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How lamacoid labels are made: the machine, the laminate and your file

Inside a lamacoid shop: the two-layer laminate, the laser engraving machine that cuts every tag, and how a design in the builder becomes a finished plate the same day.

GuidesSep 26, 20262 min read

On this page

The material: two-ply engraving laminate
The lamacoid machine: a laser engraver
From the builder to the plate
Why a lamacoid label lasts
Common questions

Open the builder

In short

A lamacoid starts as a two-layer laminate: a thin top colour over a contrasting core.
A laser engraving machine removes the top layer to reveal the core as lettering, then cuts the outline and holes.
The builder sends exact geometry, so what you see in the preview is what comes off the machine.

People search for a "lamacoid machine" or a "lamacoid label maker" because they want to know how these tags are made. Here is how we do it in the Burlington shop, from the sheet of laminate to the finished lamacoid label in your hand.

PUMP P-101CHILLED WATER

MCC-1 BKT 4A

The lettering is the core colour showing through, not ink sitting on top.

Need them made? Llamacoids makes custom lamacoids in Burlington, Ontario, with same-day turnaround.

A laser engraving MAIN PANEL MDP-1 into a black lamacoid, the white core showing through

01The material: two-ply engraving laminate

Every lamacoid starts as a 24" × 24" sheet of engraving laminate. The top, or cap, is a thin layer of one colour. Under it is a core of a contrasting colour. That is why lamacoid colours are named background first, letters second: Black/White is a black cap over a white core.

Thickness: 1/16" for most panel tags, 1/8" for a stiffer plate.
Backing: plain, or with an adhesive back already applied.
Colours: dozens of pairs, from Black/White and Red/White to metallic and wood-grain finishes.

02The lamacoid machine: a laser engraver

We engrave on a Trotec Speedy 400 laser. The laser does two jobs in one run:

EngraveA shallow pass removes the cap layer wherever there is lettering or a logo, exposing the core colour underneath.
CutA deeper pass cuts the plate outline, rounded corners and screw holes, so each tag drops out of the sheet finished.

Traditional shops use rotary engravers, where a spinning cutter traces each letter. A laser gives crisp small text, clean edges and the same result on the thousandth tag as the first.

03From the builder to the plate

When you design a tag in the Lamacoid Builder, it keeps the exact geometry: the plate size, the font outlines, the hole positions and the margins. That geometry becomes the production file.

You approve the proofEvery order gets a PDF proof by email first.
Tags are nested onto sheetsTags of the same colour and thickness are packed tightly onto a sheet to use it well.
The laser runs the sheetEngrave, then cut. Each tag carries its own part number so it can be reordered exactly.
Pack and shipSame day from Burlington, by Canada Post or free local pickup.

04Why a lamacoid label lasts

The lettering is the core of the plate showing through, so there is no ink to fade or print to rub off. That is what makes lamacoid labels the standard for panels, equipment and anywhere identification needs to stay put. For the jobs they suit best, see when to use lamacoids.

05Common questions

What machine makes lamacoids?

Today most lamacoids are made on a laser engraver. We use a Trotec Speedy 400. Older shops use rotary engravers with a spinning cutter.

Are lamacoids plastic?

Yes. A lamacoid is made from engraving laminate: a thin coloured cap layer bonded to a core of a contrasting colour. Modern laser engraving laminates are acrylic-based.