Railroad markings and traceability
Industrial marking technologies for durable and compliant part identification
The railroad industry is constantly evolving, driven by technological innovation, stricter safety requirements, and the need for long-term reliability. Components used in trains, stations, and trackside infrastructure are exposed to harsh environments and must remain fully operational for decades. In this demanding context, effective and permanent part identification is essential. It enables traceability systems to track components across their lifecycle, supports predictive maintenance, and ensures compliance with international standards.
Gravotech provides advanced industrial marking solutions that help manufacturers, operators, and maintenance teams achieve durable, legible, and reliable part identification of all types of railroad assets, from structural components to embedded electronics.
Whether for rolling stock, onboard systems, or infrastructure signage, our traceability systems deliver high-quality, lasting marks adapted to railroad-specific constraints.
Our railroad marking solutions
Our laser industrial marking solutions offer high-contrast, permanent, and legible marking on anodized aluminum, stainless steel, or carbon steel for identifying metal nameplates inside trains or technological components. Optimized for single-part or batch marking purposes, these stations integrate easily into railroad workshops and ensure operator safety.
- WeLase™: compact and perfect for rapid part identification marking in tight spaces
- LW2: versatile for marking tags or embedded component housings.
- LW3: suitable for higher-throughput or multi-part use.
These stations easily mark serial numbers, logos, or Datamatrix codes on railway embedded systems and identification plates.
Dot peen is an impact-based marking technology, while scribing scratches the surface of the part: both are ideal for metal components exposed to demanding environments. They deliver deep, permanent railroad markings resistant to vibrations, shocks, and industrial cleaning.
- The Impact (dot peen), with its benchtop configuration, can mark any part and is suited for small batches.
- The integrable XF530 (dot peen) is ideal for deep marking when parts go through painting or galvanization processes. It also exists in a movable configuration when parts are too large for a production line.
- The XF510r (scribing) is catered for production lines and provides esthetic and quick markings that are deep for most use cases.
- The SV530 (scribing) is the heavy duty scribing machine. As with the XF530, this machine is perfect for deep marking of parts that then go through post-treatments.
As with our dot peen machines, our Rotary industrial marking solutions offer deep or very deep permanent markings for railroad part identification. This kind of mechanical engraving produces legible, esthetic and non-contrasted characters on any part.
Small and custom engraving machine for all purposes, from perfume bottle to small industrial signage.
M20 X
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Small CNC engraving machine for label and small part traceability system.
IS200
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Medium CNC engraving machine for flat and cylinder engraving on metal and plastic.
IS400 – IS400 Volume
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Which technology is best for railroad use?
Choosing between laser, dot peen and rotary depends on the type of part, the operational environment, traceability systems and visibility requirements.
Laser
High precision and marking quality
Laser technology is particularly suited for railroad applications that demand speed, precision, and aesthetic quality. It produces high-definition, non-contact markings ideal for smaller, embedded components, such as electrical modules, connectors, or control units.
Lasers excel at marking serial numbers, Datamatrix codes, pictograms, and fine text with excellent contrast, even on challenging surfaces like stainless steel or anodized aluminum.
Dot peen & scribing
Maximum durability in harsh environments
Dot peen or scribing equipments are the go-to traceability systems when maximum resistance and longevity are required. Their mechanical impact or scratching creates deep, direct markings that remain readable even after decades of exposure to vibration, friction, rust and tough environments.
This makes it ideal for marking structural or mechanical components such as axles, suspension parts, connecting segments or undercarriage elements that endure continuous mechanical stress.
Rotary
Deep and silent identification
Rotary engraving offers a compelling alternative for applications that require deep, long-lasting marks with lower noise levels than impact-based systems. It uses a controlled milling process to remove material and generate clean, crisp characters that are highly legible for operators and traceability systems, even in harsh industrial environments.
Rotary marking is not only quieter, making it ideal for workshop use, but also well-suited for soft or hard materials such as plastic nameplates, or hot-rolled steel rail tracks.
Railroad identification and traceability
Common use cases
The diversity of assets in the railroad sector calls for versatile industrial marking solutions adapted to specific technical and environmental demands.
- Traceability of critical components: bogies, couplers, frames, motors
- Identification of electronic and electrical parts: relays, communication and embedded modules, batteries
- Version tracking of onboard software (e.g., ETCS systems)
- Technical nameplates: part numbers, logos, dates, compliance data
- Tool identification for maintenance fleet management
- Re-marking or updating parts whose ID has worn off during service
Need advice for a similar use case?
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Gravotech equipments support all identification levels defined by GS1 Rail.
Our solutions also handle additional GS1-compliant data: 2D codes (DataMatrix), functional status, revision, human-readable text, and RFID-ready identifiers. |
Focus on railroad signage
Durable and compliant solutions
Beyond component traceability, signage plays a vital role in the railroad environment, providing information, ensuring compliance, and enhancing accessibility.
Gravotech supports both interior and exterior signage needs with durable materials and precision engraving technologies such as laser and rotary engraving, adapted to each use case.
- Indoor instructions, numbering, compartments signage with Gravoply™ Laser
- Platform number, train stop outdoor signage for travelers with Gravoply™ Ultra
- PRM signage in stations with Gravoglas™ 2 Textured Surface
- Railroad route indicators, post signal number and outdoor signage with Gravoxal™
- Normative signage, PPE sign, prohibited access sign with Gravoply™ 2 and Gravoply™ Laser
- Technical labeling for electrical cabinets and signaling with Flexilase™
