Dot Peen Marking Success Stories | Ingersoll Rand

Objective

Implementation of computer-controlled marking systems for road development division of Ingersoll Rand.

Dot Peen Marking Solution
MC2000 SuperFast Portable

Benefits:

Portable
2D Data Matrix capable – very fast compared to all other 2D markers
Small – easy to integrate
Cost effective vs. laser and other larger dot peen markers

Story

In May 2005, Heath Ocker, procurement engineer of Ingersoll-Rand road development division in Shippensburg , Pennsylvania , implemented a continuous improvement project. The project entailed purchasing and installing eight computer-controlled marking systems from Mecco Marking and Traceability of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Prior to the new marking systems, operators were tasked with manually marking the seventeen-digit serial number on every machine being produced by using hand stamps and hammers. Hand stamping has several disadvantages when compared to computer-controlled marking: 1) it is time consuming for the operators to first search for the correct stamps then mark the serial number one character at a time, 2) the stamps fracture posing a danger associated with the fragments that have been shown to both injure and kill workers, 3) marking quality is heavily dependent on the user and is inconsistent, 4) errors occur in placing the characters on the part resulting in a “bad” serial number, and 5) the stamps wear quickly when composed of heat-treated steel.

Heath saw these negatives and realized that he could both increase operator efficiency and safety by implementing multiple dot-peen marking systems in place of the traditional hand-stamping process. The Mecco MC-2000 portable SuperFast marking system is composed of a marking head that the operator holds onto the part and a tethered control unit (up to 30’ away from marking head) into which the operator inputs the text via a keyboard interface. The total marking string of seventeen characters which represent the vehicle identification number (VIN) is being marked onto every machine in less than half a minute per mark.

Heath Ocker has pledged his support in creating this story and has volunteered the contact information for the department managers that witness the benefits of the implementation on a daily basis.