Laser Engraving PET

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a material commonly used in plastic bottles. It is used instead of other plastics as it is a 100% recyclable material which is highly sustainable making it perfect for reuse over and over again. in recent years it has become the most commonly used plastic for bottles over PVC which many businesses have moved away from due to its lack of sustainability and recyclability. PET is also a far more resistant material, it is better at keeping its content fresh for longer and it has a clearer surface for see through products, making it ideal for packaging.

If you were to engrave into PET with a fiber or a CO2 laser, there is a chance that the material with become damaged by the heat, possibly melting and therefore releasing dangerous fumes after the engraving is complete. This is why a UV laser is used. UV lasers do not use heat to engrave into materials, instead using “cold processing” to create the mark. This allows for highly precise marks that are perfect for traceability and personalisation due to how clearly they stand out and the high speeds the laser can mark at.