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Laser Marker Q&A Answers Part 2 |
| Q6 |
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Are there any restrictions when laser markers are exported to the U.S.A.? |
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| A6 |
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There are FDA safety standards.
FDA (Food and Drug Administration of the United States Department of Health and Human Services) is a U.S. government agencies. A section in FDA called Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) manages regulations concerning food, medicine and cosmetic and also controls radiologic rays including those used in laser products.
CDRH has specified safety standards of products which are imported to or sold in the United States. It is mandatory to apply for certification of compliance with the standards by the final product. Among KEYENCE's laser marking devices, both the ML-G9300 and MD-H9800 Series comply with the FDA's safety standards. |
| Q7 |
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What is PVC and what are the hazards of marking it? |
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| A7 |
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It is specified as a part of the Recycling Law (Law for Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources) issued by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan in March 2001 as a ministerial ordinance concerning the component marking for construction materials made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride). The ministry requires marking of "∞PVC" on the products made of PVC including piping, gutters, window frames, wallpaper and floor materials. (Businesses with yearly sales of 240 million yen or less and 20 or less employees are excluded from compliance.) |
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Ordinance details
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| PVC materials will generate harmful dioxins when they are disposed of by incineration. The purpose of this ordinance is to prevent environmental pollution by identifying PVC materials properly with the marking when old buildings are demolished. |
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Requirements for marking |
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| Piping |
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Piping with an outer diameter less than 80 mm must have at least one marking per meter. |
| Gutter |
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At least one marking is required on the surface. |
| Window frame |
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At least one marking is required on the surface. |
| Wallpaper |
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At least one marking per square meter is required on the back of the paper. |
| Floor material |
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Construction contractors must attach a label to the surface for each section, such as a room or a hallway. Industrial organizations are currently discussing whether marking could be done by manufacturers.) |
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Measures against violation |
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(When any violation against the ordinance above is found by an unannounced visit or other occasion after March 31, 2003) |
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| If the situation is not improved after the recommendation process, disclosure (of the violation of law), and order, a penalty not exceeding 500 thousand yen is imposed. |
| Q8 |
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Is it possible to mark the time of manufacture in real time? |
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| A8 |
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Both laser markers and inkjet printers feature an automatic time marking/printing function. |
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Consumers have recently become very aware of the quality control issues that typically plague the food industry. This has caused more companies to start marking "time of manufacture" and a "production facility identifier" in addition to conventional "date of manufacture".
The purpose of marking is for easy management of production history in preparation for consumer complaints or product recalls. If the time of manufacture and production facility of a product can be identified, the operator at the time and the condition of the facility can be determined. This allows the company to easily determine the cause of the problem and clearly define a corrective course of action. |
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Visibly mark a timestamp |
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Inkjet printers are recommended. Time can be automatically marked with sharp, black, visible characters on product packages of every material. |
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Mark a subtle timestamp |
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Laser markers are often used. Laser markers offer as much as 100 levels of laser power adjustment, enabling inconspicuous marking that is normally impossible with ink printers. Marking does not affect package design or printed characters. |
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