Written by John Baverstock, Product Manager- Industrial Components

Given that all branches of industry are now under increasing cost pressure, companies are constantly looking for new ways to cut costs. This also applies to the topic of ‘marking,’ because clear, long-lasting labels save a lot of time and money. There is now an alternative to engraved or laser printed metal labels.  The Bluemark CLED printing technology offers a simpler method of producing metal labels. The key advantages of metal labels are their sturdiness and durability.

Unlike plastics, metallic materials pose no problems for special outdoors applications as they are UV and weather-resistant. Even chemicals and acids have no effect on most metallic materials.  For this reason, these materials are increasingly used in industry –  for example, as machine labels in machine, control, and plant engineering.

Methods used to create metal labels

The known and, in some cases, proven labelling processes for metal labels are: stamping, screen printing, etching, needle embossing, engraving, or laser. Engraving is still in widespread use today. There are two reasons for this: the large number of engraving machines in operation and the durability of engraved labels. Engraving involves the targeted removal of material, which creates clearly palpable indentations. The marking may only be removed by destroying the base material. The disadvantages relate to the process itself: shavings are created, lubricants are used for cooling, and time has a negative impact.

The laser technology is better in this respect: Highly precise and extremely durable labels are created within a matter of seconds that can also only be removed by destroying the base material. The three most important types of marking lasers are the CO2, YAG (yttrium-aluminium-garnet) and fibre lasers. The key disadvantage of this technology is the high purchase price. Therefore this only makes sense for high volumes of orders.

Creating metal labels conveniently and at low cost

The Bluemark CLED LED UV printer from Phoenix Contact is a high-performance printing system for a wide range of industrial marking tasks. The printer was initially designed to quickly, precisely, and permanently mark many different plastic materials for terminal, cable, and device labelling.A wide range of materials for metal labels for this printer have now been introduced to cover as many potential industrial uses as possible. The user can choose from more than 20 versions. These include labels without adhesive for snapping onto carriers or tracks, labels with adhesive up to 100 x 60 mm in size that are also suitable for rough surfaces, and labels for cable and conductor marking in square or round design.

Processing the metallic labels is easy, with no need for pre- or post-treatment. The blank metal label is removed from the package and placed in the magazine, the printing process is started, and the material to be printed is fed into the front of the printer. After no longer than 30 seconds, the printing process is completed and the metal label is ready for immediate use.

Scratch- and chemical-resistant

The Bluemark CLED printer, the smallest industrial LED UV printer on the market, works completely emission-free. The printing system represents a paradigm shift in industrial printers, as it uses a special UV ink specifically adapted for this application, which, unlike standard inks, does not contain any solvent. The UV ink on the material surface is hardened using short-wave UV radiation, generally in the range between 200 and 300 nanometers. The special feature of this printing technology is that thermal energy is not required, as the material being marked is not subject to any thermal radiation. The materials maintain the same temperature prior to and after the printing process, and can be used immediately both indoors and outdoors. Metal labels are inscribed permanently with high quality lettering and graphics. They are resistant to scratches, oils, and chemicals. They cover most industrial applications.

Metal labels can be configured and printed via Phoenix Contact’s free Clip Project software.  You can download it free from our website here.

If you would like more information or to book a demonstration, please contact Andy Neat:  aneat@phoenixcontact.com or telephone 07786 252414