For a Packaging Machine Supplier, choosing a Laser Coding Machine should not start with laser power or equipment price.

The better approach is to start with the packaging application and work backward to the laser configuration.

A suitable laser coding system needs to match the packaging material, required code, marking speed, code quality, production environment, operating cost, and machine requirements. It should also be practical to integrate into the packaging equipment that will ultimately be delivered to the customer.

The short answer

When selecting a laser coding machine for packaging equipment, evaluate these factors in order:

Application → Packaging Material → Laser Type → Code Requirements → Production Speed → Marking Quality → Operating Cost → Machine Compatibility → Supplier Capability → Application Testing

The most powerful laser is not necessarily the best choice. The right system is the one that produces the required code consistently on the actual packaging material, at the required production speed, with a practical total cost and reliable machine compatibility.

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1. Start With the Packaging Application

Before comparing laser specifications, identify what type of packaging equipment the laser will be installed on.

Common applications include:

• VFFS machines

• Pillow packaging machines

• Horizontal flow wrappers

• Automatic bagging machines

• Sachet packaging machines

• Bottle packaging lines

• Labeling machines

• Conveyor-based packaging systems

Each application can have different requirements for marking position, package movement, available marking time, and production environment.

For example, a laser coder used on a continuously moving VFFS film may have very different requirements from one used on an intermittent packaging machine.

Therefore, the first question should be:

What packaging process will the laser coding machine become part of?

This establishes the basic requirements before specific laser equipment is considered.

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2. Match the Laser Coding Machine to the Packaging Material

The packaging material is usually the most important technical factor in laser selection.

Packaging substrates may include:

• Flexible packaging film

• Laminated film

• PE

• PP

• PET

• BOPP

• Paper

• Coated materials

• Plastic containers

• PET bottles

• Labels

• Multilayer packaging structures

Different materials absorb laser energy differently.

Even when two materials have the same general material name, their coatings, pigments, laminations, and surface treatments can produce different marking results.

What should be checked?

Packaging Machine Suppliers should evaluate:

• Material composition

• Surface treatment

• Coating

• Material color

• Material thickness

• Thermal sensitivity

• Required contrast

• Final package appearance

The correct selection process is therefore:

Actual material → laser testing → marking evaluation → production-speed verification

Rather than:

Packaging machine type → choose a standard laser

This distinction is important because the same packaging machine can process different materials and therefore require different laser configurations.

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3. Choose the Right Laser Type

After confirming the material, determine which laser technology is most appropriate.

For packaging applications, the main options often include UV, CO₂, and fiber lasers.

Application	Typical Laser Technology	Selection Focus
Flexible packaging film	UV Laser	Low-heat marking approach for suitable materials
Heat-sensitive packaging	UV Laser	Controlled marking with reduced thermal impact
PET bottles	CO₂ Laser	Suitable absorption characteristics
Paper and coated materials	CO₂ Laser	Reliable online coding
Plastic packaging	UV / CO₂ Laser	Depends on material structure
Metal components	Fiber Laser	Permanent marking on metal

These are general application guidelines. Actual material testing should be used to confirm the final laser selection.

When is UV laser coding considered?

A 355 nm UV laser is often considered when the application requires a low-heat marking approach.

Typical applications include:

• Flexible packaging

• Date coding

• Batch coding

• Traceability

• Product identification

• Variable data

For suitable packaging films, UV laser coding can also be evaluated as an ink-free alternative to TTO.

When is CO₂ laser coding considered?

CO₂ lasers are widely used for suitable:

• PET bottles

• Plastic packaging

• Paper

• Labels

• Coated substrates

They are commonly used for online date and batch coding.

When is fiber laser coding considered?

Fiber lasers are more commonly selected for:

• Metal components

• Metal containers

• Industrial parts

• Other metal packaging-related applications

The key principle is simple:

Select the laser according to material interaction—not according to which laser has the highest power.

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4. Define the Required Code Before Comparing Machines

The code itself can significantly affect laser selection.

Typical packaging codes include:

• Production date

• Expiry date

• Batch number

• Lot number

• Serial number

• Product identification

• Barcode

• QR code

• Variable production information

A simple date code requires very different performance from a large, high-density 2D code.

