The sixth GlassPrint 2015 conference and exhibition was staged in November and presented the latest decoration trends and developments to the international audience that gathered in Düsseldorf, Germany, with many attendees hailing it as the best in the GlassPrint series yet.
A record attendance of approximately 200 glassmakers, glass decorators, end-users and suppliers visited from 26 different countries, not only from throughout mainland Europe and United Kingdom but also from long distance destinations such as Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Kuwait and USA.
The two-day programme provided delegates with a series of technical conference presentations and networking opportunities to discover the latest advanced technologies for printing onto architectural, automotive and hollow glass with digital and screen applications.
Five additional keynote addresses were made, covering the flat and hollow sectors. Adeline Farrelly, Secretary General of FEVE outlined competitiveness, challenges and opportunities for the European glass packaging industry, while Cédric Janssens, Public Affairs Advisor at Glass for Europe, presented “EU policy reform on energy efficiency in buildings”. Later, Timo Feuerbach of VDMA Glass Technology Forum reflected on equipment manufacturers’ view on Glass Industry 4.0.
Birgit Horn, project director at Messe Düsseldorf, on behalf of Bundesverband Glasindustrie e.V., examined the current situation and trends in the German glass industry, as well as providing an update on glasstec 2016. In recognition of its importance on the global glass events calendar, GlassPrint 2015 was powered by glasstec.
For the first time, a GlassPrint LIVE panel discussion was added to the programme, with a specially selected panel of glass decoration experts answering questions from the audience about topical issues. Representing key hollow and flat glass manufacturers, decorators and brand owners, panelists included: Simone Baratta (R&D and Innovation Manager at Bormioli Luigi), Olivier Dangmann (Innovation Manager – O-I Europe), Alvise Cavallari (Packaging Innovation Manager at Nestlé), Martin Hehl-Heinz (Technical Director R&D at Sahm) and Carsten Schwabe (Global Innovation & New Business for Flat Glass at Schott).
Technical experts who work for various companies in the glass decoration sector have delivered an expanded series of presentations demonstrating processes and ideas to add extra value to the end product.
The conference programme was supported by intervals dedicated to the accompanying sold-out tabletop exhibition area, and at the end of the first day delegates benefited from networking with their peers and suppliers during an evening dinner.
Exhibitors who displayed the latest developments in inks, pre-press technology, printing equipment and supplies included: Canon, Curvink, Dr. Hönle, Durst, Encres Dubuit, ESC, ESMA, Fermac, FERRO, Gallus Ferd Rüesch, Glass Global, Glass Worldwide, glasstec / Messe Düsseldorf, Global Inkjet Systems, Grünig-Interscreen, Integration Technology, Isimat, KBA-Kammann, Kiwo (Kissel + Wolf), LPKF Solar Equipment, Machines Dubuit, Marabu, Ormo Print / University of Munich, Peyer Graphic, Pröll, Ruco, Sefar, SignTronic, Specialist Printing Worldwide, SRS, Sun Chemical, Tecno 5, Tiger Coatings, Till, Tiflex and Uviterno.
GlassPrint was jointly organised by Chameleon Business Media, publisher of “Glass Worldwide” and “Specialist Printing Worldwide” magazines, and ESMA, the European association for specialist printing manufacturers of screen, digital and flexo technology. As well as being powered by glasstec, GlassPrint 2015 was also sponsored by Deutsche Glastechnische Gesellschaft (DGG), glassglobal.com, GPD, SGCDpro and the SGIA.
After confirming its status as Europe’s leading event for glass decoration, the organisers are already planning to repeat GlassPrint in 2017; details on the location and dates will appear in ESMA newsletters, future issues of “Glass Worldwide” and you can register your interest at www.glassprint.org. The March/April 2016 issue of “Glass Worldwide” will include the “Annual ESMA Glass Publication 2016”, a unique guide to glass decoration. To subscribe, visit www.glassworldwide.co.ukglass