LaserTransferFilm (LTF)

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LaserTransferFilm: A novel, patented, film system for laser marking for use in automobile production

tesa offers to industry a wide spectrum of security technologies for protection against forgery and theft. A novel, patented, film system for laser marking for use in automobile production is going to make life miserable for car thieves. The new LaserTransferFilm (LTF) of acos GmbH, a 100 % affiliate of tesa AG located in Hamburg, offers fast, individual and tamper proof marking of car windows by ultra modern computer supported laser technology.

Every 30 seconds a car is stolen in Europe. In 2003 the “Gesamtverband der Versicherungswirtschaft (GDV)” – (Association of German Insurers) registered 31,707 car thefts in Germany alone. Immobilisers rarely help because many times the original key plays an important role in this kind of offence. Increasingly in the focus of complementary security concepts therefore is the substantial tamper proof marking of car parts. An area in which acos Advanced Converting Solutions GmbH, Hamburg, is technology leader since many years.

The principle of the new LaserTransferFilm is based on a laser supported transfer of markings by means of a self-adhesive film coated with a special pigment. In a first step the LaserTransferFilm is fixed to the window pane. Following that a laser transfers the customer individual or product specific marking to the pane. The innovative laser technology provides a particularly strong pigment anchoring. After removal of the adhesive film the window pane is marked permanently and tamper proof.
Essential advantages of the new acos product in relation to conventional window markings like for example engraving or etching: the substrate is neither stressed mechanically nor are critical chemicals used. Moreover, the markings produced by the new laser technology are also extremely resistant to chemicals, solvents, temperatures and atmospheric exposure.

Decisive for auto makers is furthermore the efficiency of the new technology: besides manual marking the product also permits high speed mechanical marking and can be integrated into automatic manufacturing processes without problems. The new system is already successfully in use for the VW-sedan Phaeton and at Skoda. The VW flagship reached second place in the category of theft protection and safety against burglary for luxury sedans at the British Research and Technology Centre Thatcham. Skoda uses the marking system by acos to mark all windows of the new Octavia models as standard. In 2004 and 2005 the Octavia was voted “Car of the Year” in several European countries.

Various countries in Europe – the United Kingdom amongst others – have already signed into law the marking of windows as theft protection.
Experts assume that there is a market with high growth potential. The number of cars world wide currently amounts to roughly 850 million. In the year 2003 alone 60 million automobile were produced, 42 million of which were passenger cars.