From low volume artisan shops to high volume industrial settings, direct part marking is used to add aesthetic touches, makers marks, required information, bar codes, and more to a wide variety of substrates. Because of the diversity of application specifications and needs, there are many marking methods to choose from. We break down some of the most popular marking methods below, from less complicated options that are ideal for low volume requirements to more industrial methods for high volume applications.

Stan-Den Tool in Van Buren, AR buys A2 Steel Stamping Dies from Durable Technologies that they use to stamp metal parts for large HVAC manufacturers like Trane and Rheem. 

In addition to the number of direct part marking machinery options that Durable offers, some direct part marking methods also require additional tools. Some methods that do not require a marking machine also require tooling to achieve their marking results. Because of the prevalence of marking tools, it is worth taking a look at some of the most common tooling.

Steel stamps provide a means to permanently mark metal parts and products with identifying information such as serial numbers, part numbers, model numbers, date codes, or company logos.

Whether stamping a serial number or adding your own personal touchmark, many different types of marking tools are available to meet any direct part marking requirement.

Recently, a large international firm specializing in welding inspections found Durable Technologies through an internet search and reached out to us about using hand stamps as welding inspection tools.

Glen Dobi, owner of Dobi Associates, developer of the CedarCraft product line of custom garden planters, has some pretty demanding customers so their vendor partner's need to be up to the task of responding at a moment's notice. Durable Technologies fits the bill as the go-to partner for steel hot stamp dies and branding iron dies.

Sandvik Materials Technology NAFTA is a leading manufacturer of welding wire and rod in a wide range of materials including stainless steels and nickel alloys. The rod and round wire, also know as filler material, made at the NAFTA facility is available with a wide range of coatings and a variety of surface finishes. Sandvik wire is supplied on spools, in coils or as straightened lengths. The wire is used as filler material for welding in the oil and gas, automotive, food transportation and handling, exhaust systems, and many other industries.

Sharrow Lifting Products manufactures and sells a full line of lifting slings, rigging equipment, tie-down equipment, and other specialty lifting devices. They need a rugged direct part marking method to permanently imprint a model number and other part identification information on the metal components of their products. When their old hand stamps started to chip and pieces were flying off the stamp when hit they knew they needed to find a better solution fast.

Thad Miller, Sharrow Lifting Products Safety Director, recently ordered a Durable Technologies  number set of 3/8" hevi-bevl steel handstamps along with a Safety First handstamp holder. They had some trouble with the first holder chipping (the anvil area that you strike with a hammer) when he was using a hammer from another supplier. Once they started using the Durable Technologies two pound OE hammer all of the problems went away.