The digital future with non-destructive laser marking
There are plenty of good reasons to mark a piece of glass, whether it is an organisational measure for your production process or to provide your on-site installation staff with important information. Of the many different techniques available, HEGLA boraident’s non-destructive laser marking is surely the most impressive. Its high level of functionality more than lives up to increasing requirements for product traceability, the Internet of Things, and digitalisation. Once applied, it will be bonded with the pane for the entirety of the product life cycle, either as an inconspicuous mark at the edge or a more eye-catching brand with a logo in clear view. If a QR or data matrix code is lasered onto the glass, users with the appropriate authorisation can use their smartphones to scan the code and follow the pane through its process steps, or track down the raw glass supplier.
Dr. Thomas Rainer
Vertrieb
| Head of Organisation & Development
Please contact me
Do you have any questions or require further information on this subject?
+49 3 45 / 47 82 35 12 thomas.rainer(at)hegla.de
Traceability, tracking, and process management with laser marking
Once a piece of glass has been marked with the laser, it can be identified exactly at any time by means of a manual or automatic scan. In addition to improved product traceability, this also means that you will be able to provide information on whether the glass was delivered and what processing steps it went through, even if that all happened years ago. And what’s more, you will also benefit from a constant influx of new data that will improve your day-to-day work by helping you to optimise and manage your processes.
Clearly identifiable: Once the machine-readable laser marking has been applied to the surface of the glass, which happens before it is cut, the piece of glass will be identifiable throughout every phase of the production, making it easy to find without endless searching.
A permanent bond: The marking is applied using a laser, making it an integral component of the pane that is highly resistant and cannot be scratched off.
Non-destructive: The marking is paper-thin and made on the surface rather than the glass itself, so there are no changes to the physical properties of the glass – unlike other marking techniques.
More information: If the marking is applied in the form of a QR or data matrix code, information such as the details of the raw glass supplier, the processing stations the glass has gone through, installation instructions and much more can be saved on the glass itself.
Tracking: Automatic scanning of the code at the processing stations allows you to monitor production in real-time, use the information provided to adjust processes where necessary, or optimise your processes for future production runs.
Improved usability: Anyone with the required authorisation simply needs to scan the code once and they will be able to perform a range of tasks, such as placing a repeat order for a shower wall with the same dimensions and identical processing steps to the glass they have scanned.
Traceability: Once a piece of glass has been marked (and assuming the required data is saved accordingly), you will be able to check whether a glass product was produced by you, and what processing steps it has been through at any time.
Automation and interconnection as a component of production process optimisation
Whether it’s glass storage, loading, cutting, breaking, handling leftover panes, sorting or transferring glass, especially in the case of complex production lines, the processes between processing stations play a key role in ensuring continuous and precisely-timed glass flow.
All machines and systems offered by HEGLA are designed as coordinated system components. This means, for example, that with internal control of the cutting plant you can conveniently and automatically call up the panes from the warehouse and stage them in precise synch with the production cycle. We work with you to design concepts such as the ReMaster offcut system that reduce manual handling and waste costs, and also sustainably improve processes. To maximize your success, our machines and systems have open interfaces to all standard optimisation and control software programmes so that you can select the software you prefer (e.g., HEGLA-HANIC). Take advantage of our many years of experience with process interconnection and automation. We will be happy to discuss your company-specific options.
What’s new at HEGLA-Group
Product tracking with laser marking
Traceability | Smart factory
Optimised glass transfer through automation
Automation | Partial automation
