MARKING TECHNOLOGIES

Scribe Marking Machines

At COUTH, we offer an advanced range of integrated scribe marking machines, designed to ensure continuous, quiet, and maximum-depth scribe marking on metal materials, alloys, and high-hardness plastics.

Scribe marking is a key technology for ensuring traceability in any industrial plant. Thanks to their punch-penetration process, our scribe marking machines achieve deep, indelible coding while reducing noise levels in work areas, in strict compliance with Directive 2003/10/EC on occupational safety and health.

A compact, quiet, and high-speed scribe marking machine with a minimal footprint, designed for production lines with ultra-short cycle times. Our integrable SUPERFAST scribe marking machines guarantee continuous, high-definition marking without slowing down your production pace.

Integrable Superfast Scribe Marker Machine 75×15

Versatile equipment offering an excellent balance between performance, mechanical rigidity, and speed for general-purpose industrial processes.

Integrable Standard Scribe Marker Machine 50×30
Integrable Standard Scribe Marker Machine 50×40
Integrable Standard Scribe Marker Machine 60×40
Integrable Standard Scribe Marker Machine 80×80

Quiet and powerful for fast, deep marking (up to 0.5 mm in hard steels). It is the ideal solution for in-line integration in automotive VIN marking and on components that will undergo subsequent treatments such as painting, shot blasting, or machining.

Integrable SERVO Scribe Marker Machine 120×40
Integrable SERVO Scribe Marker Machine 180×45

The pressure switch is a pneumatic unit that, when connected to any module in our scribing range, allows marking to be performed at two different pressure levels, thereby enabling alphanumeric characters and Data Matrix codes to be marked in a single marking cycle.

Pressure Switch

A compact, quiet, and high-speed scribe marking machine with a minimal footprint, designed for production lines with ultra-short cycle times. Our integrable SUPERFAST scribe marking machines guarantee continuous, high-definition marking without slowing down your production pace.

Integrable Superfast Scribe Marker Machine 75×15

Versatile equipment offering an excellent balance between performance, mechanical rigidity, and speed for general-purpose industrial processes.

Integrable Standard Scribe Marker Machine 50×30
Integrable Standard Scribe Marker Machine 50×40
Integrable Standard Scribe Marker Machine 60×40
Integrable Standard Scribe Marker Machine 80×80

Quiet and powerful for fast, deep marking (up to 0.5 mm in hard steels). It is the ideal solution for in-line integration in automotive VIN marking and on components that will undergo subsequent treatments such as painting, shot blasting, or machining.

Integrable SERVO Scribe Marker Machine 120×40
Integrable SERVO Scribe Marker Machine 180×45

The pressure switch is a pneumatic unit that, when connected to any module in our scribing range, allows marking to be performed at two different pressure levels, thereby enabling alphanumeric characters and Data Matrix codes to be marked in a single marking cycle.

Pressure Switch

What is Scribing Marking?

Scribe marking is the quietest and most precise continuous deformation identification technology in the industry. At COUTH, we design our scribe marking machines to penetrate the material by forcefully sliding a tungsten carbide or diamond stylus.

This uninterrupted scribing process creates a clean, uniform mark of maximum depth on metals, alloys, or hard plastics.

Choosing our integrable scribing machines results in character coding, logos, or DataMatrix codes designed to withstand the most complex factory environments and ensure full traceability of your production without adding noise pollution.

the process

Capabilities and Performance of Scribing Technology

At COUTH, we have over 65 years of leadership in engineering applied to industrial traceability. We design and manufacture integrated scribing markers ready for bidirectional connectivity with your plant’s infrastructure (PLC, MES, and ERP).

Likewise, our scribing marking system delivers superior performance in demanding industrial environments, combining constant scribing force with optimized scribing speed. We offer scribing machines designed to maximize productivity and ensure indelible traceability in continuous workflows!

The suitability of scribing depends on the substrate’s ability to undergo continuous plastic deformation via a punch. At COUTH, we adapt our scribing machines to three major families of materials:

  • High-strength metals and alloys: this is the natural domain of this technology. We achieve deep, indelible grooves in steel (even with prior heat treatment), aluminum, copper, bronze, and cast iron. The consistency of the material allows us to scribe the surface without cracking the edges of the mark.
  • High-density plastics and engineering polymers: in composites such as ABS, rigid PVC, or polypropylene, scribe marking produces a clean, burr-free line. Since no thermal impact or percussion is applied, chipping of the part is prevented.
  • Composites and engineering resins: composite structures or reinforced plastics produce marks with complete visual clarity, maintaining the legibility of the coding throughout the part’s entire life cycle.

At COUTH, we design our scribe marking machines with a tungsten carbide or diamond stylus that glides across the surface using pneumatic pressure, producing deep, continuous, and indelible marks of characters, logos, or codes of various types.

Their highly robust mechanical design is engineered to withstand the high forces exerted during the process, ensuring maximum repeatability and a flawless visual finish over time.

One of their key differentiators is the drastic reduction in noise levels, which are 25% below the requirements of Directive 2003/10/EC, allowing for deep markings of up to 0.5 mm on high-hardness materials without generating noise pollution in the plant.

In addition, our integratable scribing markers feature specific protection systems for installation in welding cells and automated lines, optimizing operational continuity and minimizing maintenance requirements.

To determine the appropriate scribe marking solution, our technical team evaluates:
  • Material type and hardness: ensure the punch is compatible with your materials (high-hardness steels, alloys, or engineering plastics).
  • Depth and post-marking requirements: determine whether the part will require deep marking to withstand subsequent shot blasting, machining, or painting.
  • Cycle times and speed: adapt the marking speed to the pace of your production line, especially in high-volume production with ultra-short cycle times (SUPERFAST series).
  • In-line integration: verify the flexibility of our integrable scribe marking machines for easy installation and communication with your PLCs, robots, and automated cells.
  • Maintenance and support: prioritize robust equipment with intuitive software that minimizes plant downtime, backed by COUTH’s global technical support.

We offer solutions designed to integrate scribe marking into the most demanding production environments, particularly in industries that work with hard materials such as steel and require a quiet, continuous process:

  • Internal and external traceability in the automotive industry: scribe marking is the standard for identifying VIN numbers and structural components, ensuring compliance with ISO quality standards and integration into automated lines.
  • High-hardness components in the steel industry: ideal for indelible coding on profiles, tubes, ingots, and alloys subject to heavy mechanical wear.
  • Critical parts in the aerospace industry: deep and precise identification that guarantees the traceability of each component throughout its entire lifecycle.

 

Our integratable scribing markers allow you to automate the coding phases in your plant, maintaining total control over your processes and optimizing cycle times.

At COUTH, we design our scribe marking machines to provide deep, quiet, and permanent traceability in the most demanding industrial sectors:
  • Automotive: essential for marking VIN numbers and chassis or engine components, ensuring legibility even after painting or heat treatment processes.
  • Aeronautics and defense: identification of critical structural parts under strict regulatory and safety standards.
  • Steel and heavy industry: deep marking on steel, high-hardness alloys, and machinery exposed to harsh working environments.
  • Capital goods and tools: clear coding of components, serial numbers, and lots for precise inventory control and traceability.
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