Gravotech Engraving Machines & Marking Equipment
Picking the wrong engraving machine is an expensive mistake, especially when compliance marking, traceability, and uptime are on the line. Since 1976, we've been helping operations and procurement teams get it right.
Big City Manufacturing carries the full Gravotech engraving machine lineup, along with the software and support to put it to work. Our equipment handles everything from small batch identification to high-volume industrial marking.
If you're in the market for a Gravotech engraving station, we need to talk.
Equipment Overview
The Gravotech catalog we carry breaks into three families:
- Laser tables (LS900 and LS100/LS100EX) cover CO2, fiber, and dual-source configurations for cutting and marking on metals, plastics, wood, and coated materials.
- CNC stations (IS200 and IS400) are built for small part traceability, light milling, and signage, with the IS400 Volume option handling larger objects.
- Rotary engraving stations (M20 and M40) are the workhorses for tags, plates, and signage, with the M20 being the best-selling rotary engraver in the lineup.
Gravotech vs. Gravograph
If you've been searching one name and finding the other, you're not losing your mind. Gravograph and Technifor were unified under the single Gravotech brand name in 2020/2021. Same machines, same heritage going back to 1938, just one brand on the box now. Older equipment and catalogs may still carry the Gravograph label.
Industry Applications
Gravotech marking equipment shows up in several different industries, including:
- Aerospace and Defense: compliance tags, UID marking
- Automotive: part marking and serial numbers
- Industrial Manufacturing: data matrix codes, batch traceability
- Electrical and Signage Shops: panel labels, safety signs
- Utilities and telecom: pole and equipment tags
- Lifting and Inspection Companies: marking elevator, scissor lift, and chain sling tags
Specifications and Technical Details
The LS900 offers up to a 24" x 24" marking area with CO2 power options from 40W to 80W and fiber from 20W to 50W, plus a 9.84" of Z-axis travel for bulky parts. The compact M20 rotary station weighs just 26 lbs but spins at 19,800 RPM, with point-and-shoot positioning and Bluetooth connectivity. Every machine runs on Gravotech's proprietary GravoStyle software, which handles 1D and 2D codes, Unicode text, and supports our Gravoply, Metallex, and Gravoglas materials for surface or reverse engraving.
Big City Has Your Gravotech Engraving Machine
Tell us about the parts you need to mark and the volume you're running, and we'll walk you through which Gravotech engraving station fits the job. Request a quote, and let's get started!
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose a CO2, fiber, or dual-source laser for marking metal tags?
Fiber lasers are the right answer for permanent marking on bare metals like stainless steel, aluminum, and brass. They produce dark, contrasty marks that survive abrasion and don't require any pretreatment. CO2 lasers handle organics, plastics, coated metals, and anodized aluminum, but they won't directly mark bare metal without a marking compound. The LS900 Edge configuration gives you both sources in one machine, which is the practical pick if your job mix swings between metal traceability and plastic signage.
Which Gravotech machine handles small data matrix codes for part traceability?
For sub-millimeter 2D codes on small parts, the IS200 CNC station and the LS100EX laser are both engineered for that work. The IS200 is compact and portable enough for mobile QC stations, while the LS100EX in its fiber configuration gives you laser precision for codes that need to remain readable after heat treatment, paint, or wear. GravoStyle generates GS1, UID, Code 128, and QR codes natively, so you're not stitching together a separate code generator.
How steep is the learning curve on GravoStyle software?
For an operator with basic CAD or vector graphics experience, most operators can be running production jobs within their first few days on the software. The interface was redesigned in version 9 to be more approachable, and features like automatic nesting, batch import, and the matrix mode for variable data tags handle a lot of the heavy lifting. Big City offers training support to get your team productive faster, especially on the variable-data and traceability workflows.
What's the typical lead time on a Gravotech engraving machine?
Lead times vary by machine, configuration, and current availability, so we recommend reaching out early in your planning cycle. Custom laser source configurations or larger industrial setups can take longer than standard models. We'll confirm timing on your specific configuration, along with accessories, software licensing, and training options, when you request a quote.
