Dot peen marking is a benchmark marking technology for achieving permanent identification of parts, thanks to deep marking built to last.
This process creates a deep, indented mechanical mark, ensuring long-term readability after standardized abrasion tests, impact resistance tests or industrial washing cycles.
Dot peen marking meets long-term traceability requirements by allowing serial numbers, part numbers and DataMatrix codes to be applied directly to the part, ensuring accurate, reliable reading by machine vision systems, even after surface treatments or in harsh industrial environments.
Dot peen marking requires adjusting several parameters (impact force, dot density, stylus angle, stylus-to-part distance, travel speed) based on the material and its surface condition.
Whether for portable applications, fixed production environments or automated systems, SIC MARKING offers solutions tailored to every industrial sector.
This versatility, combined with the ability to customize marking parameters to match materials and specific requirements, makes dot peen marking a key technology for delivering reliable identification, long-term traceability and optimum resistance to harsh conditions.
Based on controlled impact, the dot peen marking machine generates a succession of percussion dots that form a durable indented mark.
The force of the impacts is set to achieve the required depth.
In practice, typical depth ranges from a few microns to several hundred microns, depending on the material and the application.
In addition, marking density can be tuned by adjusting the pitch between percussion dots.
Dot peen marking is a highly effective marking solution for a wide range of parts, whether flat, cylindrical, complex, small, large, or featuring hard-to-reach areas.
It guarantees the accuracy and durability of the marks.
Thanks to its flexibility, this marking technology adapts to the geometry and size of the parts, delivering repeatable, reliable marks for applications such as identification, traceability and industrial compliance.
The choice of marking solution (benchtop dot peen marking station, portable dot peen marking machine, integrated dot peen marking units and various accessories such as a rotary axis or dedicated fixtures) depends on several factors: part shape, accessibility and production volume. Each situation calls for a specific approach to guarantee optimum marking.
Production Runs
Heavy, Immovable Parts
Complex Geometries
Dot peen marking is particularly well suited to ferrous metals (such as carbon steels, stainless steels and cast irons) and non-ferrous metals (such as aluminum, copper and their alloys), as well as certain rigid engineering plastics such as POM, PA and PEEK, which are impact-resistant enough to guarantee a durable mark.
Ferrous Metals
Non-Ferrous Metals
Engineering Plastics
Non-Compatible Materials
Dot peen marking offers a complete range of markings, from alphanumeric marks, 1D/2D codes and regulatory markings to technical reference marks and deep marking, delivering permanence, readability and resistance to harsh conditions.
Thanks to the ability of dot peen marking machines to adapt to different materials and complex geometries, this permanent marking technology allows the depth and positioning of marks to be adjusted to meet machining constraints, assembly requirements and environmental conditions.
Mainly used for serial numbers, part numbers and identification codes, alphanumeric marking by dot peen engraves strings of characters with a specific height and controlled depths, depending on the material.
This marking withstands industrial conditions such as abrasion, high temperatures and chemical agents, while remaining readable for both human reading and automated reading.
Dot peen marking can generate 2D matrix codes such as the DataMatrix, which are suitable for a wide range of surfaces.
The DataMatrix is particularly well suited to surfaces where high information density matters, as in the aerospace and medical sectors.
The DataMatrix ECC200 is the standard for industrial components thanks to its robustness and compact footprint.
Dot peen marking meets the traceability and identification requirements imposed by industry regulations, such as EU Regulation 2017/745 (MDR) for medical devices and the UDI rules of the FDA, as well as quality standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 13485 or IATF 16949 in the automotive industry. These marks often need to be permanent, readable after aging and resistant to abrasion or corrosion testing.
Dot peen marking technology achieves marking depths ranging from a few microns to several hundred microns, deep enough to pass standardized tests, such as the salt spray test per ISO 9227 in certain cases.
Dot peen marking produces deeply anchored marks in the material, ideal for serial numbers on metal parts, codes on engines and industrial tooling. These marks feature typical depths that depend on the material and marking parameters, guaranteeing readability even after steps such as machining, painting, sandblasting or heat treatment.
Dot peen marking ensures long-lasting traceability, essential for regulatory compliance (such as UDI requirements or automotive traceability) and maintenance.
In the automotive industry, dot peen marking is used to mark serial numbers, barcodes and part numbers on metal parts and engine components. It delivers the traceability and durability essential in high-throughput production environments, where marks must withstand heat treatment and surface treatments such as sandblasting or painting. The technology is ideal for applications such as body parts, engine blocks, and structural components, where consistent readability is required to support long-term compliance and maintenance.
In the aerospace sector, dot peen marking is used to mark engine components, metal structures and critical parts used on aircraft. Marks are applied to guarantee absolute traceability throughout the production chain and during maintenance inspections. The accuracy of dot peen marking makes it possible to mark serial numbers or DataMatrix codes on parts exposed to extreme operating conditions, such as metal components, brackets, housings, structural parts, while complying with strict compliance and safety standards, such as those required by AS9100.
In the railway sector, dot peen marking is used to mark bogie components, identification plates and structural parts such as rails or braking systems. These marks are essential to ensure the traceability and maintenance of parts over time, guaranteeing fast identification in complex production and maintenance environments. The marked codes are often combined with serial numbers or 2D codes to streamline inventory management and compliance verification throughout the equipment service life.
In the electronics sector, dot peen marking is used to mark electronic components such as electronic housings, metal chassis and nameplates. These marks are essential for part traceability across production lines and to facilitate repairs or modifications in service. DataMatrix codes can be applied, as they store information on small, complex surfaces, guaranteeing readability and durability even after rigorous testing or heat treatment.
Discover our flagship dot peen marking equipment: portable machines, line-integrated modules or standalone marking stations.
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