Watching For Threats

Lasers do not require inks, stamps, or ribbons to generate a code. In modern sealed-off CO2 laser coders, the infrared laser light is generated via radio-frequency discharge in a carbon dioxide gas mixture. The CO2 laser systems code thermally by changing the surface color (e.g., PVC packages), melting, foaming (e.g., PET bottles), or removing the material surface (e.g., printed labels, cardboards, cans, tubes). The advantages of laser coding include speed, versatility, code permanence, noncontact operation, clean and dry process, maintenance-free operation over thousands of hours, extremely low operating costs, and adaptability to a fully automated line.