{"id":1786,"date":"2021-12-29T11:47:03","date_gmt":"2021-12-29T11:47:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanta.com\/precision-manufacturing\/?post_type=novanta_tech_paper&p=1786"},"modified":"2026-06-26T13:45:39","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T13:45:39","slug":"co2-lasers-for-packaging-what-they-do-why-it-matters","status":"publish","type":"novanta_tech_paper","link":"https:\/\/novanta.com\/precision-manufacturing\/resources\/whitepapers\/co2-lasers-for-packaging-what-they-do-why-it-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"CO2 Lasers For Packaging: What They Do, Why It Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Technical Paper Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CO\u2082 Lasers for Packaging: Five Processes, One Laser<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n


Software, not tooling, decides how fast a packaging line absorbs change.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brand-owner expectations have outpaced what mechanical packaging equipment can keep up with. Short runs. Regional variants. Seasonal artwork. Just-in-time delivery with no minimum order. Each requirement pushes against the changeover cost of die-cutters, embossers, and dedicated tooling. The shift toward digital laser converting isn’t a vendor pitch \u2014 it’s a response to customers who can no longer afford slow changeovers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This technical paper from Novanta Applications Engineer Lauren Knollmeyer explains why CO\u2082 wavelengths pair naturally with packaging materials (paper, paperboard, poly-based plastics, thin films, foils), the five processes one Synrad CO\u2082 laser handles in software, the wavelength-to-material match-up that determines edge quality, and the reliability behind a 10+ year operating lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key takeaways include:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n