Before selecting the laser coder, define:

• Number of characters

• Number of lines

• Character height

• Font

• Code dimensions

• Marking area

• Required readability

• Data format

• Variable-data requirements

Why code size matters

Larger codes generally require more marking time.

More characters also increase the marking workload.

A Packaging Machine Supplier should therefore provide the actual code content, rather than simply asking a laser supplier:

"How fast can your laser mark?"

A more useful question is:

"How fast can your laser mark our actual code on our actual packaging material?"

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5. Evaluate Production Speed Using the Real Code

Machine speed should be evaluated together with code complexity.

Important factors include:

• Film speed

• Package spacing

• Code size

• Number of characters

• Marking resolution

• Marking direction

• Required contrast

• Available marking window

A laser's advertised maximum marking speed does not necessarily represent its actual performance on a packaging machine.

For example, a simple single-line date code may be marked much faster than a multi-line code containing a QR code.

Use the actual production conditions

A proper evaluation should include:

Actual packaging material + actual code + representative production speed

If possible, the test should reproduce the intended marking position and material movement.

This gives Packaging Machine Suppliers a much more realistic basis for equipment selection.

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6. Evaluate Marking Quality—Not Just Whether a Mark Is Visible

A laser mark can be technically visible but still unsuitable for production.

The selected system should provide a code that is:

Readable + consistent + permanent + visually acceptable

Evaluation should include:

Contrast

Is the code easy for operators or vision systems to read?

Character clarity

Are characters sharp and correctly formed?

Position accuracy

Does the code remain in the required location?

Repeatability

Does the result remain consistent during continuous production?

Material condition

Does the laser produce unwanted surface effects?

Long-term readability

Will the code remain readable throughout the required product lifecycle?

For Packaging Machine Suppliers, marking quality should therefore be evaluated over continuous production rather than from a single sample.

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7. Consider Whether Laser Coding Can Replace TTO or Inkjet

Many packaging applications traditionally use:

• TTO

• CIJ inkjet

• Other conventional coding technologies

When evaluating a laser coding machine, suppliers should consider whether the laser can provide a suitable alternative.

For appropriate packaging materials, laser coding may offer advantages such as:

• No ink consumption

• No ribbon consumption in applications replacing TTO

• Permanent marking

• Reduced consumable management

• Clean operation

• Lower routine operator intervention

However, laser coding is not automatically the best replacement for every application.

The packaging material, required contrast, code content, production speed, and customer requirements must be evaluated first.

The right question is:

Can laser coding deliver the required production result with a lower or more practical total operating burden?

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8. Compare Total Cost of Ownership, Not Only Purchase Price

Equipment price is only one part of the cost of a laser coding solution.

Packaging Machine Suppliers should also consider:

• Consumables

• Maintenance

• Spare parts

• Energy consumption

• Downtime

• Integration work

• Commissioning

• Operator requirements

• Service requirements

For example, a laser coding system may have a higher initial purchase price than a conventional printer but lower ongoing consumable requirements.

For an automated production line operating for many hours per day, these differences can become important over the equipment's operating life.

A better purchasing question

Instead of asking:

"Which laser coder is cheapest?"

consider:

"Which solution provides the required coding performance at the lowest practical total operating cost?"

This is particularly important for Packaging Machine Suppliers who need to consider the customer's long-term operating requirements.

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9. Check Machine Compatibility Before Final Selection

Although detailed integration is a separate engineering topic, basic machine compatibility should be confirmed before ordering the laser.

Check whether the laser coding machine can work with the packaging machine's:

• Trigger signal

• Encoder requirements

• PLC interface

• HMI or job-selection logic

• Machine status signals

• Alarm and fault signals

The purpose at this stage is not to design the entire integration system.

It is to confirm:

Can this laser system realistically become part of the packaging machine?

If detailed integration information is required, the machine supplier and laser supplier should define the interface before equipment production begins.

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10. Evaluate Installation Requirements Early

A laser coder may perform well technically but still be difficult to install if the machine does not provide enough space.

Before selecting the system, confirm:

• Laser head dimensions

• Working distance

• Mounting requirements

• Installation orientation

• Adjustment range

• Cable requirements

• Environmental protection

• Maintenance access

For packaging machinery, available space is often limited around film paths, forming areas, sealing units, cutting mechanisms, and conveyors.

