Product category:
Conveying, handling and end-of-line equipment
News Release from: DataLase | Subject: Datalase Masterbatch
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 23 March 2005
Laser Colour Change Tamper Codes
Containers
Sherwood Plastic the Yorkshire-based, precision and high-volume moulding specialist, has selected Sherwood Technology's Datalase Masterbatch, to code tamper-evident polypropylene plug seals.
Sherwood Plastic the Yorkshire-based, precision and high-volume moulding specialist, has selected Sherwood Technology's Datalase Masterbatch, to code tamper-evident polypropylene plug seals for containers used in the distribution industry Datalase Masterbatch is a coding, marking and printing additive that enables plastics to be successfully marked using low power CO2 lasers said Sherwood Technology
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 16 Feb 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Prior to adopting Datalase Masterbatch, Sherwood Plastic (no business connection), used YAG lasers and ink-jet printers to mark sequential numbering and logos on to tamper-evident plug seals, to enable customers to track and log containers of products.
Whilst the numbers printed by ink-jet were found to rub off, by ablating the numbers using YAG lasers, a permanent mark was established, albeit at a high cost.
According to Sherwood Technology, low power CO2 lasers are considerably cheaper than YAG lasers, although an extremely high power is needed to mark plastics (normally at least a 100 watt power).
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However, polyolefins such as polyethylene, and polypropylene have been notoriously difficult to mark with CO2 lasers, even with existing additives which mark well with YAG lasers.
To address that, Sherwood Technology, developed the patent-pending Datalase Masterbatch, which can be added directly to the polymer to be extruded or injection moulded.
The additive is non-toxic and said to be environmentally-friendly, whilst it is capable of producing an image when marked by a low power CO2 laser (around 10 watt power).
The additive undergoes a colour-change and creates an image that is stable and high contrast.
By combining Datalase Masterbatch with low power CO2 lasers, Sherwood Plastic was able to cut the costs associated with marking plastics by approximately one third.
Brian Hood, managing director of Sherwood Plastic, commented: "It was essential that we found a tamper-proof method of applying sequential numbers to our security plug seals, at a low cost.
By using Datalase Masterbatch, we are able to mark plastic with a permanent image, whilst ensuring that costs are kept down." Steve Kelly, managing director of Sherwood Technology, commneted: "Datalase Masterbatch has redefined the process of marking on plastics.
The additive has an infinite range of applications, including product security and packaging for the food and beverage, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.
We aim to make Datalase Masterbatch available globally via lasting and strategic cross-industry partnerships.".
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