That's Not All Folks!

Laser coders are best for colored paper, PET, rubber, and other plastics, Ravetto said. Other benefits include code permanence, very high uptime due to low maintenance, graphics and logos capabilities, and the ability for a larger marking field for printing large characters.

One downside to laser technology is the capital cost and the cleaning systems required to remove fumes from the air, Norton said. But, he added, "Laser is making a strong play in primary coding because it can print/etch on non-porous substrates."