case study

Marking on telecom worksites: how can operators’ work be made easier?

Marking constraints in outdoor conditions on a telecom worksite

The customer, a player in the telecommunications sector and fiber optics in Canada, performs the marking of its identification plates directly on site, outdoors. This setup creates constraints that standard portable marking solutions cannot always address effectively.

Four main issues were identified:

• The use of a portable marking system required a specific positioning jig, which was not available in the original configuration.
• The machine required a flat support surface, which is difficult to guarantee in a worksite environment.
• As the operations were carried out outdoors, the stability of the device during dot peen marking could not be ensured without a suitable support.
• Transporting and handling the equipment between worksite areas generated additional non-productive time and increased the risk of incorrect handling.

The objective was not to replace the marking technology, but to adapt its tooling to enable reliable use under variable field conditions.

Image showing the previous marking method.

e-MARK XL solution with custom front panel and tag locking system

SIC MARKING proposed integrating a custom front panel onto the e-MARK XL portable marker. This adaptation, developed as an addition to a standard hardware base, directly addresses the customer’s operational requirements without requiring a complete machine development.

Technical characteristics of the solution:

• An adapted front panel incorporating dedicated positioning for the identification plates, with fixed dimensions corresponding to the format used by the customer.
• A tag locking system that holds the plate in position throughout the marking process, without requiring continuous manual support from the operator.
• A design compatible with use in outdoor environments, without imposing a flat surface constraint on the operator.
• Dot peen technology, suited to marking alphanumeric text on plastic / polymer with a readable and durable result.

Fewer constraints and smoother field operations

The implementation of the custom front panel with tag locking system delivered directly measurable improvements in operator working conditions.

• Removal of the flat surface constraint: marking can now be carried out without looking for a support surface, regardless of the worksite configuration.
• Reduced manual holding time: the tag locking system holds the plate in position without continuous operator intervention during the marking cycle.
• Reduced risk of incorrect handling: controlled positioning of the plate reduces marking errors caused by accidental movement of the part.
• Maintained ease of use: the solution remains a portable tool, suited to all types of worksite environments, with no installation complexity.

By combining proven standard equipment with tooling specifically designed for the customer’s context, SIC MARKING provided a proportionate response to field constraints without adding complexity to operational procedures.