⸺ Trotec Laser Systems · South Africa
Laser-Tested Materials
Built to Perform
Get the complete solution from a single source. Every Trotec material is tested and optimised for clean, repeatable results in Ruby® software, guaranteed to work with your machine.
⸺ Laser-Tested Materials
Engineered To Work Together
Every material in our range is tested and optimised for clean, repeatable results. Each product is labelled with an icon showing which laser source (CO², fiber or diode) is best suited to it.
Acrylics
TroGlass cast and extruded acrylic sheets in clear, opaque, translucent, frosted and mirrored finishes. Perfect for signage, displays, trophies and illuminated signs.
Explore Acrylics →Metals
Laser and mechanical engraving metals in matt or gloss, including pre-treated markable sheets, anodised aluminium and coated metals for high-contrast results.
Explore Metals →Wood
TroWood solid, veneer, plywood and MDF, tested for clean cuts and high-contrast engraving. Available in Premium and Classic lines for every budget.
Explore Wood →Plastics
TroLase micro-surfaced engraving plastics in a wide range of colours, effects and gauges. UV-resistant, impact-modified and suitable for outdoor use.
Explore Plastics →Leather
LaserLeather artificial leather with a smooth surface, ideal for fine lines or larger artwork. A wide range of colours for creative personalised products.
Explore Leather →Foil
TroLase Foil, a 0.2 mm thin UV-stable adhesive foil ideal for high-quality labels, with kiss-cutting support to streamline production.
Explore Foil →Laser Paper
Laser-friendly paper that produces outstanding results when printed, laser cut and engraved. Available in a variety of shades and gsm weights.
Explore Paper →And More
Browse the full range in our South African webshop, each labelled with its suited laser source. Cork, cardboard, glass, ceramics and more.
Visit Shop →⸺ Material Compatibility
What Can You Process?
Switch between laser sources to see what the Speedy series can engrave and cut. Each material in our webshop is labelled with the laser source suited to it.
| Material | Engrave | Cut |
|---|---|---|
| Acrylics | ✓ | – |
| Glass | ✓ | – |
| Plastic sheets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Leather | ✓ | ✓ |
| Metal | – | – |
| Paper | ✓ | ✓ |
| Plastics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stone | ✓ | – |
| Textiles | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wood | ✓ | ✓ |
| Material | Engrave / Mark | Cut |
|---|---|---|
| Acrylics | – | – |
| Glass | – | – |
| Plastic sheets | ✓ | – |
| Leather | ✓ | – |
| Metal | ✓ | – |
| Paper | ✓ | – |
| Plastics | ✓ | – |
| Stone | – | – |
| Textiles | ✓ | – |
| Wood | – | – |
| Material | Engrave | Cut |
|---|---|---|
| Acrylics | – | – |
| Glass | – | – |
| Plastic sheets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Leather | ✓ | ✓ |
| Metal | ✓ | – |
| Paper | ✓ | ✓ |
| Plastics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stone | ✓ | – |
| Textiles | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wood | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ suitable · – not recommended. Compatibility shown for the Speedy series. Speedy 50 is CO² only; Speedy 100 Cross uses a diode source.
⸺ TroGlass Range
Acrylics
TroGlass acrylic sheets offer a wide range of laserable acrylic glass in various colours, grades of transparency and surface properties. Perfectly suited for laser cutting and engraving, they accommodate a wide range of applications, from illuminated signage and display stands to trophies, awards and decorative panels.
Cast vs. extruded acrylic
Cast acrylic: Liquid PMMA poured into moulds and cured. Stress-free, engraves beautifully with a frosted, matte look. Ideal for awards, signage and decorative products.
Extruded acrylic: Pushed through extrusion equipment, giving consistent thickness and a cost-effective option. Perfect for cutting projects requiring smooth, polished edges.
