CO2 Laser Marking Machine for Corrugated Carton Packaging

CO2 carton coding without ink: permanent, clean, and PLC-ready. BOGONG LASER®—Laser Marking Machine Manufacturer for global B2B, OEM/ODM, CE/ISO/SGS/FDA.

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A Carbon Dioxide Laser Marking Machine for corrugated cartons makes use of a focused infrared laser beam to vaporize the surface area layer of the cardboard, creating a high-contrast, irreversible mark for item information like logos, barcodes, and set numbers without using inks or consumables.

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Why CO2 laser and corrugate play nice

CO2 couples well with paper-based liners. Kraft, white top, recycled blends—when the face stock is “laser-receptive,” the beam darkens or ablates the top layer. You get high contrast, sharp edges, and stable barcodes. It’s non-contact. No printhead crash. No wipe-offs. And your maintenance list shrinks.

If your packaging runs with variable data—batch, MHD/EXP, lot, SSCC, GS1-128—the laser does it on the fly. The mark isn’t a sticker that can peel. It’s part of the box now. That’s traceability that holds up from line to last-mile.

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What usually goes wrong on the line (and how to fix fast)

  • Low contrast on dark kraft.
    Try a lighter top liner, or specify a laser-receptive varnish from your carton supplier. Slight defocus (positive offset) can widen the stroke, which sometimes helps perceived darkness.

  • Dust plumes fogging the scan head.
    Add fume extraction with the right capture hood, keep air assist gentle, and consider an air knife across the beam output window. Put the lens wipe on a weekly PM. Don’t overdo the air; too much flow makes turbulence and jitter.

  • Barcode grades are inconsistent.
    Use an encoder on the carton conveyor. Trigger from a through-beam just upstream, then compensate with offset in the HMI. If you can, tie into the PLC for hard I/O handshakes. The laser fires when the box is actually in the mark window, not when the line “thinks” it is.

  • Warped boxes or squishy flutes.
    Give the carton a stable datum with side belts or a short guide rail segment before marking. Keep the working distance steady; CO2 depth of focus isn’t infinite. A tiny Z-shim on the mount goes a long way.

  • Glare on coated white top.
    Turn the power down and scan faster. You want a contrast shift, not a burn trench. UV lasers can help on glossy coatings.

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Material and contrast: face stock matters

Three quick rules:

  1. Color: lighter liners show dark marks better.

  2. Finish: matte or “open” finishes absorb energy more evenly; heavy gloss reflects.

  3. Coatings: ask the carton vendor about laser-receptive options. They’re real. They work.

When the substrate is stubborn, you can bump contrast by adjusting spot size (slight defocus), scan speed, and hatch density. Keep it simple: one variable at a time, log the before/after with barcode grades.

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Speed and integration: make the PLC do the heavy lifting

A CO2 system loves a stable timing chain:

  • Encoder feedback tied to the conveyor.

  • A repeatable product detect (photoeye) before the mark window.

  • A small buffer in the HMI for data (lot, SSCC, timestamps) so the code lands on the right box.

  • If you use camera verification, kick out fails with a reject cylinder or a diverter gate.

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Use cases

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CO2 laser vs. inkjet vs. labeler

Factor CO2 Laser on Corrugate Large-char Inkjet / TIJ Print-and-Apply Labeler
Code durability Surface change; hard to rub off Ink sits on top; can smear Label depends on adhesive; can peel
Cleanliness No ink; fume extraction needed Inks/solvents; purges, wipes Label liner waste; clean print
Обслуговування Optics clean, filters, basic PM Nozzles, fluids, purges Labels, ribbons, webbing
Barcode clarity Sharp strokes, good edge Resolution varies by nozzle High; on-label print quality
Line speed fit High, encoder-sync friendly High; depends on head Mechanical limits of tamp/apply
Витратні матеріали None (no ink/label) Ink, make-up Labels, ribbons
Sustainability Lower VOCs; fewer disposables VOC handling needed Liner waste management

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Setup checklist you can hand to maintenance

Step What to do Why it matters
Mounting & datum Add short side-belt or rails Keeps distance steady; reduces skew
Trigger & timing Photoeye + encoder + offset Pixel lands where you intend
Focus & test grid Run a small focus sweep Pick the sharpest/ darkest combo
Fume extraction Hood close to mark zone Clear lens, clear lungs, stable codes
Verification Camera grades downstream Early catch, no pallet full of fails
PM rhythm Weekly lens wipe, filter checks Consistent contrast, less downtime

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How BOGONG fits: practical, global, factory-ready

BOGONG LASER® builds and ships laser systems across 160+ countries, serving global B2B users in packaging, metalwork, electronics, signage, wood, and more. We’re a Laser Marking Machine Manufacturer with CE, ISO9001, SGS, and FDA credentials, and we do OEM/ODM when you need it. If you need a Laser Marking Machine Factory vibe—fast quoting, real after-sales, multilingual support—we live there.

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Wrap-up: why CO2 laser is a solid bet for cartons

You want codes that survive bumps, stay readable in the DC, and don’t add wet chemistry to your floor. A CO2 Laser Marking Machine gives you permanent marks, clean operation, and fewer consumables. Tie it into your PLC, keep the lens clean, size your extraction right, and it just works. If your corrugate is glossy or tricky, UV is your friend; metals need fiber. Simple as that, really.

If you are interested in our machinec, please fill out the BOGONG contact form and we’ll get back quick.

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