Irreplaceable and constantly used in all industries, from automotive to medical or to the general public, plastic materials need to be identified and traced. Gravotech is a plastic supplier and maker since 1978 . We are making 2-layers plastics, made from abs or acrylic, with different color finishing. Most of our worldwide-known brands such as Gravoply™, Metallex™, Gravoglas™ 2-Plex™ or Gravotac™ have become synonymous of quality and are a reference for competitors to match. Our wide material range included over 900 references, specially developed for engraving and cutting. “Surface” or “Reverse” engraving, laser marking or cutter engraving, all our ranges are available in a spectrum of colours, thicknesses between 0.09 mm and 10 mm according to the products, and various finishes (matt, glossy, satin, textured, metallic, brushed).
The great majority of our materials is also compatible for digital printing. For you, this is the guarantee to find the right product for your application. Our ABS and acrylics are pure and selected among the best grades. Each component is subject to careful selection process taking into consideration normative and environmental obligations (RoHS**, REACH***). From the production of technical plastics to the finished product, Gravotech’s solutions are designed and optimized to mark all types of plastic, both natural and coloured, transparent, boosted by multiple additives. Different marking results can be obtained depending on the plastic type and the chosen marking technology: foaming, colour change, ablation of top layer, engraving, etc.
Mechanical engraving process uses a rotative cutting tool to remove material. You can remove the complete width of the material to cut and create shapes, or only at a predetermined depth to create engraved grooves and form letters, logos, and graphics.
See our rotary plastic engravers.
Plastic engraving sheets have been a long-time partner to the rotary engraving machine. Create contrast by removing the coloured top surface of your material using cutting tools, and let the subsurface of the plastic appear. Rotary engraving machines are very versatile and can engrave every type of plastic, made for mechanical or laser engraving, or not.
When a plain plastic is being mechanically engraved, the contrast is possible by adding coloured material in the groove where the material has been removed. Gravotech offers a large range of colouring, including paints and cold wax. Simply apply your colouring after the engraving to obtain a clear and durable contrast.
Non-contrasted marking obtained by making close impacts on the surface of the plastic. Visible marking dedicated for identification. Can be done on all kinds of plastics.
The structure of the individual molecules or additives, such as colour pigments, are directly changed or destroyed through laser marking. A change in colour or bleaching is then visible on the material, creating a marking. The colouring is lighter or darker depending on the composition: darker plastics fade to white/beige in the marked areas, while lighter plastics fade to grey or black. The surface stays smooth, but this can be done only in some kinds of plastics. - Photochemical reactions of the molecules of plastics. - Usually, special additives are mixed into the plastics themselves. - High-speed marking. - Surface marking. - Green or hybrid laser efficient on coloured plastics. - Contrasted marking.
Foaming is a contrasted marking only possible on certain plastics and is usually clear on dark plastics. The laser melts the plastic locally, creating gas bubbles in the material
As it cools down, these gas bubbles are encapsulated in the material, creating a thin layer on the surface: the marking.
Contrasted marking obtained by making appear the colour of the lower layer. Can be done on all kinds of plastics with a plastic laser engraver. Colour and material removal marking is mainly used in coated materials. The existing colour, coating and surface layers are partially removed and the base material becomes visible. The layers to be removed absorb the laser light, the material heats up and vaporises at the affected areas.
As the surface layer and the protruding base material have different colours or the base material is often backlit, the marking becomes clear and visible.
This engraving effect creates a non-contrasted marking. Can be done on all kinds of plastics. When engraving by laser marking, the material is removed from the surface of the component to be processed. The beam penetrates the surface and removes it. In the case of transparent materials, as the material is simultaneously heated and reacts with the ambient air, discolouration often occurs in the engraving areas.
This is a shadow effect in the depression, which depends on the transparency of the laser light and the penetration depth of the laser radiation.
Marking interaction obtained with laser depends on the plastic category (divided up into thermoplastics, thermosetting plastics and elastomers), their capacity to absorb the light and different wavelengths, the colour of the plastic and the kind of additive used on their composition.
Our application laboratory can make free samples to help you choose the best technology depending on your requirements. We master all the laser technologies and we can propose them in High-speed Galvo systems or X/Y Gantry systems allowing marking, engraving and cutting on almost all types of plastic material and all parts sizes.
Plastics lend themselves perfectly to laser marking and engraving. Our complete range of plastic laser engravers will enable you to carry out marking on many plastics, for a permanent result, with excellent quality and finish.
Our powerful and high-quality Fibre Laser marker performs precise identification markings in short cycle times....
The most complete laser station for permanent marking. From unit to small batch production to integration in a robotic cell. Compatible with Fibre, Hybrid or Green laser source.
...Introducing the magic of laser engraving to your business. The Welase achieves personalisation of the highest quality in a matter of seconds and raises your customers curiosity.
...The LS100 is an easy to operate laser engraver and laser cutter to mark and cut a wide range of materials....
The LS900 industrial laser engraver, coming as CO2, Fibre or Edge (dual sources), is ideal for high speed marking and cutting of medium and large format media.
...The 1064 nm HYBRID laser marker is a high speed laser perfect for applications requiring a great versatility in terms of marking materials, from plastics to any kind of metals.
...GREEN laser marker is designed for complex and cold markings on materials not reactive to other wavelengths....
Numerous innovative functions and features are combined into the LS1000XP laser machine, turning it into the ultimate large format laser cutter and engraver for intensive production.
...The LS100EX laser etching machine is a medium-sized engraving and cutting laser. Its engraving area matches the size of ¼ sheet, making it the ideal sign solution....
Rotary engraving machines remove materials using a cutting rotative tool. It will let the subsurface of the plastic appears or create a groove that can be filled with colours. Dot peen marking machines offer non-contrasted and visible marking obtained by making close impacts on the surface of all type of plastics. It is well adapted for human-readable text used for internal traceability It is the most economical solution with an extremely low cost of ownership: no consumables, no tool wear.
Unique in the market, this industrial rotary engraver also is a powerful sign solution....
Fast, powerful, and precise: discover a CNC router unique in the market. The ISx000 range is designed for large format jobs to batch engraving and metal cutting.
...As the best-selling engraving machine, the M20 can adapt to any purpose and fit any job....
This label engraving machine and part traceability system has been a classic for more than 15 years for small part traceability, small signage and label engraving....
The M40 is a versatile personalising machine. Its large engraving area makes it a perfect desktop engraving machine for medium-sized items and plate engraving.
...Lasertrace ™ facilitates the traceability and identification of all types of parts: - Internal traceability: automated production data marking optimizes industrial process and helps meet standards requirements. - Product identification: permanent marks give product information and use instructions and last for the complete life cycle. - Unique identifiers implementation: camera -readable 2D codes enable to track & trace every single item. Gravostyle ™ allows you to create your creative engraving jobs easily.
Lasertrace is the Gravotech industrial software for traceability and identification. Various functions are available in a simple and friendly interface, for all industrial production needs.
...One-of-a-kind mechanical and laser engraver software for Gravotech systems.
...A robust material specifically for mechanical engraving
...Engrave and cut quickly with precision
...The only comprehensive range offering 3 levels of color
...Flexibility and performance for indoor and outdoor applications
...Effectiveness, productivity, precision, and durability are signature features of this engraving material.
...The flexible material for high-definition engraving
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