Material, geometry, cycle time, marking quality, automation, integration, traceability… There are many variables to consider when defining an industrial laser marking solution.
That’s why, for Sergio Sánchez, Product Manager at COUTH LASER and head of development, the starting point shouldn’t be choosing a machine, but rather understanding what each application truly needs.
His professional career has been focused on the industrial sector, process improvement, and the development of production-oriented solutions. Currently, his work at COUTH involves connecting three fundamental elements: the customer’s needs, the appropriate laser technology, and the ability to combine both into a reliable and integrable solution.
We spoke with Sergio about COUTH LASER’s current capabilities and how laser marking is evolving toward increasingly automated, connected, and data-driven processes.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all laser”
This is one of the key points Sergio emphasizes when discussing industrial laser marking.
Fiber, MOPA, and CO₂ lasers each offer different capabilities, but the selection of a technology should not be made in isolation.
“There’s a specific application, a specific material, and a specific marking objective. Our job is to define the right combination.”
To determine that combination, it is necessary to study the actual conditions under which the system will operate: from the material and geometry to the production rate, the expected result, or the need to integrate it with other processes.
The material is the first criterion, but not the only one
The interaction between the beam and the material largely determines which technology can be used.
Within the COUTH LASER range, the fiber laser allows for processing metals and certain engineering plastics, offering possibilities for integration into industrial processes.
MOPA technology provides greater control over the pulse, expanding the possibilities when there are requirements related to contrast, finish, or control of the effect on the material.
For its part, the CO₂ laser allows for applications on other materials, including various organic materials.
However, knowing the material alone is not enough to determine the solution.
As Sergio points out, one must consider the part, the material, the production cycle, and the quality requirements together.
From Laser Technology to Real-World Application
Once the technology has been selected, a second question arises: how should it be configured to function within the customer’s process?
Not all parts arrive at a marking station under the same conditions.
A large part or one that is difficult to move may require a portable solution. An automated application may require the equipment to be integrated directly into the production line. And a surface with varying heights or complex geometries may require 3D marking systems or multi-axis configurations.
That is why Sergio emphasizes that COUTH LASER’s work does not end with the selection of the laser source.
The product line includes portable solutions, marking stations, in-line integrable configurations, vision-based systems, 3D marking, and multi-axis solutions to adapt the system to different production conditions.
The goal is for the technology to adapt to the process, not the other way around.
What happens when a standard solution isn’t enough?
In industrial production, the conditions of an application may require additional custom development.
Adapting tooling, integrating into an existing line, complex geometries, different materials, or specific traceability requirements are some of the scenarios Sergio identifies in projects where it is necessary to go beyond a standard configuration.
This is where collaboration between the customer and the engineering team takes on special importance.
Starting with the initial assessment, the project requirements are analyzed to determine the necessary technology, configuration, and integration elements.
For Sergio, this ability to provide ongoing support is part of the solution itself: “The customer isn’t just buying a laser source.”
Behind the equipment lies a process that includes design, configuration, integration, documentation, manufacturing, commissioning, technical support, and product evolution.
Laser marking is evolving toward data control
But industrial needs are also changing.
For Sergio, the future of laser marking is clearly linked to greater automation, connectivity, and data control.
Traditionally, an application might have been approached simply as a need to generate an identification mark on a part. Today, it is increasingly common for that identification to be part of a broader traceability system.
A serial number or code can serve as the link between the physical component and the information associated with production, quality, logistics, maintenance, or the product lifecycle.
The question is therefore no longer just: “How do I mark this part?” but now includes another: “How do I ensure this part is identified, validated, and integrated into my process?”
This shift also expands the role of marking systems.
Marking and Traceability: Two Increasingly Interconnected Concepts
Industrial traceability requires that identification can be reliably linked to the information corresponding to each component.
This is particularly relevant in sectors with high control requirements, such as automotive, electric vehicles, aerospace, medical, and advanced manufacturing—fields that Sergio highlights as being especially shaped by the evolution of traceability.
In these environments, marking is no longer viewed as an isolated operation but becomes part of the production information flow.
The technology must, therefore, be capable of integrating into that ecosystem.
And this is precisely where Sergio identifies one of the main challenges for the coming years: ensuring that the laser does not pose a technical barrier within the process, but rather serves as a tool that enables production with greater control, quality, and efficiency.
From Technical Expertise to Application Expertise
COUTH has been working with various industrial marking technologies for decades: laser, micro-percussion, and engraving.
This experience allows us to analyze each need without starting from a predetermined technology.
For Sergio, this approach is fundamental: it’s not about adapting every application to laser technology, but rather determining which solution best meets the requirements of each project.
When the answer is COUTH LASER, the next step is to define exactly which technology, configuration, and integration the application actually requires.
Because behind a seemingly simple mark may lie a complex process involving production, automation, and data management.
And understanding that process is the first step toward developing a solution that works under real industrial conditions.
Do you have a new laser marking application?
Material, geometry, production cycle, automation, and traceability can all influence the solution. Tell us about your application, and our technical team will work with you to determine which solution is most efficient for you.