How long has a product been in use? When was it last serviced? Answering these and other questions is essential when carrying out service and maintenance work. One solution for bundling the relevant information on the product is to apply a readable serial number or code to the corresponding product using laser engraving: in contrast to other methods, laser engraving has the advantage that it is durable and forgery-proof without damaging the material.

Ipco was also looking for a suitable solution for clearly marking and tracing its products: The expert in the production of steel strips needed a laser marking system for its headquarters in Fellbach that was capable of carrying out reliable, precise and durable engravings on steel strips without changing the existing production infrastructure and found a suitable cooperation partner in Mobil-Mark.

Ipco's steel belts are stable and, according to the company, have a unique flatness and surface smoothness - properties that are essential for efficient production. In addition, the belts are easy to clean, which plays a major role in hygiene-sensitive areas. The steel belts are also used for pressing, drying or freezing various products for different target industries. From the manufacture of cookies to the production of medicines, the applications are diverse. Steel belts have a particularly long life cycle and have the advantage over other conveyor belts that they incur lower operating costs.

The laser marking systems from Mobil-Mark are used in various industries. Normally, products first have to be transported to a laser station, which creates additional logistical effort - and therefore additional costs. With the mobile laser system from Mobil-Mark, however, laser marking can be carried out directly on the product.

Abrasion-resistant, fine engravings for any production environment
Ipco's steel belts at the Fellbach site are manufactured in particular for the pharmaceutical, chemical, food and automotive industries. Depending on the customer's production environment, the steel belts must be able to withstand high or low temperatures or fast belt speeds, for example. Furthermore, depending on the application, the service life of a steel belt can easily exceed 20 years.

The engraving of the steel bands. © Mobile-Mark

With this in mind, it was important for the company to find a laser that was capable of applying a not very deep yet permanent engraving. It also had to be able to cope with the customer's sometimes extreme production environments. It was also important that the special surface finish of the steel strips would not be damaged by the engraving.

The solution was finally found at Mobil-Mark in Ulm: The laser system impressed the customer with its ease of use and precise engraving results. The operator can move the laser to the product and engrave it at the touch of a button. No additional safety precautions are required for this process, as the laser is certified to laser safety class 1 and can therefore be put into operation immediately at the desired location.

The marking result also met the customer's requirements: An easily legible, filigree engraving that can be carried out quickly, which also stands up to long-term use of the steel belts and meets hygienic standards. The laser system also scored points for its flexibility in the input of changing marking layouts: Contents can be changed and engraved within a very short time. Other parameters, such as the date and time, are updated automatically and do not need to be re-entered.

Optimized service process thanks to laser use
By using the Mobil-Mark laser, Ipco was able to optimize customer-specific service and maintenance processes: Using a serial number, employees are now able to read out all relevant data relating to the steel belt. Delivery bills, quotations, order confirmations and test reports can thus be viewed directly at the customer's premises. In particular, the life cycle of a steel belt can be tracked precisely in this way, even if it has been in use for several years. This means that nothing stands in the way of complete documentation. The engraving itself can be carried out flexibly, safely and easily in just a few steps. as