True Traceability Enabled by In-Line
Laser Marking of Lead and Zinc Ingots
Alex Fraser and Jean-Michaël Deschênes
Abstract In the last few years, traceability has become an important asset for
improvement of manufacturing processes and logistics in the primary metal industries. One of the key elements to obtain true traceability is the ability to consistently
apply an identifier on the metal product, as early as possible in the manufacturing
process. This often implies marking on very hot metal in harsh foundry environment,
conditions that are far from ideal for traditional labelling or inkjet printing systems.
In this paper, we discuss the feasibility of laser marking of lead and zinc ingots
directly in the production line. Such laser marked identifiers are very robust and
the marking machines require much less maintenance than traditional technologies.
Emphasis is put on the process speed and contrast level. Dynamic compensation for
the inaccurate part positioning is also explained, which makes the system capable of
handling most real-world industrial conditions.
Keywords Laser marking · Lead · Zinc · Traceability · Identifiers
Introduction
Traceability systems have become a key asset in the primary metal industry within
the last few years. They help improve the production process as well as eliminating
the risk of shipping the wrong alloy, which is of huge value for producers. In order
to work, the traceability process requires a reliable way to apply durable unique
identifiers on the ingots and to maintain their readability over their entire lifecycle.
Old technologies used such as paper labelling, inkjet marking, and dot peen marking
all have some drawbacks related to low reliability and/or high maintenance costs,
so most producers are looking at laser technologies to replace them. Indeed, laser
direct part marking is known has a mature technology that is very efficient, reliable
and with very low operational costs. In addition, the laser marked identifiers have
high contrasts and are etched permanently in the material, which makes them very
A. Fraser (B) · J.-M. Deschênes
Laserax Inc, 2811 Avenue Watt, Québec, QC G1X 4S8, Canada
e-mail: afraser@laserax.com
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2020
A. Siegmund et al. (eds.), PbZn 2020: 9th International Symposium
on Lead and Zinc Processing, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37070-1_66
767
Laser Marking of Lead and Zinc Ingots
Alex Fraser and Jean-Michaël Deschênes
Abstract In the last few years, traceability has become an important asset for
improvement of manufacturing processes and logistics in the primary metal industries. One of the key elements to obtain true traceability is the ability to consistently
apply an identifier on the metal product, as early as possible in the manufacturing
process. This often implies marking on very hot metal in harsh foundry environment,
conditions that are far from ideal for traditional labelling or inkjet printing systems.
In this paper, we discuss the feasibility of laser marking of lead and zinc ingots
directly in the production line. Such laser marked identifiers are very robust and
the marking machines require much less maintenance than traditional technologies.
Emphasis is put on the process speed and contrast level. Dynamic compensation for
the inaccurate part positioning is also explained, which makes the system capable of
handling most real-world industrial conditions.
Keywords Laser marking · Lead · Zinc · Traceability · Identifiers
Introduction
Traceability systems have become a key asset in the primary metal industry within
the last few years. They help improve the production process as well as eliminating
the risk of shipping the wrong alloy, which is of huge value for producers. In order
to work, the traceability process requires a reliable way to apply durable unique
identifiers on the ingots and to maintain their readability over their entire lifecycle.
Old technologies used such as paper labelling, inkjet marking, and dot peen marking
all have some drawbacks related to low reliability and/or high maintenance costs,
so most producers are looking at laser technologies to replace them. Indeed, laser
direct part marking is known has a mature technology that is very efficient, reliable
and with very low operational costs. In addition, the laser marked identifiers have
high contrasts and are etched permanently in the material, which makes them very
A. Fraser (B) · J.-M. Deschênes
Laserax Inc, 2811 Avenue Watt, Québec, QC G1X 4S8, Canada
e-mail: afraser@laserax.com
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2020
A. Siegmund et al. (eds.), PbZn 2020: 9th International Symposium
on Lead and Zinc Processing, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37070-1_66
767