Which solution for name badge engraving and cutting?
Laser precision or mechanical depth: find the name badge engraving machine built for your volume and industry.
Badges are essential signage tools in business environments, administrations, and amusement parks, playing a front-line role across hospitals, hotels, transport networks, and corporate environments. Gravotech designs laser and rotary name badge engraving machines that serve production runs from a single unit to thousands of badges, with materials engineered to match every sector’s constraints.
Badges give staff instant visual credibility while helping visitors, customers, and colleagues identify the right person at a glance. Getting that identity right, consistently and at scale, starts with the right engraving process.
Which name badge engraving machine suits your production?
The LS100 and LS100 EX are compact, high-performance CO2 laser tables. They are ideal as name tag engraving machines in small and medium production runs.
The LS900 laser table has a larger engraving area, enabling larger-scale badge production.
Finally, the WeLase™ laser station has been designed for unit engraving. Much faster than the laser tables, it will be perfect for live personalisation while integrating a new employee or in an event context.
Small CO2 laser engraver and cutter for personalisation, signage and creative.
LS100
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Medium CO2 or Fiber laser engraving and cutting machine for signage and small series.
LS100 EX
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Large laser engraver and cutter that can do everything.
LS900
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Small laser engraver for all kind of engravings.
WELASE
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The advantage of mechanical name tag engraving machines is their compatibility with a wider range of materials.
Like lasers, they work perfectly on organic materials such as plastic, acrylic, or wood, but they can also produce badges in metals such as aluminium or brass.
Gravotech offers a wide range of engraving materials specially designed for laser and mechanical machines:
- Gravoply™ Laser (for laser machines) / Gravoply™ 2 (for rotary machines) are two flagship two-layer plastic materials for badge making. Scratch-resistant and available in numerous colour combinations, they have become two must-haves.
- Gravolase™ Metallics (for laser machines) / Metallex™ (for rotary machines): these are the metallic equivalents of the previous two materials. They are the preferred solution for those wishing to combine the ease of engraving plastic with the glossy or brushed rendering of metals.
- Gravoxal™ is an anodised aluminium material available in several colours. It is ideally suited to mechanical engraving, cutting, and laser engraving.
- Gravobrass™ Exterior is a brass ideal for establishments seeking a sense of prestige. It is ideally suited to mechanical name tag engraving machines.
- Laser Wood is a wood material ideal for designing original badges or badges with an ecological and natural feel.
Flexibility and performance for indoor and outdoor applications
Gravoply™ Laser
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Engrave and cut quickly with precision
Gravoply™ 2
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Laser material for a high-end metallic finish
Gravolase™ Metallics
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Metallic appearance for a high-end finish
Metallex™
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The aluminium range dedicated to engraving and cutting
Gravoxal™
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The material in watchmaking-quality brass for outdoor use
Gravobrass™ Exterior
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Think Green. Go Green.
Laser Wood
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In addition to its wide range of engraving materials, Gravotech offers two time-saving services:
- Cut-to-Size: order your engraving material cut directly to the size of your badges!
We cut your badges to size according to your drawings and leave the name badge engraving to you. - Materials on demand: can't find your colours in our range of materials? Then ask us for a special production run! We manufacture our engraving materials so that we can design materials that match your colours.
For users of mechanical machines, Gravotech offers a wide range of tools specially designed for engraving and cutting. Find the perfect tool for your application now on our dedicated page.
Laser or mechanical: which is the best name badge engraving machine?
Choosing between laser and mechanical for your name badge engraving machine is not always easy.
Ask yourself the right questions, particularly concerning your production volume, the engraving material you want, and the expected look of your future badges.
Technology | Machines | Materials | Applications | Advantages | Operating requirement | Equipment price |
Laser
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Which materials for a quality name badge engraving?
Not all materials are equal when creating a badge that reflects your image!
Visual rendering, compatible technology, and available thicknesses, each of these characteristics counts to guarantee an aesthetically pleasing, legible, and long-lasting badge.
| Engraving materials | Material type | Compatible technology | Aesthetic finish | Available thicknesses | Key benefits |
| Gravoply™ Laser | Two-layer plastic | Laser | Coloured, matte | from 0.8 to 3.2 mm | Excellent legibility, wide choice of colours and fine engraving |
| Gravoply™ 2 | Two-layer plastic | Rotary | Coloured, matte | from 0.8 to 2.4 mm | Excellent cost-benefit ratio and wide choice of colours |
| Gravolase™ Metallics | Two-layer metallic plastic | Laser | Metallic, gloss, matte or brushed | from 0.5 to 1.6 mm | High-quality finish and exceptional engraving precision |
| Metallex™ | Two-layer metallic plastic | Rotary | Metallic, gloss, matte or brushed | from 0.8 to 2.4 mm | Elegant rendering with good contrast, easy to engrave |
| Gravoxal™ | Metal (aluminium) | Rotary (Laser only for engraving) | Matt or bright anodised, coloured or raw | from 0.5 to 3.0 mm | Exceptional marking sharpness. Very good resistance over time |
| Gravobrass™ Exterior | Metal (brass) | Rotary | Polished or raw | from 1.0 to 3.0 mm | Premium aesthetics, exterior finish and deep engraving possible |
| Laser Wood | Plywood | Laser | Natural | from 0.4 to 4.5 mm | Eco-friendly and natural, perfect for original or creative badges. |
Need help choosing? Our experts are here to help!
Contact us
LS100: THE name badge engraving machine
Compact & Versatile
If you're looking for a simple, reliable solution for name badge engraving in small quantities, the LS100 is the perfect machine to start out with or to ensure punctual production.
