database containing all product data needed for each part such as its serial number or barcode information.

Made in Britain & Safety Regulations

We are proud to wear the Made in Britain badge, where all of our lasers are manufactured at our HQ in Shropshire. Combining over 60 years of company heritage with exquisite design and Great British engineering, we take great pride in our heritage and our commitment to producing quality products that represent the very best of British craftsmanship. Our loyal customers can be assured that when they choose us, they are investing in a product made with the utmost care and attention to detail.

The UK has the world's most rigorous regulatory requirements for laser safety.
We are proud to align our UK design and manufacturing with said regulations.
We are also certified members of AILU. - https://www.ailu.org.uk/