Page 61 - Glass-Technology International no. 4-2019
P. 61
Digital glass printing using ceramic inks
is an important business opportunity, but
IGITAL GLASS for granted that printing
also a technical challenge for furnace PRINTING - takes place correctly, that
DREADY FOR THE grinding operations on the
glass have been carried out
manufacturers. In this article we speak NEXT CHALLENGE? correctly, and that colour is
Digital printing on glass completely dry, this means
to Mappi about these challenges and using ceramic ink is an that tempering (i.e. the mo-
significant business oppor- ment in which the ‘destiny’
how the company is working not only to tunity that has been giving of coloured glass is fixed
glassworks a series of im- with ceramic inks) presents
face them, but also to overcome them. portant possibilities con- important risks from a tech-
cerning both aesthetics and nical point of view.
technical aspects. The glass
sector is always looking for SPEAKING
innovations to attract archi- TO A LEADER
tects and designers in using IN ITS SECTOR
glass more and more and We spoke to Sergio
now this important material Cosano, Sales Manager at
can do exactly this. Thanks Mappi, one of the global
to digital printing, this also leaders for tempering fur-
become a great business naces, to find out which are
opportunity. This, in turn, these technological chal-
leads to highly customiza- lenges and how to deal with
ble products with technical them.
and aesthetical features The ‘burning’ of ink or
that were not even thought changes in colour tone are
of until just a few years ago. due to incorrect tempera-
ture management during
NEW CHALLENGES, tempering, when variations
NEW TECHNOLOGIES, of just a few degrees can
NEW LEVELS OF cause permanent damages.
QUALITY So how can we avoid these
In this sector, new tech- risks?
nologies often lead to new The use of quality inks and
challenges which then lead technologically advanced
to a new way of defining printers are certainly the
colour and quality of glass fundamental basis of the
in all its forms. process, guaranteeing con-
Every slight imperfection, stant technical/chemical
every stain, burn, smudge, characteristics. New prod-
error in colouring will re- ucts with furnace reheat-
main etched forever in the ing chamber and very small
glass due to the crystal- metal masses inside cer-
lization of the ceramic ink tainly have enabled us here
on hardening, an essential at Mappi to have punctual
phase regarding printing control of the tempera-
with ceramic inks. These tures with truly direct ir-
are defects that cannot be radiation, strengthened by
tolerated in products with an evolved system of heat-
Santa Monica parking high added value. Taking ing resistances such as the
Glass-Technology International 4/2019 59
