Why do pharmaceutical lines prefer laser serialization?

Pharmaceutical lines favor laser serialization because the mark is permanent, tamper-proof and adds no ink or solvent to a regulated product. SHICAI laser coders apply GS1-compliant serials and 2D codes that survive the supply chain and authentication checks, satisfying track-and-trace without a consumable near the drug.

Permanence also defeats relabeling fraud – a real concern in pharma anti-counterfeiting.

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.

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

Key points:

• 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.
• Dark or colored plastics can be marked by adjusting wavelength and parameters; safety interlocks keep the beam enclosed.

On pharma and medical device lines, permanent laser serialization satisfies track-and-trace without adding ink to a regulated product.

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: Is laser marking permanent and tamper-proof? · Can lasers print QR codes and barcodes?

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.