Production Line VIN Marking Pryor is a leading supplier to the world's automotive industry and specialises in equipment for marking the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) onto car or truck chassis. A typical application, shown with the marking unit clamped onto the underside of the wheel arch while the dot-marking head automatically marks the 19 character VIN number. The information for marking is linked to a central computer system, ensuring full integration with the production system. During marking, the operator is free to carry out other tasks so that production rates are optimised. VIN coding is just one application of Pryor products used in the automotive industry. Component parts used must be easily identified and traceable back to the time and place of manufacture. Pryor products are used throught to satisfy this demand.   Diesel Engine Fly-Wheel Usually marking is performed to permanently identify a workpiece such as serial or VIN numbering, but Pryor design systems for other marking applications. This complete system is integrated into the production line for large diesel engines to mark damped fly-wheels. Fly-Wheels are loaded into the system, picked up and rotated to locate the top of the wheel. Three timing marks are then indented into the edge of the wheel. These timing marks need to be accurately marked because they are eventually used to set the engine correctly.   Motorcycle Forks Standard Pryor products are frequently specified as the basis for customised marking equipment. This 25 tonne powered press has been modifed to accept the rear forks from a motorcycle. Special fixturing, and an engraved fly-mark die (also manufactured by Pryor) together with the modified press provided a complete solution.   Component Marking Many of Pryor's automotive products are used to mark VIN numbers - usually onto complete or nearly complete vehicles. This marking system indents the VIN number into the cowl (front part of the dashboard) before assembly of the complete vehicle. Marking is achieved using an engraved character wheel (similar to daisy-wheel printers) pressed into the metal cowl.