xTool set to become a familiar sight at festivals with live laser engraving and soundwave keepsakes
Posted on: 16 Sep 2026Festival merchandise is changing, with audiences increasingly looking for something more personal than a standard T-shirt, poster or what have now become the non-existant wristbands/printed tickets with virtually all ticketing through your phone. xTool is helping to drive that change through portable laser technology capable of creating customised products while customers watch.
Catching up with them at the recent Forwards Festival on The Downs in Bristol it was amazing to see how far tech has moved forward in a relatively short time. Attendees were receiving laser engraved memories within seconds, rather than the minutes or even hours that engraved memorabilia might have taken in the past and on top of this a new cool Soundwave QR code was all the rage.
Visitors could record a short message, a cheer, a dedication, a favourite lyric or even the sound of the festival crowd. That recording can then be turned into a digital link, connected to a QR code and engraved onto a physical keepsake. The QR code does not store the recording itself. Instead, scanning it with a smartphone opens the linked audio, allowing the recipient to hear the captured sound again.
A visual representation of the soundwave could also be incorporated into the engraved design, combining the appearance of the recording with a working QR code. It could transform a simple metal card, pendant, keyring or wooden token into a highly personal reminder of the event.
Couples might record a message to one another, families could capture a few seconds of their day together, and groups of friends could preserve the noise and atmosphere surrounding a favourite performance. Artists could also use the technology to link fans directly to an exclusive song, video, thank-you message or piece of bonus content.
xTool’s creative ecosystem already includes tools for producing laser-ready designs and generating QR codes. Its UK range features portable and dual-laser machines capable of working with different materials, alongside larger equipment intended for higher-volume production. The portable xTool F2, for example, combines infrared and diode lasers in a machine designed for mobile customisation. xTool UK
Known for its range of laser cutters, engravers and creative equipment, xTool offers machines designed for everyone from home-based makers to established businesses. Its current range includes the portable F2, which the company describes as being built specifically for mobile customisation and on-the-go businesses.
That portability makes the technology particularly suitable for festivals, concerts, markets and other live events, where artists and traders can create personalised products directly from their stands.
Festival-goers can expect xTool-powered engraving stations to become an increasingly regular feature at events, offering the opportunity to have names, dates, messages, images and designs added to products in a matter of minutes.
Rather than purchasing an item that has been mass-produced in advance, customers can become involved in the creative process. They can select a design, add their own wording and then watch as the laser engraver produces their individual keepsake.
Depending on the machine and material being used, personalisation can be applied to items including metal tags, jewellery, keyrings, wooden products, slate coasters, leather accessories, glassware and festival merchandise.
The technology also creates opportunities for performers, sponsors and event organisers. Artists could offer limited-edition merchandise engraved with a particular venue and date, while festivals could produce personalised VIP gifts, backstage passes, staff awards or sponsor products on site.
For festival traders, the attraction is not limited to novelty. Producing personalised products to order can reduce the need to carry large amounts of finished stock, while giving customers a clear reason to stop, watch and engage.
The engraving process becomes part of the entertainment. People gather around the machine, watch their design being created and are more likely to photograph or film the experience for social media. That combination of personalisation, technology and live demonstration makes it well suited to the festival environment.
There are practical considerations, including safe operation, suitable enclosures, ventilation, power supplies and careful management of customer queues. However, with the correct event setup and trained operators, mobile engraving could provide festivals with an interactive retail experience that feels very different from a conventional merchandise stall.
Personalisation is already becoming an important part of retail, gifting and event merchandise. xTool’s portable technology takes that process out of the workshop and places it directly in front of the customer.
As festivals continue looking for new experiences that are memorable, shareable and capable of generating additional income for traders and organisers, live laser engraving is likely to become an increasingly familiar sight.
From a name engraved onto a festival keepsake to a soundwave and QR code preserving a special moment, xTool technology offers visitors something that cannot simply be taken from a shelf: a product created for them, at the event, while they wait.