Processes Color Removal / Material Removal

Color Removal / Material Removal

Marking by removing color and material is used especially in coated materials and anodized aluminum as well as in fittings, packaging materials and labels. The existing color, 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 vaporizes at relevant places. Since the surface layer and protruding base material have different colors or the base material is often also back-lit, the marking becomes clear and visible. 

Since the final markings are very rich in contrast, this laser marking procedure is mainly used in the automobile industry for the day/night design, in the marking of the most varied control elements and keyboards as well as in the packaging industry. 

Suitable laser systems:

• Fiber laser marker
• Laser marker for Day-Night-Design (color removal)
• CO2 laser marker

Key button and rocker switches: Technical controls in day-night design

The day/night design marking allows for a perfect visibility of symbols and signs on backlit operational controls in any lighting conditions.

Sharp black and white contrasts in the daylight and striking light-dark contrasts at night can be created through precise removal of separate coating layers on transparent or translucent base material.

Laser ablation or paint removal is a flexible and efficient method for high-end day and night applications which can be found in automobile and aircraft industries as well as in the production of electronics and household appliances.

• Fiber laser marker for day-night-design
• Vision systems
• Laser marking: Coating layer/color/material removal

Go to Application Case Study

White paper "Plastic laser marking"

Based on the properties of a plastic, its functional purpose and its intended use the requirements for marking it are varying. A great diversity of plastics are being deployed especially in the automotive or medical industry. The quality of the marking on a plastic part is determined by the type of the selected laser etching system, the utilized marking parameters, but also by the use of special additives in the plastic mix.

• Fiber laser markers
• UV laser markers
• Laser marking: Coating layer/color/material removal

Our white paper offers a broad overview of the industrial use and the laser marking of plastics and resins

Go to White Paper

High-speed laser marking on aluminium can lids

FOBA's Y-series laser marking systems can easily be integrated into high-speed production lines. This allows for maintaining the required throughput speed for large batch products such as beverage cans.

Chinese can lid manufacturer Transhell provides leading beverage labels worldwide with can lids and uses a FOBA marking system to apply QR-codes and characters.

• Fiber laser FOBA Y-series
• Laser marking: Paint removal

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Laser marking anodized aluminum dimmer component

The marking is produced by removing the anodized layer on the aluminum using a laser. 

Laser-based removal of anodized layers is a typical application in the field of apparatus engineering, to make name plates, front panels etc.

• Laser marking systems
• Laser marking: Color/material removal

Graded white, grey and black marks on anodized aluminum

Color or material removal creates different marking effects on aluminum. Laser removes parts of or the complete anodized top layer. 

Anodizing processes produce a ceramic layer (5 to 30 µm) on aluminum which ensures protection and scratch resistance of the surface. The porous layer can be colored and thus can result in decorative marking effects. Marking results differ depending on the laser wavelength (and thus thickness of removed material) and on the coloration of the underlying layers. 

Anodized aluminum is frequently applied in machine-building, e. g. for machine housing parts, covers, adjusting screws etc.

FOBA lasers of the Y-Series (such as the Y.0100, Y.0200, Y.0300) are suitable for the marking of anodized aluminum.

• Fiber laser pulsed, Y-Series
• Laser marking: Color/material removal