What is the difference between fiber lasers and CO₂ lasers?

The main difference lies in the wavelength and the area of application: Fiber lasers (1064 nm) are ideal for metals and engineering plastics.CO₂ lasers (10,600 nm) are better suited to organic materials such as wood, paper, glass or some plastics. Fiber lasers also offer higher marking speeds, lower operating costs and a more compact design - ideal for industrial applications.

How high are the operating costs?

Fiber lasers are particularly cost and energy efficient: No consumables such as ink or labelsLow power consumptionMinimal maintenance This reduces your running costs and increases productivity - ideal for automated production lines.

Fiber Laser Markers | FOBA Laser Marking + Engraving Solutions

Fiber laser The universal solution for your laser marking

Fiber lasers are considered all-purpose lasers for marking industrial products and components - ideal for demanding applications in the medical technology, automotive and electronics industries.

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Compact, clever, powerful: our fiber laser solutions - as individual as your product

Our fiber laser markers stand for maximum precision, maximum speed and easy integration into your production environment. With a broad portfolio of power classes and pulse widths, we offer customized solutions for industrial product marking - whether metal or plastic.

Complex workpiece geometries with different height levels? Then the NextGen Y.0x02 serie is the right choice for you for dynamic multi-level marking in a single pass. The integrable camera system, which performs image-based validation and verification steps before and after laser marking, ensures maximum process reliability. This reduces rejects and increases your quality in the long term.

FOBA also offers a solution where space is limited: TITUS™, the world's smallest marking head, impresses with its compact design and flexible application options - ideal for demanding production environments.

Industrial labeling rethought

Fiber lasers are the versatile all-rounders in industrial laser marking. Whether metal or plastics - they enable high-contrast, permanent markings of the highest quality: from fine annealing marking to deep engraving.

Thanks to their high marking speed and low operating costs, FOBA's fiber lasers are the ideal solution for demanding production environments. The compact systems can be seamlessly integrated into production lines, machines and automation concepts - for maximum productivity with minimum effort.

Advantages Zero-defect quality for maximum productivity

Fiber lasers are the first choice when it comes to versatile, precise and economical laser marking. Our compact FOBA fiber lasers offer you decisive advantages for your industrial marking - from series production to one-off production.

Highest marking quality at maximum speed

For high-contrast, permanently legible labeling - ideal for traceability and quality assurance.

Flexibly adaptable to your requirements

Whether engraving, marking or coding - our systems can be individually configured.

Robust technology for maximum availability

Air-cooled systems with durable mechanics ensure uninterrupted production processes.

Low-maintenance and cost-efficient

Minimal operating costs thanks to low energy consumption and reduced maintenance intervals.

Easy integration into your production line

Compact design and intuitive software enable fast commissioning - even in automated environments.

Reliability for zero-defect production

With the integrated camera system in the marking head, you can secure your processes with automatic quality control.

Filigree laser marking for medical technology, automotive & electronics industry

Whether consecutive serial numbers, plain text, barcodes, data matrix or QR codes, logos or characters: With their typical wavelength of 1064 nm, fiber lasers enable precise, permanent markings on a wide range of materials - especially metals and plastics, as used in the automotive, medical technology and electronics industries.

Thanks to their excellent beam quality, fiber lasers achieve different marking effects depending on the material and parameter settings:

FOBA relies on ytterbium-doped fiber lasers, such as those used in the Y series. The doped ytterbium amplifies the light beam and produces a particularly focused laser beam - ideal for razor-sharp, intricate and reliably legible markings. This results in markings that meet the highest requirements in terms of durability, legibility and process reliability.

Fiber lasers in use Versatile solutions for materials and industries

Metal Lettering

Fiber lasers are ideal for marking metals such as stainless steel, aluminium, brass or titanium. Whether annealing marking, engraving or color change - the markings are permanent, high-contrast and traceable. Reliable legibility is particularly important in safety-critical areas such as medical technology or aviation.

Plastics Processing

Many plastics can also be marked efficiently and precisely with fiber lasers. Depending on the composition of the material, high-contrast markings are created by color change or foaming - without any additives or pre-treatment. Ideal for serial numbers, logos or DataMatrix codes.

Medical Devices

Durable, biocompatible and traceable markings are mandatory in medical technology. FOBA fiber lasers enable UDI-compliant markings on surgical instruments, implants and housings - with maximum precision and validatable processes.

Automotiv Industry

In the automotive industry, speed, process reliability and traceability count. Fiber lasers mark components such as engine components, transmission parts or plastic cladding efficiently and permanently - even with high quantities and complex geometries.

