Laser perforating results in a cleaner, rounder hole than is possible with conventional perforating machines. Instead of punching through the material with needles (and sometimes causing tears), lasers vaporize the material, leaving little residue or processing artifacts. Different hole sizes can be achieved by varying the laser beam’s spot size or power without incurring extra tooling costs.

Applications for laser perforating include:

• Perforations between sheets of parts for easy separation
• Decorative perforations on greeting cards or print advertisements
• Breathable or modified atmosphere packaging to preserve food content quality
• Venting for rapid filling to reduce waste and spills
• Venting for package compression and palletization, reducing shipping costs and improving shipment stability
• Easy-open tear strips