Product groups
- TroGlass Clear Crystal-clear acrylic for polished cuts and professional displays
- TroGlass Color Gloss Glossy engravable sheets in vibrant colours
- TroGlass Satins Satin-finished acrylic for an elegant look
- TroGlass Mirror Mirrored acrylic sheets for creative projects
- TroGlass Duo Cast acrylic with one matte and one glossy side
CO² · Diode · UV Print
Laser & Mechanical Engraving
⸺ TroMetals Range
Metals
Trotec offers metal products for both laser engraving and mechanical engraving. We offer metal for engraving in different colours with matt or gloss surfaces. Some are provided with a special layer for laser engraving; others are particularly suitable for mechanical engraving machines. Pre-treated metal sheets can be laser marked after applying sprays or ceramic pastes.
- Anodised aluminium Available in a wide range of colours for laser engraving
- Coated metals Pre-treated sheets for high-contrast laser marking
- Matt and gloss finishes For different application aesthetics
- Cut to size We can cut, bevel, punch holes and add adhesive backing
⸺ TroWood Range
Wood
Engrave or cut wood panels, plywood, MDF, balsa and many other types of wood. TroWood is laser-processed wood for lasting high-quality interior signage, jewellery, toys and decorative panels. Precisely cut thicknesses up to 20 mm with a laser cutter.
Types of laserable wood
- Solid wood (TroWood Solid Premium) Panels of joined wooden slats with natural grain effects. 5 mm thickness, high-quality standard
- Veneered wood (TroWood Veneer) Thin wood veneers bonded to MDF boards, combining natural looks with stability
- Plywood (TroWood Ply)Multi-layered panels with cross-layered construction for strength and stability
- MDF (TroWood MDF) Smooth, uniform surface ideal for letters, 3D decorations and projects
Wood sourced sustainably in Europe from forests with native trees. All products meet E1 (0.10 ppm) formaldehyde requirements for indoor use.
CO² · Diode · Mechanical
Laser & Mechanical Engraving
⸺ TroLase Range
Plastics
TroLase laserable plastics are specifically designed for high-performance laser and rotary engraving. They have a micro-surfaced coating on a high-quality extruded core, allowing detailed engravings at high production speed. A wide range of colours, effects, gauges and wear characteristics suitable for nearly any application.
How it works
Standard products consist of a core layer and a thin top layer. During engraving, the top layer is removed, revealing the contrasting colour of the core. Made from impact-modified PMMA, which is more resistant to cracking, breaking or deforming under mechanical stress.
- CO² laser All TroLase sheets are developed and tested for CO² use
- Diode laser All sheets marked with a diode symbol are suitable for diode lasers
- Mechanical engraving All sheets marked with a dark blue symbol
- UV-resistant Almost all TroLase sheets are UV-tested and suitable for outdoor use
⸺ LaserLeather
Leather
LaserLeather is the perfect solution for creative heads who want to make outstanding personalised products. It is a high-quality artificial leather with a smooth surface for an excellent touch. The selected colour combinations offer a wide range of use, so that plenty of different decorative and functional applications can be achieved, no matter if fine lines or bigger pictures are required.
- Smooth surface Excellent touch and consistent finish across colours
- Wide colour range For decorative and functional applications
- Fine lines and large artwork No limitations on design complexity
- Personalisation ready Ideal for bags, accessories and branded items
CO² · Diode
⸺ More Materials
Foil, Paper & More
Complete your production workflow with laser-tested foils, papers and specialty materials, all available from the Trotec South Africa webshop.
TroLase Foil
A 0.2 mm thin, flexible laser foil with an adhesive backing, ideal for creating high-quality labels. UV-stable with kiss-cutting support. TroLase Foil is suitable for outdoor use (3+ years). TroLase Security Foil is UV-stable for 10 years, tamper-proof with self-destructive properties.
Shop Foil →LaserPaper
A laser-friendly paper producing outstanding results when printed, laser cut and laser engraved. Available in various shades and gsm weights. Produces real colour effects when engraved, not just darkening. Tested for both diode and CO² laser systems.
