Cold Marking Solutions for Low Temperature Processes
We share advice, tips, information, and stories about industrial marking and its uses in the various industries that create, manufacture, and build global infrastructure, and the world's greatest engineering marvels. As the industrial marking category leader since 1934, we're proud to support the hardworking contractors, tradespeople, and workers who build and maintain the world around us.
Join our community and share your experiences!
Signup for our email list, follow us on social media, and share #themarkofwork. 🖊
In sprawling industrial landscapes, powerful winds batter structures erected with steel, iron, and concrete. Work continues despite freezing temperatures. Workers construct buildings, fabricators create ships, and companies extract natural resources while pressing on through polar climates.
Relentless cold and icy conditions mark an environment of uncertainty. As the gears of modern machinery grind, they expose the subtleties of cold marking and its pivotal function.
Cold Marking: What is it?
Cold marking is the process of adding markings, protective coatings, or layers to a surface that is at or below room temperature. This process helps prevent corrosion, wear, or damage to exposed materials. Marking is additionally vital to quickly and easily identify materials and communicate information. Many industries, like construction, metalworking, marine, timber, oil, and gas, work with materials in cold or freezing conditions.
This article explores manual cold marking using industrial cold marker pens. Simple writing tools that are engineered to mark cold surfaces and withstand harsh conditions in many industrial environments.
The Challenges of Cold Marking
Marking in extremely cold temperatures presents its own unique set of difficulties. Frigid temperatures can impact a marker's fluidity, adhesion, and visibility. This creates a significant concern in environments where quick and accurate identification is crucial.
Here’s why:
- Freezing tools: Cold conditions can cause traditional marking tools or machinery to become brittle making them impractical for use.
- Temperature sensitivity: Cold surfaces can cause ink or paint to thicken, affecting its flow and consistency.
- Surface texture & adhesion: Cold surfaces can have inconsistencies, making it difficult for markings to adhere evenly. The resulting uneven adhesion on textured surfaces can impact the readability and longevity of important communications.
- Reduced drying time: Cold surfaces can extend the dry time of marking materials. This causes operations to slow down and decrease productivity in normally fast-paced industrial settings.
- Corrosion resistance: In harsh environments, corrosion-resistant markers are essential. Corrosion speed often accelerates because of frequent cold surface exposure to moisture.
So, what do these challenge combinations look like in the real world? Picture construction workers laboring during the winter, maritime exposure to air temperatures and saltwater, or industries dealing with frozen goods that rely on cold marking for inventory management. Imagine labeling metal racks in a sub-zero warehouse!
The right marker ensures that your cold surface markings are reliable, visible, and resistant to environmental challenges. Let us help you find the right marker for your cold marking work.
The Benefits of Hand-Held Markers in Cold Marking
Industrial cold markers are portable and flexible hand-held marking tools that make durable surface marks at low temperatures.
The benefits of using these cold markers are:
- You can use them to reach multiple locations around a part.
- You can use them to manually mark parts that are difficult to access or machine-label during production.
- You can use them to strike out existing marks and make new marks if there are information changes.
- They are easy to use and do not require any technical knowledge or training.
- They are economically advantageous.
- They have widespread availability.
What features should I look for when choosing a cold surface marker?
Different options are available for critical job factors regarding material type, surface quality, corrosion prevention, wear, and damage. When selecting a marker for cold surfaces, take into account these characteristics for peak marking performance:
- Mark compatibility: Check to make sure the marker formulation is suitable for the surface you intend to mark. Ensure the mark adheres well to your cold surface without smudging or fading by testing on spare material of the same type and temperature. Markal® has high-performance markers made to handle specific materials like plastic, wood, or metal.
- Drying time: Cold environments can slow down mark drying time. Look for markers with drying properties that suit your application to prevent smearing and maintain clarity. The formulation of a marker can affect the drying time whether it’s liquid paint, solid paint, or ink. Learn more about the differences between liquid paint, solid paint, and ink markers in this article.
-
Temperature resistance: Choose markers specified with a cold-resistant marking range that meets your requirements. Verifying the marking range ensures the marker can withstand low temperatures without compromising ink/paint flow or adhesion. Check the Marking Range listed under the Specifications tab on markal.com to verify the marker meets your project requirements.
- Surface compatibility: Consider the texture and composition of the surface. Some markers work better on specific materials. For example, Quik-Stik® Oily Surface marks through oil and grease on surfaces like metal, wood, rubber, glass, plastic, and concrete.
- Durability: Markers used in industrial settings should withstand wear and exposure. Choose markers formulated with long-lasting marks that won’t smudge, fade, or degrade over time ensuring your markings remain clear and legible.
- Application method: Choose between fine-tip markers for precise details or broader tips for larger markings. The application method depends on your specific requirements.
- Metal markers: Choose markers specifically designed for metal surfaces. They offer better adhesion and durability.
- Glass and porcelain markers: Choose markers designed for glass and porcelain in cold conditions. They offer better smear resistance and good adhesion to these surfaces.
Finding markers that perform reliably in the fight against frost is crucial. Markal® offers cold-resistant marking solutions designed to adhere effectively to various surfaces in low temperatures. Cold markers by Markal® have fast-drying formulas that prevent freezing ensuring reliable performance, even in sub-zero temperatures.*
Always test markers before use on working materials to make sure the marks meet your needs. Use a spare piece of the same material and at the same temperature as your project. Check with Markal®/LACO Industries for details on marker features, surface types, and marking temperature ranges.
Conclusion
Mastering cold marking is crucial for industries operating in chilly to frigid environments.To understand cold marking challenges and find the right marker, think of markers as the tools that they are. So, whether you’re in an industrial freezer, fabricating on a construction site, or transporting goods aboard a cargo ship; cold marking solutions by Markal® can ensure your markings remain visible, accurate, and durable — no matter how cold it gets! 🌬️❄️
About LACO Industries
LACO Industries is a global manufacturing company specializing in industrial products since 1934. Its mission is to complete the world’s jobs through ink and paint expertise. Brands of LACO Industries include: Markal® hand-held industrial markers, Tempil® temperature indicators, LA-CO® industrial chemicals, All-Weather® livestock identification products, and Tempilink® specialty inks.
LACO Industries products can be found at over 4,000 distributors and are currently sold in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit lacoindustries.com.
Comments 0