Every Alprokon door astragal recognisable thanks to automatic laser marking
Alprokon specialises in door astragals: the aluminium profiles that seal the gap between double doors. From maternity wards to care homes, they can be found in public spaces wherever a reliable solution for the gap between doors is needed. Think of swing doors in hospitals and public buildings, where astragals are often fire-resistant or draught-proof.
Although almost everyone walks past an Alprokon astragal every day, the name behind the product is known almost exclusively to specialist companies. Alprokon wants to change that.
Van Dulst Techniek, which has counted Alprokon among its customers for more than thirty years, developed an automatic laser marking system for this purpose that provides every astragal with a logo, a QR code and, where required, an additional code.
The challenge
Until recently, Alprokon's astragals carried no markings at all, apart from a sticker on the back at most. Anyone who saw an astragal fitted to a door had no idea who made the product. Alprokon wanted to change that, with a clear goal: to eventually link the logo and the astragal inseparably in the user's mind.
Traceability also played an important role. Astragals can become damaged over time. By scanning a code on the product, it is immediately clear which product it is, so that a replacement can be ordered quickly.
Alprokon had started out by marking manually. Because the company wanted to pursue its branding seriously and consistently, the next step was clear: this process had to be automated.
Our solution
Van Dulst Techniek developed a laser marking system that integrates fully with Alprokon's existing production. The profile is automatically fed past the laser, the correct coding is automatically retrieved and applied, and the marked product is automatically discharged.
Why laser?
Alprokon had carried out its own experiments with various marking methods beforehand. Laser was chosen because it makes the marking truly indelible in the aluminium. The laser removes material from the surface, whereas a print applied by inkjet, for example, is more likely to wear or fade when exposed to light.
What is more, a laser can work with great precision: a QR code of approximately 15 by 15 millimetres contains all the necessary information. As a result, the marking does not stand out too much and looks neat, which is exactly what you want for a product that is in plain sight.
Direct link to the customer's data
The system runs on Van Dulst Techniek's own control system. This control system retrieves the required information from a prepared file on Alprokon's system and sends it directly to the laser source. Each profile therefore automatically receives the correct marking, without the operator having to enter anything manually. This saves time and prevents errors.
More than enough capacity
The products are first machined on a processing machine, which sets the pace. The laser marking system can easily keep up with that pace, with a capacity of around 150 profiles per hour. This means marking never becomes a bottleneck in production.
How the process works in practice
- The profile is first machined on the processing machine.
- The operator scans the profile with a barcode reader.
- The operator places the profile on the automatic infeed magazine.
- The control system retrieves the correct coding from Alprokon's file.
- The profile is automatically fed past the laser and marked with the logo, QR code and, where applicable, an additional code.
- The marked profile is automatically discharged.
Manual marking is now a thing of the past. Every astragal that leaves the factory is now recognisable as an Alprokon product and easy to trace.
In line with Alprokon's strategy
The system is more than a production solution: it ties in directly with Alprokon's strategic direction. By visibly yet subtly adding its own logo to every product, Alprokon is steadily building brand awareness among everyone who comes across an astragal.
The QR code also makes it easy to have a damaged product replaced quickly, further improving the service it provides to customers.
The partnership between Alprokon and Van Dulst Techniek goes back more than thirty years. What started with simple machines has gradually grown into increasingly advanced solutions. This laser marking system is the latest step in that journey.
Would you also like to mark your products automatically?
Would you like to add a logo, QR code or serial number to your products without creating extra manual work or slowing down production? Or are you looking for a way to build traceability into your process on a structural basis?
Van Dulst Techniek is happy to think along with you, from the initial process analysis to a fully integrated marking solution that connects to your existing production and systems.
Get in touch for an advisory meeting. Together, we will look at your production process, your products and the opportunities for automation.
0180 510 455
verkoop@vandulst.nl
About the client
Alprokon is based in Barendrecht and positions itself as the benchmark for safe doors, escape routes and reliable fall protection. In addition to door astragal profiles, the company also develops roof edge trim profiles and roof edge safety systems. The astragals are manufactured in its own factory, allowing Alprokon to maintain continuous control over quality.
