Industrial Laser Marking & Metal Part Marking
Permanent serial numbers, Data Matrix codes, UID plates and part IDs marked directly into metal. No tooling, no dies, no stress on the part. Prototypes through production runs, marked and scan-verified in New Braunfels, Texas, shipped nationwide.
Marking engineer questions are fine to send directly. Read our complete guide to industrial laser marking for alloys, methods and traceability standards.
What we mark
If it has to stay identifiable for the life of the part, it gets laser marked. These are the jobs we run most.
Serial & part numbers
Sequential serials, part numbers and lot codes marked straight into the metal. Send a start number and quantity, or a spreadsheet of variable data, and every part gets its own mark.
Data Matrix & 2D codes
Machine-readable Data Matrix, QR and barcode marks laid out to your drawing. Every code is scanned and verified before the part leaves the shop.
UID & asset ID plates
UID data plates, asset tags and inventory IDs laid out to your drawing or MIL-STD-130 layout, with the human-readable text and the code in one pass.
Lot, batch & date codes
Traceability marks for quality systems: lot, batch, date codes and supplier IDs that stay readable through handling, cleaning and years of service.
Logo & manufacturer marking
Clean, repeatable brand marks, country of origin and manufacturer IDs. Same mark on part one and part ten thousand, because the file never changes.
Coated & anodized parts
We remove anodize, paint or powder coat exactly where the mark goes, exposing a bright, high-contrast ID on an otherwise finished part.
Three ways we mark metal
The right method depends on the alloy, the finish and how the part will be used. We pick it with you, not for you.
Anneal marking
The fiber laser heats the surface just enough to grow an oxidized layer. The mark is black and essentially flush with the surface, so no material is removed and there is no pocket for corrosion to start.
Best for: Stainless and titanium, thin-wall parts, aerospace and medical work where surface integrity matters.
Deep engraving
The laser removes a shallow layer of material to leave a recessed mark. It is the most wear-resistant option we offer and holds up to heavy handling, cleaning and refinishing.
Best for: Tool steel, castings, and parts that get used hard or rebuilt.
Surface etch & ablation
We remove the coating or lightly texture the surface to expose a high-contrast mark. Fast, clean and legible without cutting into the base metal.
Best for: Anodized aluminum, painted or powder-coated parts, and coated assemblies.
Metals we mark
The alloy and the finish decide the method. Send both with your drawing and we will confirm what your part will look like before anything runs.
| Metal | Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel (304, 316, 17-4) | Anneal or deep engrave | Black, high-contrast mark. The default for serials, UID plates and food or medical contact parts. |
| Aluminum (6061, 5052, anodized) | Anneal, deep engrave, or coating removal | Crisp marks on bare aluminum, and a bright mark where anodize is removed. |
| Titanium | Anneal | Non-invasive black mark with no material removed, which is why it suits medical and aerospace parts. |
| Carbon, tool & alloy steel | Deep engrave | Recessed mark that survives handling, refinishing and heavy wear. |
| Brass & copper | Deep engrave or anneal | Clean marks for instruments, tags and specialty parts. |
| Powder coat & painted parts | Coating removal | We clear the coating where the mark goes for a readable ID on a finished part. |
Laser marking instead of stamping
We do not offer mechanical stamping or press marking. Here is why laser is usually the better answer for part identification, and where we will tell you otherwise.
No die per part number
Stamping needs a die for every part number. Changing a serial or part number here is a file edit, so there is no setup charge and no minimum run.
Nothing gets deformed
Impact stamping moves metal and can crack thin walls, coatings and heat-treated surfaces. Laser marking leaves the geometry and finish alone.
Variable data and 2D codes
Sequential serials, spreadsheets of variable data and scan-verified Data Matrix codes are what lasers do well. Stamping cannot produce them.
How a marking job runs
Four steps, and you approve the mark before production starts.
Send your drawing or sample
Part material, finish, where the mark goes, how big it needs to be, and what it has to say. A sketch is fine.
We confirm feasibility
You get the method, the expected contrast and a price. If your requirement cannot be met on our equipment, we tell you before you ship anything.
First article approval
We mark one part or a test coupon and send photos plus a scan result for your sign-off. Nothing runs until you approve it.
Production & verification
We mark the run, scan-verify each code, pack carefully and ship it back or on to your customer.
What to send us
The more you send up front, the faster you get a real number instead of a range.
- A drawing or sketch with the mark location, size and any depth requirement
- The content: plain text, a serial range, or a spreadsheet of variable data
- The alloy and surface finish (bare, anodized, plated, powder coated, passivated)
- Quantity, and whether you need a first article before the run
- A sample part if the finish or geometry is unusual
Straight talk on limits
Marking is a specification-driven job, so it is worth being clear about what we do not do.
- -We mark metal on this service. Plastics, wood and glass are handled through our engraving side.
- -We do not offer mechanical stamping, press marking or dot peen. Every mark here is laser-applied.
- -We are not a plating, anodizing or passivation house. We mark the finish you send us.
- -Deep engraving depth is confirmed per part, and we will not promise a depth we cannot hold.
- -If a job needs equipment we do not run, we say so instead of quoting it.
Who we mark for
Shops, suppliers and manufacturers who need identification that outlasts the part warranty.
Marking signs and property IDs rather than parts? See custom metal signs or business signage.
Two specifics worth a closer look
Most industrial jobs come down to one of these. Each has its own page, because the details differ enough to matter.
Data Matrix & 2D code marking
Cell size, contrast, quiet zone and scan verification. What decides whether a symbol reads on your line and keeps reading in the field.
See code markingTraceability & permanent part marking
Serials, lot and heat numbers, UID plates, and planning the mark so it survives heat treat, plating and years of service.
See traceability marking