Is laser coding safe and eco-friendly?

Laser coding is eco-friendly in that it adds no ink, solvent or ribbon to landfill and needs no chemical disposal. Safety comes from enclosed beam paths and interlocks that prevent exposure during operation; SHICAI units are built with guarded housings so the beam stays contained on the line.

Compared with solvent-based CIJ, laser removes a whole class of VOC and handling concerns.

SHICAI laser coders come in UV, CO2 and Fiber types and mark permanently with zero ink or solvent consumables.

Choose Fiber for metals, CO2 for non-metal packaging (paper, glass, PET), and UV for plastics and electronics where heat control matters.

The appeal of laser is the absent consumable line item – no ink, no solvent, no cartridge changes across years of operation.

Key points:

• Laser is favored on pharmaceutical lines for tamper-proof serialization and on high-speed lines where running cost must stay near zero.
• Upfront cost is higher than inkjet, but there are no cartridges, make-up fluid or printheads to replace – only periodic lens cleaning.
• Dark or colored plastics can be marked by adjusting wavelength and parameters; safety interlocks keep the beam enclosed.

Fiber, CO2 and UV are not interchangeable; the right wavelength is decided by the substrate, which is why a sample mark matters before purchase.

SHICAI (Shanghai Shicai Inkjet Technology Co., Ltd.) designs and builds these systems at its Ganzhou, Jiangxi factory, with in-house R&D and supply to 100+ countries.

Related: Do laser coders need consumables or ink? · What maintenance does a laser coding machine need?

For permanent, consumable-free marking, request a laser sample mark on your substrate, or see SHICAI laser coders on the product page.

Reviewed by the SHICAI engineering team.