Laser marking developed by Finnish Cajo Technologies is the go-to solution to produce machine-readable traceability markings that remain intact throughout the product’s life cycle also in challenging conditions. The possibilities of laser marking are explored in the newly launched Zero ink project within the SPIRIT ecosystem.
Cajo Technologies offers optimised end-to-end solutions for traceability and product markings
Cajo Technologies is a rapidly expanding technology company with its headquarters and manufacturing in Kempele, Finland, and subsidiaries in India and the United States. The company offers easy-to-use and optimised end-to-end solutions for full traceability and diverse product markings. The company’s durable and service-free solutions based on patented laser technology have been designed to replace traditional marking technologies such as inkjets, printing, stickers, engraving, etching, and painting.
The laser technology developed by Cajo enables traceability markings which last throughout the product’s life cycle in demanding conditions. Thanks to the lack of additives in the laser marking solution, Cajo’s ground-breaking technology offers a 90 % reduction of carbon footprint in industrial labelling in comparison with traditional inkjet markings (Study by Macon Ltd. in 2020).
As a pioneer in laser marking, Cajo’s success is based on the full control of the laser beam. This is made possible by the seamless cooperation of Cajo’s own control board, marking software, and marking machines. Cajo’s cost-efficient and environmentally friendly laser marking systems are sold to and running in over 60 countries across the world. Among Cajo’s customers are many international market leaders in their industry. In Finland, Cajo’s sustainable solutions have already been adopted by companies such as Ponsse, Fiskars, Prysmian Group, Ensto and Oura.
Meeting the needs of the manufacturing industry
”The manufacturing industry is constantly looking for new solutions to elevate the automation level of production processes, improve product quality and production efficiency. Complex production, logistics and processing chains require quality management and monitoring to be as accurate and as real-time as possible. This applies both to internal production processes in companies and in processing chains. The regulations regarding product traceability are tightening as we speak,” Cajo Technologies CEO Niko Karsikas says.
Karsikas continues: ”Depending on the customer’s needs, Cajo’s flexible marking systems can be integrated either into the customer’s production line or offered as operator-managed standalone solutions. Our laser marking system is used in a very versatile way to provide product and traceability markings for end products, semi-fabricated products, and a variety of materials. For instance, the markings can entail functional markings, branding, regulatory markings, and traceability markings identifying the product. At best, all end product markings required by customer to identify the product and its traceability can be generated in one production phase.”
Cajo Technologies joins the SPIRIT ecosystem through the Zero ink project
The Zero ink project is well aligned with the research themes of the SPIRIT programme. This means the project aims to explore and evaluate the possibilities to use laser-based traceability markings in the plastics production value chain and for plastic products. The traditional markings for plastic products make the mechanical recycling of the plastic product more difficult and reduce the quality of the recycled product. In some cases, a glued-on label marking may prevent recycling altogether.
The goal of the Zero ink project is to develop and produce an additive-free laser marking technology applicable to polymer materials. The laser marking on plastic products will enable better recyclability and quality of the product. During the SPIRIT project, the key collaboration partner with Cajo Technologies is Borealis Polymers Oy, but the development will serve whole value chains. It has already been identified that the Zero ink project results have significant potential for the operators in the medical, cable and food industries.
Application Technology Manager Auli Nummila-Pakarinen from Borealis sums up: ”This project is generating valuable information that ideally turns into new business opportunities for both parties. Solutions for improved recyclability combined with traceability are innovations from which the whole SPIRIT ecosystem will benefit.”
In conclusion, laser marking is the most cost-efficient and sustainable way to mark virtually any material. The field is still relatively new but exceedingly fertile compared to the old marking methods with much to explore and more production processes to enhance. Current and upcoming laser applications are designed to help manufacturers around the world improve production processes and save not only costs but the environment as well.
More information:
CEO Niko Karsikas, niko.karsikas_at_cajotechnologies.com, www.cajotechnologies.com
Application Technology Manager Auli Nummila-Pakarinen auli.nummila-pakarinen_at_borealisgroup.com
SPIRIT Programme Manager Jari Lehtinen, jari.lehtinen_at_borealisgroup.com