October 24--JCM Technologies, the Spanish manufacturer of electronic products for access control applications, has adopted Sherwood Technologies' DataLase Masterbatch to apply traceability codes onto its proximity tags.
JCM Technologies has more than 20 years of experience in creating, developing, and marketing electronic products and services that are used to control access into buildings and doors. The company has developed the proximity tag (containing an RFID device) that acts as an alternative to a key, interacting at a distance via radio frequency with a proximity reader. This enables access control and security features in residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Each tag requires a serial number, production date, and three-digit client code indelibly marked on it, in order to enable traceability and advanced security functions.
Originally JCM considered using a high-powered Nd:YAG laser to ablate the required information onto the ABS polymer. However, Nd:YAG lasers have been found to require higher activation energy (which equates to high costs). JCM found that by marking the proximity tag with DataLase Masterbatch the marking price per tag was significantly reduced and the image was high contrast without the charred effect.
DataLase Masterbatch is added directly to the ABS polymer by extrusion. The additive is non-toxic and environmentally friendly and is capable of producing an image when marked by a low-power CO2 laser (around 10W power). Once exposed to the laser on the production line, the additive undergoes a simple color change to create a stable and high-contrast code. JCM is able to produce high-quality codes that can not easily be removed from the proximity tags. Reportedly, the introduction of this solution has also resulted in faster production run times for the company and removed the need for expensive consumables on the production line.
For more information, visit www.sherwoodtech.com.