The weakest link in the DPP chain

A QR code on a nameplate sounds like a minor detail. In practice, it is often the most critical point in the entire DPP infrastructure.

The requirements follow directly from the product's service life and operating environment: an industrial pump running for twenty years in a chemical plant demands something fundamentally different from a consumer appliance. The EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 requires the QR code to remain readable for the entire lifetime of the product — and beyond. A faded, abraded, or chemically degraded label is not a minor inconvenience, it breaks traceability and can compromise compliance.

There is also an opportunity that tends to get overlooked. Switching to a robust, standardised labelling process today means every nameplate — including products not yet subject to DPP requirements — can carry a QR code from the outset. The infrastructure is ready when regulatory scope expands to further product categories.

Laser-engraved film instead of stamped aluminium

The default choice for nameplates on batteries and outdoor equipment has long been stamped aluminium — durable and familiar, but cumbersome to produce and mount. Riveting or screwing requires additional process steps, production runs in batches, and any content change means new tooling.

Laser-engraved adhesive films are a compelling alternative. The marking is created by laser ablation of a top coating on a polyester base — no ink, no print that can fade. The result is highly resistant to chemicals and mechanical stress, UL and CSA certified, and lightweight. The label adheres directly to the device without tools, including on substrates with low surface energy, and costs significantly less per unit than a machined or stamped metal plate. Specialised material variants are available for particularly harsh environments — automotive, outdoor, aggressive chemicals.

Together with Sommer GmbH from Freiberg am Neckar, we offer a complete solution that connects physical labelling with the Digital Product Passport.

Content, printing, and approval in one workflow

All nameplate content—product type, manufacturing date, serial number, and QR code—is managed entirely within SecIdent. This ensures every label carries exactly the data assigned to that specific product: batch-accurate, traceable, with no manual transfer errors.

From SecIdent, there are two paths into production. Manufacturers with their own laser equipment can drive it directly via SecIdent's machine integration. Those without, or working with smaller volumes, can engage Sommer through a partner account — including a print approval workflow and batch-accurate label delivery.

This is particularly relevant for manufacturers who have not yet built their own labelling workflow, or for product lines where dedicated equipment is not economically justified.