Shop Paper →Cork & More
Browse the full range of specialty materials in our webshop, including cork, cardboard, food-safe materials, glass, ceramics and more. Each product is labelled with its suited laser source.
Visit Shop →Ruby® Integration
Every Trotec material comes with pre-tested Ruby® software parameters built in. No trial and error, load your material, select your parameters, and get predictable, professional results every time.
Learn More →⸺ Good To Know
Frequently Asked Questions
Please remove the protective coating before laser or rotary engraving. Before cutting, it is recommended to leave the protective masking in place when performing vector cuts if your application permits. This minimises residue and clean-up efforts.
In Ruby® and JobControl® you will find parameters optimised for quality and for speed. Quality parameter sets are recommended for applications where fine detail and strong contrast is required. Speed parameters are for time-efficiency orientated applications where a reduced degree of engraving detail is acceptable due to production requirements.
Panels should be stored horizontally and flat. The storage location should be dry, weatherproof and indoors, with average temperatures and without large fluctuations in temperature and air humidity. Materials should not be exposed to direct sunlight, as the protective film can become porous if too much heat is generated. Too long storage can also have a negative effect on the protective film.
Any colour deviations between the images shown in the shop and the actual items are due to electronic display or typographical reasons and are not considered mistakes. Depending on the batch, minor dimensional and colour deviations may occur due to production. Wood is a living material and each plate is unique, so a continuous homogeneous surface is not always possible.
Generally, no after-processing is necessary when working with pure acrylic. Avoid cleaners containing alcohol or ammonia. TroGlass is also available in recycled acrylic, where 100% recycled content retains the same characteristics as virgin material, marked with the green "t" for certified sustainability.
Using the bottom up engraving setting in Ruby® or JobControl® minimises the redistribution of colour residue to the core colour. Increasing power in 5% increments can help, and multiple passes might be required, though with TroLase materials one pass generally gives a very good result. A Z-offset of 1 to 2 mm in the range of controlled de-focus allows for a smoother engraving surface with a more intense colour result.
All three are self-adhesive, two-ply laser materials but differ in their characteristics:
TroLase Lights: Indoor use; 0.1 mm super-thin sheets, perfect for stickers, labels and trophy plates.
TroLase Foil: Outdoor use; 0.2 mm sheets with an acrylic core and micro-coated surface, UV-stable for 3 or more years. Ideal for labelling, functional signage and decorative applications.
TroLase Security Foil: Outdoor use; 0.2 mm sheets with an acrylic core, UV-stable for 10 years, heat and chemical resistant. Tamper-proof with self-destructive properties, ideal for preventing unauthorised access and fraud.
Wood is a living material and each plate is unique. A continuous homogeneous surface and uniform appearance is therefore not always possible. Our Premium Line is made from solid wood at 5 mm thickness with a high-quality standard. Our Classic Line is made from the same sustainable wood at 3.5 mm, where natural properties like knots or slight colour variances are permitted, offering the same laser ability, accepting natural imperfections.
The wood for TroWood panels is purchased in Europe from forests that host native trees. Trotec's partners are committed to sustainable forest management beyond mere certifications, actively engaging in regular inspections and ethical sourcing. By prioritising regional suppliers, transportation distances are minimised, reducing carbon footprint and supporting local economies. All products meet E1 (0.10 ppm) formaldehyde requirements and plywood also meets the tighter EN-16516 class E1E05 requirements.
TroPly is made from ABS plastic and is predominantly used with rotary engraving machines. Laser cutting is not recommended because ABS melts rather than vaporises, resulting in poor edge quality and sticky residue that can build up inside the machine and on the laser lens, reducing its effectiveness. There is also a higher risk of fire hazards and dangerous fumes that need to be extracted efficiently. Laser engraving of TroPly is similar in finish to TroLase.
