Precision Laser Technology, based in Rochester, New York, uses digital imagery and laser technology to engrave and texture molds for injection and blow molding applications. Laser services have expanded to include direct laser marking of molded plastic parts and welding of molds that need refurbishment or engineering changes. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, the company’s founders have developed a customer base across the US and beyond.

Ron Natale Jr., co-owner of Precision Laser Technology, recently took time to respond to some questions about the business for The American Mold Builder.

How did Precision Laser Technology originate, and how has it grown?

My business partner, James Garcia, and I started the business in 2004. We both had experience in the industry and branched off in an entrepreneurial spirit to start something on our own. The business began with a focus on advancing laser engraving for injection and blow molds: alphanumerics, brand logos, cavity IDs…any engraving detail for a mold.

James oversaw operations and R&D efforts, and my focus was on sales and business development. Over the years, the business began to evolve. We started pushing the technology by providing surface finishes in addition to engraving. For example, if a customer had an insert requiring engraving and an industry-specified finish, we were able to produce both in a single operation.

We expanded into laser marking molded plastic parts. We offered that service as an alternative to pad printing – ink will eventually fade or flake off , but laser marking proved to be permanent. In the years that followed, laser marking has become widely accepted as a form of printing on plastic. It’s amazing how many manufacturers are offering laser marking machines. In addition, the resin suppliers also have embraced it, offering color additives to the master batch and yielding certain print colors that customers desire.

Eventually, we started offering add-on services, such as laser welding and laser texturing. We continue to evaluate and invest in new technology to advance all of our services.

What areas of the business have grown most?

All areas of the business have grown. Most recently, the technology for laser texturing has really advanced and presents huge potential.

We want to be successful at expanding services to our current customers and continually maintain our relationships with them. We can have a competitive edge by expanding into services they need.

What are the advantages of using laser technology rather than more traditional methods, such as milling or etching, in terms of marking speed, repeatability and accuracy?

Each laser application has different advantages.

With laser engraving, there are numerous process advantages over more traditional methods of engraving: beam angle and clearance to engrave hard-to-reach areas with more precision – particularly deep cavities; the spot size of a laser beam is as small as 0.002″ in diameter, allowing for smaller characters and more detail to be engraved; and marking speed is up to 1,500 mm per second – a significant improvement in process time over EDM (electrical discharge machining) and pantograph engraving.

Lasers can engrave most tool metals, regardless of hardness, providing more versatility in material choices for our customers. Our knowledge and experience in laser systems, mold configurations and metal ablation gives us an advantage in controlling critical dimensions and draft angles in deep engravings.

Laser welding has a whole series of different advantages: reduced heat induction, rapid cooling to avoid annealing and more precision for consistent repeatable welds. With laser texturing, we avoid the hazards of acid, and because we are working with a digital file, pattern transfer over multiple cavities is consistent versus manual wax displacement.

How does laser engraving reduce the risk of mold damage during the engraving/marking process?

One major advantage is that the cutting tool is a noncontact, highly focused beam of light producing a mark, which results in less wear and tear on tooling. This level of tool care and repeatability is more problematic for traditional methods, such as stamping and mechanical engraving. The fact that the laser process is noncontact reduces the risk of mold damage and deformation, and since the laser beam does not wear, it produces a highly accurate, repeatable engraving.

What is the environmental impact of laser engraving?

It is environmentally safe. The laser produces no chemical or toxic by-products in the process, such as would occur with acid etching.

How can laser engraving/marking be used to increase product security in a global market environment where brand protection is critical?

Utilization of lasers to barcode molded plastic is a simple, efficient way to define part origination.

How can lasers add design elements to a molded product?

Laser engraving and texturing can aid in the functional and aesthetic properties of a molded part. Lasers have made complex patterns easier to apply and/or modify, allowing for surface details to be evaluated at micro scale.

Where should a mold builder start when considering lasers within their facilities?

Lasers should be considered at the initial design phase. They possess the ability to replicate industry-standard finishes and the potential to incorporate tooling details, thus eliminating the machining of additional electrodes.

What is your approach when working with a new client? What can a client expect in terms of time and process?

The biggest challenge we have is turnaround. Our services are at the very end of the mold assembly or, in the case of welding, the result of unexpected damage. What we try to do with a client or potential client is better understand their needs. We need to establish good communication to get a fi rm understanding of the scope of service and their delivery expectations, then try to structure a plan to accommodate those deadlines.

Our culture is such that we are very focused on the details – maybe to a fault. It’s important to us that there are no assumptions or guesses, and we review those specifications with the customer up front. Time is lost once you get into the job and a question arises. A lot of communication is really the key. I would say the same thing for our competitors. Everybody is trying to do what’s necessary to help the customer.

Precision Laser Technology serves the aerospace, defense and medical industries. Do PLT’s services to each of those industries differ? If so, in what ways?

The services are much the same… just different markets. In aerospace and defense, they require a lot of part marking for traceability and accountability. In medical, laser marking on plastic parts reduces the risk of ink flaking and contaminating a clean environment. The services are really the same, but we have a clear understanding of the specific requirements and regulations in each of those industry areas.

What kinds of future challenges do you foresee for your clients or potential clients, and how can PLT help them address those challenges?

With global competition, our customers are being pressured for time and cost, and we play a role in that. Their success relies on our contributions, as well as their own. If we can stay on the cutting edge of technology, we can help improve turnaround time and reduce cost.

Also, we are the benefactor of our customers. We’re really fortunate to have strong business-minded customers, and our relationships with them allow us to grow alongside them as they serve different markets.