Early confirmation can prevent later mechanical redesign.

The detailed installation process should then be handled as part of the Laser Coding Integration stage.

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11. Consider the Production Environment

The operating environment can influence long-term laser performance.

Packaging production areas may contain:

• Dust

• Film particles

• Product residues

• Moisture

• Cleaning agents

• Machine vibration

Packaging Machine Suppliers should therefore consider:

• Protection rating

• Cooling method

• Environmental resistance

• Cleaning requirements

• Maintenance intervals

• Component accessibility

For example, a laser system installed close to a product filling area may have different environmental requirements from one installed in a relatively clean industrial environment.

The selected system should match the actual production conditions rather than laboratory conditions.

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12. Evaluate the Laser Supplier, Not Just the Laser Machine

For Packaging Machine Suppliers, supplier capability can be just as important as equipment specifications.

A good laser coding supplier should be able to support the application from testing through commissioning.

Consider whether the supplier can provide:

Application Testing

Can they test the customer's actual packaging material?

Code Testing

Can they test the customer's actual date, batch, barcode, or QR code?

Production-Speed Testing

Can they verify performance under representative production conditions?

Integration Support

Can they provide information required for trigger, encoder, PLC, and machine interfaces?

Technical Documentation

Can they provide installation and operating information clearly?

Commissioning Support

Can they support the Packaging Machine Supplier during machine setup?

After-Sales Support

Are spare parts, technical assistance, and troubleshooting support available?

This is especially important when the laser becomes a standard component of a packaging machine that will be supplied to multiple customers.

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13. Common Mistakes When Selecting a Laser Coding Machine

Mistake 1: Choosing by laser power

Higher power does not automatically mean better packaging coding.

Material compatibility and marking requirements should come first.

Mistake 2: Selecting a laser before testing the material

The same laser may produce different results on different packaging structures.

Mistake 3: Using advertised marking speed as the only speed criterion

Actual code content and production conditions can significantly affect performance.

Mistake 4: Comparing only purchase prices

Consumables, maintenance, integration, and downtime can affect the total cost.

Mistake 5: Ignoring the machine interface

A laser coder must be compatible with the packaging machine's control architecture.

Mistake 6: Testing only a static sample

Production performance should be verified using representative machine speed and material movement.

Mistake 7: Choosing a supplier without application support

A technically capable laser is much more useful when the supplier can help with material testing and machine integration.

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14. A Practical Laser Coding Machine Selection Process

Packaging Machine Suppliers can use the following process when evaluating a new laser coding solution.

Step 1 — Define the Application

Identify the packaging machine type and production process.

Step 2 — Confirm the Material

Provide the actual packaging material and its structure.

Step 3 — Define the Code

Confirm code content, size, number of lines, and readability requirements.

Step 4 — Select the Laser Technology

Evaluate UV, CO₂, fiber, or another suitable laser technology according to the application.

Step 5 — Test the Actual Material

Verify marking quality and material condition.

Step 6 — Test the Actual Production Speed

Use the intended code and representative production conditions.

Step 7 — Check Machine Compatibility

Confirm trigger, encoder, PLC, HMI, and basic interface requirements.

Step 8 — Evaluate Total Operating Cost

Consider equipment price, consumables, maintenance, downtime, and service.

Step 9 — Evaluate Supplier Capability

Confirm application testing, technical support, documentation, and commissioning support.

Step 10 — Approve the Solution

Select the laser coding machine that provides the best overall balance between:

Performance + compatibility + reliability + operating cost + supplier support

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15. Laser Coding Machine Selection Checklist

Before approving a laser coding machine for packaging equipment, review the following:

Application

☐ Packaging machine type confirmed
☐ Production process understood
☐ Marking location defined

Material

☐ Actual material identified
☐ Material structure reviewed
☐ Surface treatment checked
☐ Actual sample tested

Laser

☐ Laser wavelength selected
☐ Laser technology suitable for material
☐ Required power confirmed through testing

Coding

☐ Code content confirmed
☐ Code size confirmed
☐ Character height confirmed
☐ Barcode/QR requirements confirmed
☐ Readability verified