✅ Thanks to its compact size, the LS100 fits easily into an office, a small workshop, or on a countertop.
✅ It's compatible with two-layer plastics and wood, offering a multitude of possible uses.
✅ Its unique engraving precision is perfect for making legible name badges containing text, small logos, or even QR codes.
✅ With its engraving area of 460 x 305 mm, it's just as suitable for one-off engravings as for small production runs.
In short, the LS100 is an ideal solution for small structures or on-demand production.
Name badge engraving: which solution for each sector?
Health sector
Mainly dedicated to hospitals, clinics, retirement residences, and pharmacies.
☝️ Need: easy-to-clean name badges, resistant to cleaning products.
✅ Solution: comfortable and non-perforating for medical staff.
Suggested solution | |
| Engraving material | Gravoply™ Laser |
| Fastener | Magnetic fasteners (Ref. 19362 ou 30365) |
Hotels and Restaurants
☝️ Need: elegant badges with logo, first name, function.
✅ Solution: metallic and sober to accompany high-end uniforms.
Suggested solution | |
| Engraving material | Gravolase™ Metallics |
| Fastener | Magnetic fastener (Ref. 19362 ou 30365) |
Administration & Transport
☝️ Need: reliable identification badges, sometimes with QR code or number.
✅ Solution: a badge that's easy to read from a great distance, with high contrast and a fastening that withstands multiple movements and shocks, while adapting to various garments.
Suggested solution | |
| Engraving material | Gravoply™ 2 |
| Fastener | Clip with safety pin (Ref. 19358) |
Recreation and culture
☝️ Need: functional, creative or personalised badges for reception.
✅ Solution: UV and weather-resistant for good outdoor performance, ideal for seasonal or mobile staff.
Suggested solution | |
| Engraving material | Gravoply™ Laser |
| Fastener | Safety pin (Ref. 30364) |
Events
☝️ Need: temporary badges, sometimes engraved on site with a personalised message.
✅ Solution: pre-cut badges, ready to engrave live on location with a WeLase™ for example.
Suggested solution | |
| Engraving material | Gravoply™ 2 |
| Fastener | Pin with clutch (Ref. 30363) |
Which fastening system for your engraved name badges?
Gravotech offers several fastening options for your personalised name tags: adhesive fasteners, for thermobonding, or to stick on with Gravofix™:
- Magnetic: comfortable, discreet, and without perforating clothing, these fasteners are available in 2 sizes to adapt to badge weight and clothing thickness.
- Safety pin: a classic badge fastener, it's an economical solution, ideal for lightweight badges.
- Pin with clutch: these are economical, easy-to-install standard fasteners, ideal for small or lightweight badges.
- Clutch bar: a fastening bar with two pins improves the stability of classic “pin” fasteners, especially for long badges.
These fastening systems can also be ordered directly on your ready-to-engrave badges via our Cut-to-Size service.
Best practices for name badge engraving and cutting
▶️ Choosing the right font: laser engraving can engrave very thin fonts. On the other hand, we recommend using larger fonts for mechanical engraving, avoiding overly decorative or fancy typefaces that affect legibility and considerably increase engraving time. Generally, never engrave below 3 mm character height. Discover our font guide!
▶️ For optimum reading contrast, opt for two-layer plastics. Their colour combinations have been designed to enable easy reading even from a distance.
▶️ Use a suitable thickness: for most professional badges, we recommend a thickness of 1.6 mm to prevent the badge from bending. For premium badges used in hotels or luxury homes, we can increase the thickness to 3.2 mm.
▶️ Simplify visuals: avoid overly detailed logos or photographic effects. For best results, remove small elements from your logos and use pictograms.
▶️ Test before producing: before mass production, take the time to carry out a few tests, particularly to validate contrast, legibility, alignment of engraved elements, or the suitability of the fastening.
| FAQ: The 5 questions most frequently asked of our experts |
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🔽What is the best engraving machine for name badges?
The ideal machine depends on your material and desired finish. For cost-effective, high-speed production of standard badges (e.g., for large corporations), the LS100 laser table is an excellent choice.
For premium, high-end badges like those used in luxury hotels or the military, a mechanical machine like the M20 X is preferred for its deep, high-quality, and prestigious engraving.
🔽How can name badges be engraved in batches?
Batch production is possible using both laser and mechanical technologies with large-format tables like the LS900 or ISx000. By utilising Gravostyle™ software, you can manage variable data and nesting. Using a dedicated matrix to hold multiple badges in place allows for seamless serial production, where the machine automatically engraves different names and titles in a single run.
🔽Are there sustainable and eco-friendly options for name badge engraving?
Wooden and paper badges can be more eco-friendly than traditional plastic ones. These organic materials, when engraved with a laser, provide a natural, high-contrast aesthetic that appeals to brands looking to reinforce their commitment to environmental responsibility.
🔽What are the options for creating a multi-colour name badge?
To create a multi-colour badge, you can use standard double-layer materials (like Gravoply™), where the laser or tool removes the top layer to reveal a contrasting colour beneath. For specific branding, Gravotech offers a materials-on-demand service to match your exact colour palette. For more creative designs, you can also assemble different materials, such as wood and acrylic, for a multi-textured look.
🔽What types of materials are commonly used for engraved name badges?
Common materials for engraved name badges include plastics (acrylics), wood, cork, and metals like aluminium or brass. While CO2 laser machines are perfect for organic materials and wood due to the high-contrast finish they produce, mechanical machines are superior for metals like anodised aluminium and brass, which are favored for their durability and premium feel in professional environments.
