Here, we take a look at how lasers are used in the production of five products which you see at the shops every day.
1. Food marking
Often appearing to be served fresh from the grill, most pre-cooked meat products aren’t actually grilled at all. To deliver consistency of taste, visual appearance and overall product quality, burgers, fish and chicken are typically oven baked and later branded with a grill pattern using a laser.
2. Keeping food fresher for longer
With volumes of food waste around the world increasing year on year, keeping food fresher for longer is a key priority for many food manufacturers. By precisely laser perforating packaging according to the specific needs of its contents, the shelf life of fresh food can be increased. In turn, that gives consumers more time to enjoy fresh food, ultimately reducing wastage.
3. Genuine product coding
Indelible and tamper-proof marks are commonly made using laser technology. This enables consumers of higher-value products such as fragrances to distinguish authentic products from counterfeit goods which not only detract from the authentic brand, but can also create potential health concerns amongst consumers, particularly where products have direct contact with the skin.
4. Creating the perfect pint
Utilising laser technology to etch ‘head keepers’ onto the bases of glasses – which can be personalised with graphics and logos – facilitates the creation of bubbles of carbon dioxide. This means that beverages can retain the perfect just poured frothy head and stay fizzier for longer.
5. Technology in fashion
Laser technology enables jeans manufacturers to deliver uniform quality and consistency on a mass scale by finishing individual products with effects like fading, patterning and tearing. Not only does this method enable manufacturers to significantly reduce production time, it also reduces the volume of chemicals used during the process, lessening its environmental impact.
