We recently received an on-site demonstration video from one of our long-term clients—a large-scale metal hardware manufacturer based in China. Despite its domestic location, this manufacturer has established a robust international presence, supplying hardware parts such as nuts, studs, and fasteners to a wide range of industries around the world. Their production capabilities are both extensive and diversified, requiring reliable, efficient, and high-throughput marking solutions.

Over the past few years, this customer has purchased more than ten of our pneumatic dot peen marking machines, delivered in several batches. These include standalone marking units as well as fully customized automated systems. One notable system delivered last year is a fully automated pneumatic dot peen marking machine specifically designed for marking hexagonal nuts. The system integrates an inclined loading rail for automatic feeding and a cylinder ejector mechanism that pushes the nuts into place. A pneumatic clamping fixture is used to secure each nut firmly, ensuring that the marking process is both precise and repeatable.

This automated system has been operating with high stability and performance, greatly reducing the need for manual handling and increasing marking efficiency. By streamlining the marking process, the customer has improved both production speed and consistency in product identification, which is essential for traceability and quality control.

Additionally, last year, we also designed and manufactured a similar automated dot peen marking system for another hardware producer. That particular system was built for marking steel rods. It employed a tilted rail and a pneumatic cylinder ejector to automatically feed and position the rods for top-side marking. The marking head then applied a precise dot peen engraving on the top surface of the bar in a fixed and aligned position.

Currently, the same Chinese customer is using our machines to mark metal studs. However, due to the nature of the studs—especially their varying diameters—automatic positioning remains a challenge. At this stage, these components must still be manually loaded and aligned before marking. While hexagonal screws of different sizes can be easily positioned by adjusting the angle of the tilting guide rails and the cylinder-based clamping system, the same approach does not work as effectively for round studs. The inconsistency in size and shape makes automatic cutting and feeding more complex and less reliable.

To address this, the customer reached out to us again—this time sharing a video showcasing the operational success of the nut-marking system and expressing a strong interest in upgrading the marking process for other hardware components like studs. They have communicated their intention to achieve full automation in stud marking and hope to eliminate the manual steps currently required.

In response, our technical engineering team has already begun coordinating with the customer. We are analyzing the dimensions and characteristics of their stud products, aiming to design new custom loading and clamping mechanisms tailored to these specific components. The goal is to deliver an advanced automation solution that replicates the efficiency and accuracy achieved with nut marking.

This case highlights not only our capability in developing fully customized automated marking systems, but also our commitment to long-term customer partnerships and continuous product improvement. Whether it’s nuts, bolts, studs, or other irregular hardware components, we provide tailored, high-efficiency pneumatic dot peen marking machines designed to integrate seamlessly into your production line.

If you have similar marking needs or are looking to upgrade your current hardware marking process, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team is ready to deliver a cost-effective, automated solution customized for your specific application.