Chassis and VIN plate marking
Garages, assemblers and importers marking chassis codes and vehicle identity numbers where the mark has to survive a lifetime outdoors.
C R O P
M A R K S
Print Machines Spec Sheet
Handheld Metal Marking Machine
Handheld 250W metal marking machine - KSh 160,000 (). Two lithium batteries, 5.8kg, 30 x 120mm marking window. Built for deep, permanent marking on steel and chassis components.
10-14 days
Key specifications
See all 13 specifications
Power
250W
Marking area
30 x 120 mm
Marks
Steel, alloy, chassis plates and rating plates
Marking depth
Adjustable - set it deeper for a chassis plate, lighter for thin sheet
Mark quality
Permanent and physical. It cannot be peeled, washed or wiped off.
The Full Brief
About This Product
This is the machine you see in the field photographs - the one our engravers carry onto sites to mark chassis numbers, machinery plates and heavy tooling where the job cannot move. At 250W it drives deeper into metal than a marking laser does, which is exactly what serialisation and compliance marking demand.
What it costs, and what ships with it
The handheld metal marking machine price in Kenya is KSh 160,000 (), supplied with two lithium batteries so a flat pack never ends a shift. At 5.8kg it is the lightest machine in this class we are willing to sell.
- 30 x 120mm marking window - built for VIN plates, serial strips and rating plates
- Two batteries included - swap and keep working
- Free operator training, as with every machine we supply
- Tested before shipping, delivered countrywide
Who buys it
It suits asset-tagging contractors, garages, fabricators and anyone running compliance marking who is tired of subcontracting it. If you are weighing this against the fiber marker, message us - they solve different problems and we will tell you honestly which one fits your work.
Handheld Metal Marking Machine — full specifications
Every figure we publish, in one place. If something you need to know is missing from this sheet, ask us on WhatsApp and we will find it out rather than guess at it.
Marking performance
- Power
- 250W
- Marking area
- 30 x 120 mm
- Marks
- Steel, alloy, chassis plates and rating plates
- Marking depth
- Adjustable - set it deeper for a chassis plate, lighter for thin sheet
- Mark quality
- Permanent and physical. It cannot be peeled, washed or wiped off.
Handling and power
- Weight
- 5.8 kg
- Power source
- 2 x lithium battery, both included
- Format
- Handheld, battery powered - no air line and no mains cable needed on site
- Battery swap
- Carry both packs and swap mid-shift, so a flat battery never ends the job
What it writes
- Typical marks
- Serial numbers, chassis and VIN codes, part numbers, dates, plant numbers
Supplied by Colorshade
- Type
- Handheld metal marking
- Included
- Free operator training
- Lead time
- 10-14 days
What you get
- The handheld marking unit
- 2 x lithium battery packs
- Battery charger and mains lead
- Marking software, set up before the machine leaves us
- Free hands-on operator training
- A machine that has been powered up and test-marked before it ships
What you can make with it
These are jobs Colorshade runs on this equipment, not a list of things it could theoretically do. Ask us what any one of them pays before you commit.
Machinery and rating plates
Serial numbers, plant numbers and manufacture dates on generators, pumps, compressors and fabricated equipment.
Compliance and traceability marking
Any trade that has to prove which part came from which batch. This is the work most often subcontracted in Kenya, which is why it pays.
Heavy tooling and dies
Fabricators and toolrooms marking dies, jigs and moulds that get handled, oiled and knocked about.
On-site asset marking where the asset cannot move
Transformers, tanks, structural steel and installed plant. The machine goes to the job.
Contract marking as a service
Asset-tagging contractors adding deep marking to what they already offer, instead of turning the job away or subcontracting the margin.
Before you buy
What it costs to run
The price on this page is what you pay once. This is what the machine costs you afterwards — the part most suppliers leave you to find out on your own.
Consumables
No ink, no ribbon, no chemicals. The marking tip is the only part that wears.
Power
Two lithium packs, charged from an ordinary 240V socket. Nothing else is needed on site.
Compressed air
None. There is no air line and no compressor to hire, move or maintain.
Wear parts
The marking tip, replaced periodically depending on how hard the metal is and how deep you mark.
Routine maintenance
Keep it clean and dry, check the cable connections, charge both packs before a site visit.
How it compares to our other machines
The honest comparison, including where another machine is the better buy. Tell us the work you actually have and we will say which one pays for itself faster.
| Machine | From | Power | Marking area | Marks | Weight | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handheld Metal Marking Machine You are here | KSh 160,000 | 250W | 30 x 120 mm | Steel, alloy, chassis plates and rating plates | 5.8 kg | 10-14 days |
| Handheld Fiber Laser Marking Machine | KSh 290,000 | 30W | 100 x 100 mm | Stainless steel, mild steel, aluminium, brass, hard plastics | 6 kg | In stock - same-day delivery countrywide |
| Handheld UV Laser Marking Machine | KSh 420,000 | 5W | 70 x 70 mm | Glass, acrylic, plastics, silicone, PCB, packaging | 7 kg | 7-14 days |
Questions buyers actually ask
Why would I buy this instead of the fiber laser marker?
Depth. The fiber laser writes a fine, fast, permanent mark on the surface, and it is the better machine for logos, QR codes and volume tagging. This one goes physically into the metal, which is what a chassis plate, a rating plate or a compliance mark has to be. If the work is serialisation and identity marking, this is the machine. If it is branding and tagging, the fiber is. Message us with the actual job.
Do I need a compressor or an air line?
No. It runs on the two lithium packs it ships with, which is the point of it - you carry it to a vehicle, a generator or a structural member and mark it where it stands, with nothing else on the truck.
How long does a battery last?
Long enough for site work, and you get two packs precisely so a flat one never ends a shift. Swap and keep going, charge the other from any socket. We will give you the real figure for the current unit when you enquire rather than quote you a number from a brochure.
What metals will it mark?
Steel, alloys, chassis plates and rating plates - the hard, structural things. For marking on glass, acrylic, silicone or PCB you want the handheld UV machine instead, which is a completely different job.
Is 10-14 days the real lead time?
It is what we quote and it is honest - this one is not sitting on our shelf the way the heat presses are. If you need something immediately, say so on WhatsApp and we will tell you what is genuinely in stock rather than let you wait and find out.
Can it mark curved surfaces?
Within reason - it is designed to be brought to the workpiece rather than the other way round, which is most of its value. Send us a photo of the part on WhatsApp before you buy. We would rather tell you it is the wrong machine now than have you find out afterwards.
Do I get training with it?
Yes, free, hands-on, the same as every machine we supply. What the training covers is written up in full - and it is us teaching from machines we run ourselves, not a reseller reading a manual.
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