Dot peen marking is a well-established marking technology for the permanent identification of parts, producing deep marking designed to last.
This process produces a deep, indented mechanical marking, maintaining lasting readability after standardized abrasion testing, impact resistance testing or industrial washing cycles.
Dot peen marking supports long-term traceability requirements by allowing serial numbers, references and DataMatrix codes to be marked directly onto the part, ensuring precise, dependable reading by machine vision systems, even after surface treatments or in demanding industrial environments.
Dot peen marking calls for the adjustment of several parameters (impact force, dot density, stylus angle, stylus-to-part distance, marking speed) according to the material and its surface condition.
Whether for mobile applications, fixed production environments or automated systems, SIC MARKING provides solutions suited to every type of industrial sector.
This versatility, together with the ability to tailor marking parameters to the material and to specific requirements, makes dot peen marking a key technology for dependable identification, long-lasting traceability and optimal resistance to severe conditions.
Working on the principle of controlled impact, the dot peen marking machine produces a series of percussion dots that together form a durable indented marking.
The impact force is adjusted to reach the desired depth.
In practice, typical depths range from a few micrometers to several hundred micrometers, according to the material and the application.
Marking density can also be adapted by setting the pitch between percussion dots.
Dot peen marking is an extremely effective marking solution for a broad variety of parts, whether flat, cylindrical, complex, small, bulky, or presenting difficult-to-access areas.
It ensures the precision and durability of the markings.
Thanks to its flexibility, this marking technology adjusts to the geometry and size of the parts, providing repeatable, dependable markings for applications such as identification, traceability and industrial compliance.
The choice of marking solution (fixed dot peen marking station, portable dot peen marker, integrable dot peen marking heads and various accessories such as a rotary axis or dedicated fixtures) depends on several factors: part geometry, accessibility and production volume. Each application requires a suitable configuration to achieve optimal marking.
Series Production
Heavy and Immovable Parts
Complex Part Geometries
Dot peen marking is particularly well suited to ferrous metals (such as carbon steels, stainless steels and cast irons) and to non-ferrous metals (including aluminum, copper and their alloys), as well as to certain rigid technical plastics such as POM, PA and PEEK, provided they offer sufficient impact resistance to ensure a durable marking.
Ferrous Metals
Non-Ferrous Metals
Technical Plastics
Incompatible Materials
Dot peen marking covers a full spectrum of marking capabilities, from alphanumeric markings, 1D/2D codes and regulatory markings through to technical reference marks and deep markings, ensuring permanence, legibility and resistance to severe conditions.
Because dot peen marking machines adapt readily to different materials and complex geometries, this permanent marking technology makes it possible to adjust the depth and positioning of the markings to satisfy machining constraints, assembly requirements and environmental conditions.
Primarily used for serial numbers, product references and identification codes, alphanumeric marking by dot peen makes it possible to inscribe sequences of characters with a defined height and controlled depths, according to the material.
This marking is suited to industrial conditions involving abrasion, elevated temperatures and chemical exposure, while remaining legible for both human reading and automated reading.
Dot peen marking is capable of producing 2D matrix codes such as the DataMatrix, suitable for a broad range of surfaces.
The DataMatrix is particularly appropriate for surfaces where high information density is required, notably in the aerospace and medical industries.
The DataMatrix ECC200 is the reference for industrial components owing to its robustness and compact size.
Dot peen marking satisfies the traceability and identification requirements defined by sector regulations, such as EU Regulation 2017/745 (MDR) for medical devices, the UDI requirements of the FDA, and quality frameworks including ISO 9001, ISO 13485 and IATF 16949 in the automotive industry. These markings are often required to be permanent, legible after aging and resistant to abrasion and corrosion testing.
Dot peen marking technology delivers marking depths from a few micrometers to several hundred micrometers, sufficient to pass standardized tests such as the salt spray test in accordance with ISO 9227 in certain applications.
Dot peen marking creates markings deeply anchored in the material, ideal for serial numbers on metal parts, codes on engines and industrial tooling. These markings offer typical depths that vary with the material and the marking parameters, preserving legibility even after steps such as machining, painting, sandblasting or heat treatment.
Dot peen marking delivers long-term traceability, essential for regulatory compliance (such as UDI requirements or automotive traceability standards) and for maintenance operations.
In the automotive industry, dot peen marking serves to engrave serial numbers, barcodes and product references on metal parts and engine components. It ensures the traceability and durability that are essential in high-volume production environments, where markings must withstand heat treatments and surface treatments such as sandblasting or painting. The technology is well suited to applications such as body components, engine blocks, and structural elements, where consistent legibility is required to maintain compliance and support maintenance over the long term.
In the aerospace sector, dot peen marking is applied to engine components, metal structures and critical parts fitted to aircraft. The markings are carried out to guarantee complete traceability across the production chain and during maintenance inspections. The precision of dot peen marking allows serial numbers or DataMatrix codes to be engraved on parts subjected to extreme operating conditions, including metal components, supports, housings, structural parts, while meeting strict compliance and safety standards such as those required by AS9100.
In the railway sector, dot peen marking is applied to bogie components, identification plates and structural parts such as rails or braking systems. These markings play a key role in maintaining the traceability and maintenance of parts over time, allowing their fast identification within complex production and servicing environments. The marked codes are frequently paired with serial numbers or 2D codes to simplify inventory management and compliance checks over the entire service life of the equipment.
In the electronics sector, dot peen marking is applied to electronic components such as electronic enclosures, metal chassis and nameplates. These markings are essential to the traceability of parts along production lines and make repairs or modifications in service easier. DataMatrix codes can also be produced, as they store information on small and complex surfaces, maintaining legibility and durability even after rigorous testing or heat treatments.
Explore our key dot peen marking equipment: portable machines, integrable modules for production lines or standalone marking stations.
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