Production

☐ Machine speed confirmed
☐ Marking window evaluated
☐ Actual-speed test completed
☐ Continuous operation verified

Machine Compatibility

☐ Trigger requirements confirmed
☐ Encoder requirements confirmed
☐ PLC interface confirmed
☐ Alarm/fault requirements confirmed

Cost & Support

☐ Consumable requirements evaluated
☐ Maintenance requirements evaluated
☐ Service support confirmed
☐ Technical documentation available
☐ Supplier application support confirmed

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16. How KEC Mark Approaches Laser Coding Selection

KEC Mark focuses on laser coding applications where the marking system needs to become part of an automated production process.

For Packaging Machine Suppliers, the evaluation typically starts with the actual application rather than a standard laser configuration.

The main factors include:

Packaging material → required code → production speed → laser technology → marking quality → machine compatibility → operating requirements

For flexible packaging applications, KEC Mark provides 355 nm UV laser coding solutions that can be evaluated for date, batch, and traceability marking on suitable films.

For PET bottles and other suitable packaging substrates, CO₂ laser coding can be considered according to the material and production requirements.

The final laser configuration should be determined through application testing rather than selected from specifications alone.

This approach allows Packaging Machine Suppliers to evaluate the laser based on the actual requirements of the machine they are developing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most important factor when choosing a laser coding machine?

For packaging applications, the packaging material is usually the first factor to evaluate because the material determines which laser technology and marking approach are appropriate.

However, the final selection should also consider code requirements, production speed, machine compatibility, operating cost, and supplier support.

Which laser is best for packaging film?

There is no universal laser for all packaging films.

UV laser coding is often considered for suitable flexible films, while CO₂ lasers are commonly used for PET, paper, labels, and other suitable packaging materials.

The actual packaging substrate should be tested before final selection.

How much laser power does a packaging machine need?

There is no single power level that fits every packaging application.

Required power depends on the laser wavelength, material, code content, marking speed, and desired marking effect.

Power should therefore be determined through application testing rather than selected independently.

Can laser coding replace TTO?

For suitable flexible packaging applications, laser coding can be evaluated as an ink-free alternative to TTO.

Whether it is the better solution depends on the packaging material, required code, production speed, marking quality, and total operating requirements.

How fast should a laser coding machine be for VFFS?

The required speed depends on the film speed, package spacing, code content, code size, and available marking window.

The best evaluation is to test the actual code on the actual film at representative VFFS production speed.

Should Packaging Machine Suppliers test the material before buying a laser?

Yes.

Actual material testing is one of the most useful steps in laser selection because coatings, pigments, laminations, and surface treatments can affect marking performance.

What information should a Packaging Machine Supplier provide to a laser supplier?

Useful information includes:

• Packaging machine type

• Packaging material

• Material sample

• Machine speed

• Film or package dimensions

• Code content

• Code size

• Required marking position

• Production environment

• Trigger information

• PLC information

• Encoder requirements

The more complete the application information, the easier it is to select a suitable laser solution.

What should Packaging Machine Suppliers look for in a laser supplier?

Look beyond the equipment specification.

Important factors include:

Application testing + material testing + production-speed verification + integration support + technical documentation + commissioning assistance + after-sales support

A reliable laser supplier should be able to support the complete application rather than only provide the laser hardware.

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Conclusion: Choose the Laser Around the Application

For a Packaging Machine Supplier, selecting a Laser Coding Machine should be treated as an application-engineering decision rather than a simple equipment purchase.

The most important evaluation factors are:

Application → Material → Laser Type → Code Requirements → Production Speed → Marking Quality → Operating Cost → Machine Compatibility → Supplier Capability → Testing

Do not choose a laser simply because it has higher power, faster advertised marking speed, or a lower purchase price.

Instead, evaluate whether it can:

Mark the actual material + produce the actual code + meet the actual production speed + fit the packaging machine + operate reliably over time.

For packaging machine suppliers and system integrators, this approach reduces selection risk and creates a more reliable basis for machine development and customer acceptance.

The best Laser Coding Machine is not necessarily the one with the highest specifications.

It is the one that fits the complete packaging application.