Application examples for fiber laser markers

Reliable marking of plastics, epoxy resin, foils, e.g. from electronics and automotive industries
High-contrast markings, such as black markings on anodized aluminum
Laser marking on aluminium and various metals (nickel, copper, brass, steel, titanium, etc.)
Paint removal, for example for day/night design
Dark, smooth laser markings on various metals, e.g. annealing on stainless steel

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Which technology suits your application?

If you want to mark industrial products efficiently and permanently, you have to choose the right laser technology. Fiber lasers, CO2 lasers and diode lasers each offer specific strengths - but for many applications in metal and plastics processing, fiber lasers are the preferred solution.

FOBA relies on fiber lasers because they combine maximum precision, flexibility and cost-effectiveness. The following table shows a direct comparison of the positive characteristics of the most common laser types:

Laser type	Positive properties
Fiber laser	✓ Maximum precision for metal and plastic ✓ Compact design ✓ Low maintenance ✓ Ideal for automated production lines ✓ Long service life of the laser source
CO2 laser	✓ Very good for organic materials such as wood, paper, glass ✓ Proven technology ✓ Good engraving quality on non-metallic surfaces
Diode laser	✓ Energy efficient ✓ Compact and easy to integrate ✓ Well suited for simple plastic labeling

Discover fiber lasers now! Why make it complicated when it's easy with FOBA?

Buying a fiber laser is an investment in quality, efficiency and future-proofing. To ensure that your marking solution is optimally suited to your requirements, you should pay attention to the following criteria when making your selection:

Power classes: The right power for every application

Fiber lasers are available in various power classes - typically between 10 and 100 watts. You choose the right power depending on the material, marking depth and production speed. FOBA offers you a broad portfolio for everything from fine engravings to fast series marking.

Cooling: Air-cooled for maximum availability

Cooling is a decisive factor for operational reliability. FOBA relies on air-cooled fiber lasers that do not require external cooling units. This reduces maintenance costs and ensures long system availability - even in continuous operation.

Control systems: Intelligent control for precise results

Modern control systems enable precise parameterization and process control. FOBA fiber lasers are equipped with powerful control units that can be operated intuitively and enable precise adjustment to your marking requirements.

Software compatibility: Seamless integration into your processes

The software is the heart of every laser solution. FOBA systems are compatible with common ERP and MES systems and offer interfaces for automated production environments. Our intuitive user interface makes it easy to set up and operate - even for complex marking tasks.

Integration into production lines: compact and flexible

FOBA fiber lasers can be easily integrated into existing machines and production lines. Thanks to their compact design, flexible mounting options and the world's smallest marking head TITUS™, our systems are ideal for space-critical applications and automated processes.

Provider: Rely on experience and support

When buying a fiber laser, it's not just the technology that counts - but also the partner at your side. FOBA stands for over 50 years of experience in industrial marking, comprehensive after-sales support, training and personal advice. We accompany you from selection to successful commissioning - and beyond.

Worth knowing

Our white papers, application notes, case studies and webinars offer comprehensive and detailed analysis of the latest technologies. You will gain valuable insights into the benefits and challenges of laser marking, including practical application examples and success stories from the industry.

Download White papers, application notes, and case studies

Discover our white papers, application notes and case studies!

Would you like to gain deeper insights into current trends and proven laser marking processes? Our documents provide you with valuable information and practical examples to help you make informed decisions and optimize your strategies.

Laser marking of plastics
Plastic processing by laser marking

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Purchasing a laser marking system - basics, questions, limits and what you should consider

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FAQ - Your questions, our answers

Fiber lasers are particularly versatile and are ideal for marking metals (e.g. stainless steel, aluminium, copper, titanium) and plastics (e.g. ABS, PA, PEEK). Ceramics, coated surfaces and some composite materials can also be marked precisely and permanently.

A typical fiber laser operates at a wavelength of 1064 nm - ideal for absorption in metals and many engineering plastics. This wavelength enables high-contrast, fine and long-lasting markings.

The main difference lies in the wavelength and the area of application:

Fiber lasers (1064 nm) are ideal for metals and engineering plastics.
CO₂ lasers (10,600 nm) are better suited to organic materials such as wood, paper, glass or some plastics.

Fiber lasers also offer higher marking speeds, lower operating costs and a more compact design - ideal for industrial applications.

FOBA fiber lasers are designed for a long service life. The laser source typically achieves over 100,000 operating hours - low-maintenance and reliable, even in continuous operation.

In addition to metals and plastics, coated surfaces, ceramics, foils and some composite materials can also be marked. The marking effects range from annealing marking and engraving to color change - depending on the material and parameter settings.

Fiber lasers are particularly cost and energy efficient:

No consumables such as ink or labels
Low power consumption
Minimal maintenance

This reduces your running costs and increases productivity - ideal for automated production lines.

Whether you are looking for comprehensive advice or already have specific ideas - we are here to help you! Let us advise you now!

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