Using Laser Marking for Logos and Serial Numbers: Is It the Right Choice?

Laser marking is changing how companies handle identification. Faded ink, lost stickers, and inconsistent serial numbers used to be daily headaches. Not anymore. I’ve seen our customers completely transform their production with a single laser marking upgrade.

Laser marking offers a clean, permanent solution for logos and serial numbers on nearly any material. It beats ink and labels by a mile when it comes to speed, durability, and precision.

I work with manufacturers every day—automotive, aerospace, medical devices—and their pain points are always the same: traceability, durability, and aesthetics. That’s why I keep recommending laser marking. Let's break down the top questions we get at Kirin Laser.

What is laser serial number marking?

Companies often struggle with tracking their products across production, distribution, and service. Serial numbers are essential, but traditional methods can’t keep up with the durability and clarity requirements of today’s industries.

Laser serial number marking is a high-speed, non-contact process that uses a focused laser beam to permanently mark alphanumeric codes directly onto the surface of a product.

Why it works—and where

Laser serial number marking¹ offers reliability that stickers and ink simply can't match. I had one aerospace customer tell me how ink-stamped serials were wearing off after only a few months. This caused massive delays in maintenance due to traceability issues. We stepped in with a 30W fiber laser marker. Within days, their parts had deep, crisp serials that survived heat, oil, and mechanical wear.

Here’s what makes it so effective:

At Kirin Laser, we customize marking machines for different workflows—standalone units, conveyor-ready, or robotic-arm integrated. If traceability matters, serial number laser marking is the best route.

How to convert logo for laser engraving?

Logos are more than images—they represent your brand. But making sure a logo looks sharp and professional after laser marking isn’t just a file upload away. You need to prep the logo right.

To prepare a logo for laser engraving, you must convert it into a clean, high-contrast vector file (usually .AI, .DXF, or .SVG), optimized for laser pathing and resolution.

How I help customers prepare logos

Many first-time customers send us PNGs or low-resolution JPGs. That doesn’t work. The laser needs exact path data—shapes, not pixels.

Here’s our usual step-by-step process at Kirin Laser:

1. Start with a vector
   Convert the image to vector⁴ using Adobe Illustrator⁵ or CorelDRAW. Clean up any unnecessary nodes or rough paths.

2. Optimize for contrast
   Remove gradients or shading. Lasers don’t do color—they follow outlines and fills.

3. Scale appropriately
   Engraving areas might be tiny (like on a USB or a bolt). Your design must remain legible at different sizes.

4. Test on material
   We always do test runs⁶. The same logo will look different on stainless steel vs anodized aluminum vs ABS plastic.

Helping customers prepare their logos has become second nature. When you send a proper file, the laser process becomes seamless. Sharp marks, accurate branding, and zero rework.

What technology is needed to etch a barcode or serial number?

Some customers think laser marking is just for simple shapes or dates. But it’s much more. Barcodes, QR codes, and even Data Matrix codes are fully possible—and extremely useful for supply chain tracking.

To mark barcodes or serial numbers, you need a laser marking machine equipped with precise galvo scanning, compatible with code generation software, and able to focus fine beams with stable frequency.

The setup we usually recommend

At Kirin Laser, we typically suggest fiber lasers⁷ for metal and CO₂ lasers⁸ for organic materials like cardboard or plastic film. For barcode marking, here’s what really matters:

1. Laser Source Type

• Fiber laser (20-50W): Best for stainless steel, aluminum, brass
• CO₂ laser (30-60W): Great for PVC, paperboard, wood

2. Software Integration

Our machines come with EZCAD or proprietary barcode generators⁹. You can import dynamic data (from spreadsheets or ERP systems) to mark serials and barcodes in real time.

3. Focusing and Resolution

Barcode success depends on beam focus and speed. We fine-tune frequency and dwell time to make sure every line or dot is machine-readable.

We recently worked with a client in electronics who needed to laser-mark unique serials + QR codes on 1,000+ aluminum panels per day. We configured a 30W fiber laser with rotary table automation. The output? 30% faster cycle time, 100% scan rate.

What is the difference between laser marking and engraving?

Many customers use the terms interchangeably, but they mean different things—and the wrong one can ruin your application.

Laser marking changes the surface color or texture without cutting deep, while laser engraving removes material to create a deep and permanent groove.

Understand the physical difference

Think of laser marking as changing the surface—like oxidation or carbonization—and engraving as digging into the material.

In Kirin Laser’s product line, we offer both capabilities. For customers who need cosmetic branding with no tactile change—like a sleek logo on anodized aluminum—we recommend laser marking¹⁰. But for mold inserts or metal tools that need deep, durable text, engraving is better.

One automotive client uses our marking system to label dashboards (plastic), while their mold shop engraves cavity codes into hardened steel blocks. Same laser family, different process, different result.

Conclusion

Laser marking¹¹ is not just a modern upgrade—it’s the new standard for logos and serial numbers. It offers speed, durability, and flexibility that older methods simply can’t match. Whether you're marking steel with a QR code or branding your logo on anodized parts, laser technology can handle it. At Kirin Laser, we help manufacturers build smarter, cleaner, and more precise production lines—one beam at a time.