Digital product information is changing the way we view industrial marking. What matters is not just the code, but the interplay between the component, the identifier, the data and the marking process throughout the product lifecycle. The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is designed to make relevant product information accessible throughout a product’s lifecycle – for example, information about materials, repairability, reuse or recycling.
Its implementation in the EU is taking place gradually and in accordance with product-specific requirements. Although there is currently no general DPP requirement for all machines and industrial products, this development signals a fundamental shift: physical products and digital product information are becoming increasingly intertwined.
What role does marking play in the Digital Product Passport?
The European Commission envisages a digital data carrier, such as a QR code, as the link between the physical product and its Digital Product Passport. The actual information is managed within the corresponding digital infrastructure. The identifier on the product therefore establishes the link to the correct data record.
Laser marking neither generates the Digital Product Passport nor manages its contents. However, it can permanently mark a suitable identifier onto a component or marking element. This is particularly relevant for components, machines and capital goods. Many years may elapse between production, installation, maintenance and eventual disposal. Abrasion, chemicals, temperature, cleaning or mechanical stress can take a toll on the marking during this time. This raises a key question: does the product identification need to last as long as the product itself?
Laser, printing or labels: which marking method is suitable for Digital Product Passports?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Depending on the application, different technologies meet similar requirements for speed, flexibility and variable data. Industrial printing methods such as inkjet enable direct and variable marking and can be attractive in terms of initial investment. If, on the other hand, a marking needs to remain intact over a long product lifecycle and be difficult to remove or alter, laser marking offers advantages.
Labels also provide a high degree of design freedom. Unlike direct marking, however, they constitute a separate marking medium. The fact that this medium can be removed or replaced can be either an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on the application. For long-lasting products, this raises the question of whether the identifier should be replaceable or remain permanently attached to the product.
Depending on the material, surface and application, Data Matrix and QR codes, serial numbers, UID markings or plain text can be applied directly to a component. Direct part marking is particularly useful where permanent identification is required without a separate marking element.
From individual units to recurring series marking
The production environment also influences the choice of solution. A medium-sized machine manufacturer, for example, processes varying orders and different components. Nameplates, individual serial numbers and Data Matrix codes are required in small or medium quantities. Here, flexibility, easy changeover and reliable processing of variable data are paramount.
In recurring series applications, higher production volumes, standardised workflows and semi-automated processes become increasingly important. Laser workstations can be equipped with various table and handling systems for this purpose. For the SpeedMarker series, Trotec offers, among other things, linear, indexing and rotary tables, as well as solutions for the automated production of nameplates.
The decisive factor here is not the maximum possible degree of automation. Production volume, the range of variants, component handling and data processing must align with the actual production requirements.
Trotec looks beyond the laser
Trotec therefore considers not just the laser, but the entire marking process: what information belongs on which component? How long must it remain legible? How frequently do data and variants change? And what does the actual production process look like?
The SpeedMarker series combines industrial laser workstations with professional software for controlling and processing dynamic data, positioning functions and interfaces to production processes, ERP systems and databases. Different machine and handling configurations enable adaptation to various part sizes, production volumes and production scenarios.
Can laser marking support a more sustainable marking process?
In suitable applications, laser marking can help reduce consumables or eliminate separate work steps. Unlike ink-based direct printing methods, the laser marking process requires no ink and operates without physical contact. If direct part marking replaces existing label-based marking, the need for a separate marking medium is also eliminated. Furthermore, if nameplates or other marking elements are produced on demand, stocks of pre-produced variants can be reduced.
The Digital Product Passport extends this perspective to include the product lifecycle. For machine and plant manufacturers, this shifts the question from “What laser do we need?” to “How should our marking process be structured so that the product, identifier and digital information remain compatible in the long term?”
The right solution for Digital Product Passports could be direct part marking, a separately manufactured nameplate or a combination of different approaches. The actual use case is the deciding factor.
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