Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: DataLase | Subject: DataLase Masterbatch
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 21 October 2005
Novel polymer cuts parts marking costs
JCM Technologies, the Spanish manufacturer of electronic products for access control applications, has adopted DataLase Masterbatch to apply traceability codes onto its proximity tags.
JCM Technologies, the Spanish manufacturer of electronic products for access control applications, has adopted DataLase Masterbatch to apply traceability codes onto its proximity tags DataLase Masterbatch is a new generation coding, marking and printing additive that enables plastics to be successfully marked using low power CO2 lasers
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 30 Jun 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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JCM Technologies has over 20 years' experience in creating, developing and marketing electronic products and services which are used to control access into buildings and doors.
The company has developed the proximity tag (containing an RFID device) that acts as an alternative to a key, interacting at a distance via radio frequency with a proximity reader.
This enables access control and security features in residential, commercial and industrial applications.
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Each tag requires a serial number, production date and three-digit client code indelibly marked on it, in order to enable traceability and advanced security functions.
Originally JCM considered using a high powered YAG laser to ablate the required information onto the ABS polymer.
However YAG lasers have been found to require higher activation energy (which equates to high costs).
JCM found that by marking the proximity tag with DataLase Masterbatch the marking price per tag was significantly reduced and the image was high contrast without the charred effect.
DataLase Masterbatch is added directly to the ABS polymer by extrusion.
The additive is nontoxic and environmentally friendly, and is capable of producing an image when marked by a low power CO2 laser (around 10W power).
Once exposed to the laser on the production line, the additive undergoes a simple colour change to create a stable and high contrast code.
By combining DataLase Masterbatch with low power CO2 lasers, JCM was able to produce high quality codes that can not easily be removed from the proximity tags.
The introduction of this solution has also resulted in faster production run times for the company and removed the need for expensive consumables on the production line.
"As the laser imaging process using DataLase Masterbatch does not require any ink or ribbons it is virtually maintenance free", comments Andrew Jackson, Applications Marketing Manager at Sherwood.
"In sharp contrast to traditional methods, DataLase Masterbatch provides the ability to mark an expanding range of polymers using CO2 lasers, and can be used in a wide array of applications".
"By using DataLase Masterbatch to mark our proximity tags, we are able to offer our customers advanced security features as the codes are embedded in the polymer and thus cannot be tampered with", adds Jordi Rifa Burniol, R and D Process Engineer at JCM Technologies.
"In addition we have seen increased productivity gains and a significant cost reduction by employing this new technology".
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