We distinguish between two categories of labeling:

Firstly, markings that are requested by the customer. These are, for example, UL numbers, date codes, the promising digital labeling of printed circuit boards or the marking of devalued items in use.

Secondly, markings that play an important role in the digitalization of production at KSG. The latter gives KSG customers a major advantage in terms of process reliability and therefore product quality. At the same time, KSG is taking steps towards complete traceability of individual materials and consequently printed circuit boards.

This means that markings not only serve as an identity for each printed circuit board, but also make a decisive contribution to traceability and quality assurance.

Let us take a closer look at two special markings requested by the customer:

Digital labeling

With digital labeling of printed circuit boards, we generate all the information required for further processing in a code exactly according to customer requirements. It is the so-called product ID of the printed circuit board.

You can register a printed circuit board with a product ID at goods receipt using the number or code on the label. Modern stock management systems based on product labeling and using technical aids provide continuous insight into essential product data (article number, date code = manufacturing code, order number, revision number, etc.).

For products for which complete traceability (identification and tracing of products) is required, these markings and all product and process parameters are automatically recorded in databases. Specialized software programs make it possible to track the life cycles of assemblies and the origin of an end product along the entire supply chain right down to the individual component (traceability).

Anyone who has a PCB labeled in this way outsources the labeling process of the PCB to the PCB manufacturer. This means that systems, production steps and the associated costs can be saved and the company’s own productivity increased.

What’s more, this label is guaranteed to be smudge and scratch resistant compared to printed adhesive labels. It has no adhesion problems and the heat resistance of the marking guarantees a long service life, even under extreme conditions.

Marking the position of the bad piece in the benefit

When marking the position of bad pieces in the panel, we provide you with information about the individual pieces in the panel that have been devalued via a code applied to/in the PCB. Thanks to the automated readability of the code, you can prevent the placement of invalidated individual parts. The potential of labeling the position of bad pieces on the delivery panel is currently still underutilized. This information can be applied as a code to the edge of the panel by laser at the end of the PCB manufacturing process. A combination with other information requested by the customer (IPC class, customer identification number, etc.) can be processed and applied in a single code.

Industry 4.0: The networking of everything

With the advent of Industry 4.0, the manufacturing landscape is becoming more intelligent and networked. Machines, systems and processes communicate with each other to enable seamless production. In this highly digitized environment, PCB marking becomes a link between physical production and digital control.

Clear and unambiguous labeling not only enables companies to trace the origin of each component, but also to act quickly in the event of quality problems. This contributes significantly to improving overall quality and minimizing rejects.