A growing requirement in the industrial manufacturing market is the need for product identification and traceability for the service lifetime of the part, meeting industry standards and creating confidence in knowing all parts and assets can be accurately identified and accounted for in maintenance and asset management systems.

SwitchMARK® can provide a solution with engraved bar codes on nameplates and / or actual products, with either 1D bar codes or 2D “Data” matrix / bar codes to IS9001 standards.

One dimensional bar codes (as seen on product packaging) consist of parallel lines that provide basic information when read by a bar code scanner. A two dimensional bar code, also referred to as a Data Matrix, is more sophisticated. It consists of black and white square modules arranged in a rectangular or square pattern. A 2D matrix bar code can provide 100 times more information than a traditional bar code.

DuraBlack (Utilised mostly by the aerospace, automotive, welding and mining industries): DuraBlack is a new form of anodised aluminium material which is resistant to heat, UV, salt-corrosion, abrasion and chemicals. DuraBlack outperforms the leading laser-markable acrylic and anodised aluminium labels without the added step of a protective overcoat. SwitchMARK®’s laser engraves the top black layer, to reveal the layer of white on the aluminium.