Laser engraving vs UV print on metal corporate merch in Tbilisi

Name: Merch.com.ge
Address: GE

When fibre-laser engraving is the right decoration for stainless bottles, aluminium pens and brass keyrings, and when UV-LED flatbed print is the right answer for full-colour artwork on coated metal.

Ask for a metal decoration plan Stainless corporate bottle

What the two processes do

Fibre-laser engraving uses a 30W to 50W fibre-laser source to ablate the surface of the metal. The laser beam is focused onto the metal surface through a galvanometer head; the metal absorbs the beam; the surface layer is vaporised; the result is a permanent mark in the metal. The mark is a colour change in the metal itself (stainless steel turns dark grey to black under the laser; aluminium turns white to light grey; brass turns dark brown). The mark is permanent, dishwasher-safe, and cannot be removed without grinding the surface.

UV-LED flatbed print uses a UV-cured ink that is jetted onto the metal surface and cured in place by a UV-LED lamp. The ink sits on top of the metal (or on top of a coating on the metal); the UV lamp cures the ink to a hard finish; the result is a full-colour print that is permanent under normal use but not dishwasher-safe in the same way as a laser mark. The print is durable for indoor merchandise (pens, keyrings, name badges, awards) but degrades under repeated dishwasher cycles or prolonged UV exposure.

The choice between laser and UV print on metal is driven by the artwork (single-colour mark vs full-colour image), the substrate (raw metal vs coated metal) and the use case (everyday dishwasher vs indoor display). For a stainless steel bottle that will be washed in a dishwasher every day, laser is the only durable answer. For a brass name badge that sits on a desk, UV print is the right answer for a full-colour logo. For an aluminium pen that will be carried in a pocket, either is acceptable; laser is more permanent, UV print is more colourful.

Cost, lead time and the production calendar

Laser engraving cost is calculated per mark based on the mark area and the engraving time. A 20mm × 30mm corporate mark on a stainless bottle takes approximately 25 seconds on a 30W fibre laser; the per-bottle cost is roughly GEL 0.50 to 1.50 depending on the artwork complexity. UV print cost is calculated per mark based on the ink coverage and the print-head pass count; a 30mm × 50mm full-colour mark on a coated name badge takes approximately 8 seconds on a UV-LED flatbed; the per-badge cost is roughly GEL 0.80 to 2.50 depending on the colour count.

Laser engraving lead time is 2 to 4 working days for a 500-unit programme. The artwork preparation is a one-time step (file conversion to the laser control software, typically 1 to 2 hours for a simple logo); the setup on the laser is a per-batch step (focus calibration, mark positioning, test mark); the production run is the engraving itself, with each unit loaded onto the rotary fixture, marked, and unloaded. The total per-batch cycle is 30 to 60 seconds for a typical corporate mark.

UV print lead time is 3 to 5 working days for the same programme. The artwork preparation is heavier (colour profile, white-ink underbase if needed, registration marks); the setup on the flatbed is a per-batch step (print-head height calibration, substrate registration); the production run is the print itself with each unit loaded onto the platen, printed, cured under the UV lamp and unloaded. The per-batch cycle is 12 to 25 seconds depending on the print size.

When each process is the right answer

Laser engraving is the right answer for stainless steel, aluminium, brass, copper, anodised aluminium and titanium. The mark is permanent, dishwasher-safe, scratch-resistant and ages well. The colour range is restricted to the natural colour change of the metal under the laser (dark grey on stainless, light grey on aluminium, dark brown on brass), so the artwork is typically single-colour (the natural mark colour against the natural metal colour). For a corporate merch programme that wants the "engraved" look and the durability of a permanent mark, laser is the standard.

UV print is the right answer for coated metal (powder-coated steel, painted aluminium, anodised aluminium with a white base), full-colour logos on metal awards, full-colour name badges and desk accessories, and any application where the artwork cannot be reduced to a single mark colour. The print is durable for indoor use; the colour range is full CMYK plus white; the print head can render photographic-quality images. For a corporate merch programme that wants full-colour artwork on metal, UV print is the right answer.

For a programme that combines both — for example, a stainless bottle with an engraved corporate mark on the front and a UV-printed ingredient or care-instruction label on the back — both processes run on the same bottle, sequentially. The laser mark goes first (it does not require any pre-treatment), then the UV print is applied on a separate station. We run this configuration for hospitality and food-service merchandise where regulatory information has to appear on the product.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more durable on a stainless steel bottle?

Laser engraving. The mark is permanent, dishwasher-safe and scratch-resistant. UV print on stainless steel is durable for hand-washing but degrades under repeated dishwasher cycles.

Which is more colourful?

UV print. Full CMYK plus white, photographic-quality colour range. Laser is restricted to the natural colour change of the metal under the laser.

Can both processes run on the same metal unit?

Yes. We run this configuration for hospitality and food-service merchandise. The laser mark goes first, then the UV print is applied on a separate station.

What file format is required for each process?

Laser accepts vector artwork (AI, EPS, SVG, DXF) or high-resolution raster (PNG, JPG at 600 dpi minimum). UV print accepts the same formats plus CMYK colour-managed PDFs.

Corp-Merch is an independent corporate merchandise producer in Georgia. We are not a partner, sponsor or official supplier of any laser, UV-print or metal-supply vendor, conference, awards body, association or government body named anywhere on merch.com.ge.

Ask for a metal decoration plan

Send the artwork, the metal type, the volume and the use case. A named production lead will reply within one working day with the recommended decoration process and the per-unit cost.