GlassPrint Exhibitor List

If I want to wrap up the context, we are operating today in one sentence, I would borrow this one : "Crisis forces commonality of purpose on one another", from the journalist Michelle Dean. As a European glass container sector, we are directly confronted by the multiple crisis of these last years and saw us facing spiralling inflation and energy costs, raw materials shortages, and disruptions to European logistics. Now the war in Ukraine is continuing to dramatically impact energy costs. However, in such a crisis context, as an industry we are at highest production levels of the last decade. This gives us trust and energy to focus on the common purpose to move towards the industry of the future. Michael Delle Selve will bring an overview of how the industry is building today the foundations of the industry of tomorrow.

The primary packaging market is increasingly characterized by complex finishing requirements. Where screen printing or embossing used to be enough, today more and more combinations of different finishing options are being used. Koenig & Bauer Kammann is addressing these market requirements with its hybrid technology. The machines can all be equipped as hybrid machines. Combinations of screen and digital printing, as well as screen printing and hot stamping are common hybrid combinations. In the future, these will be supplemented by laser decoration and labeling. Reliefs, for which complex and expensive glass molds had to be created in the past, are now printed with machines from Koenig & Bauer Kammann. Due to the unique machine design, the most complicated article shapes can be decorated.

To achieve precise screen printing on glass, all the steps that lead to this result have to be repeatable and controlled; starting from the frame preparation until the printing process. For each of these steps there are rules and guidelines to follow, a result of in-depth studies. Saati, manufacturer of meshes, chemicals and CTS to make stencils, will provide details on specific processes, such as the choice of mesh in combination with the right emulsions, tensioning, coating procedure and frame positioning. Cugher, printing machine producer, will explain what controls the machine must have and how they have to be used for adjusting the printing parameters to best use the previously prepared frame, with the aim to obtain the desired result. The combined action between frame and printing machine guarantees long-term process standardisation.

To achieve precise screen printing on glass, all the steps that lead to this result have to be repeatable and controlled; starting from the frame preparation until the printing process. For each of these steps there are rules and guidelines to follow, a result of in-depth studies. Saati, manufacturer of meshes, chemicals and CTS to make stencils, will provide details on specific processes, such as the choice of mesh in combination with the right emulsions, tensioning, coating procedure and frame positioning. Cugher, printing machine producer, will explain what controls the machine must have and how they have to be used for adjusting the printing parameters to best use the previously prepared frame, with the aim to obtain the desired result. The combined action between frame and printing machine guarantees long-term process standardisation.

Decades of inkjet innovation and evolution have yielded an established and trusted technology that is used in a wide variety of applications, including printing on glass. The best industrial inkjet implementations pair system and application requirements with robust, reliable methods for establishing, monitoring and maintaining printhead nozzle health. Meteor, a global leader in electronics, software, tools and services for industrial inkjet will present the state of the art on this topic including factors to consider when selecting the best printhead type for a particular finish or effect on glass as well as the importance of printhead drive waveforms and their impact on print quality.

Functional and industrial screen printing remains very competitive if screen printers follow a few simple rules in screen production. Automation and standardisation in stretching, coating, washing and drying process are indispensable to increase quality and lower costs. CtS direct exposing technology (replacing films) is a MUST as production steps are reduced tremendously and screen quality is increased. Rediscover infinite screen printing possibilities with new and outstanding Screen- and CtS technology. Be prepared for a bright future in screen printing with the perfect screen as the “central instrument” to optimise your process chains and enhance the profit in your printing division.

The presentation will demonstrate how advanced machine technology and new features can improve the screen printing processes and highlight the benefits for different glass products and applications.

The transformation from arc-light-based curing processes to LED-based curing is an ongoing development which comes with several process engineering questions. We would like to discuss certain questions around the usage of LED-based UV curing: From general process parameters like dosage and peak to wavelength-dependent curing parameters like deep curing and absorption. We would like to give a deeper understanding of choosing the appropriate curing solution in terms of process- and machine integration especially when it comes to retrofit older machines.

The glass industry has faced unprecedented challenges over the past three years. The COVID pandemic, was followed by Ukraine war, which brought about an explosion in the cost of natural gas and electricity and seriously challenged the glass industry's security of natural gas supply. Despite the adverse conditions, the industry managed to remain stable, not least because its products are an integral part of everyday life. Whether flat glass, container glass or special glass – glass is an indispensable part of our lives and surprises with ever new applications. There was also enough room for innovation and, finally, the glass industry is embarking on the road to a climate-neutral future.

Today, high-performance glazing in buildings is a net-carbon product. It allows to save energy and CO2 during the operational use and to compensate emissions which occurred during the manufacturing phase. As new buildings become increasingly energy efficient, energy consumption is no longer the only criteria to be considered when evaluating the sustainable performance. For this reason, European flat glass manufacturers are working hard to keep on reducing the CO2 emissions of their installations.

Different hollow glassware applications require expertise and customised solutions. Vibrantz technologies focus on offering cutting-edge solutions which take care on environmental and sustainable demands, while partnering with customers. Introducing its wide array of organic and inorganic decoration materials, Vibrantz will presents its latest developments.

Directly printing onto objects is done not only for decorative but also for functional reasons. We will present to you how direct-to-object printing fulfills the latest market demands. Why do we see printing as a central function and why it will be necessary to focus on that aspect in future? Whether it is sustainability, haptic effects, individualisation, or just because of being that one unique item in a supermarket – we can offer you the solution. Printing is a multifaceted technology that will grow with the challenges it solves in the future.

Directly printing onto objects is done not only for decorative but also for functional reasons. We will present to you how direct-to-object printing fulfills the latest market demands. Why do we see printing as a central function and why it will be necessary to focus on that aspect in future? Whether it is sustainability, haptic effects, individualisation, or just because of being that one unique item in a supermarket – we can offer you the solution. Printing is a multifaceted technology that will grow with the challenges it solves in the future.

With rising energy costs and diminishing fossil fuel supplies it is probably a good time to look at improving your printing processes; a fundamental part of the this process is the curing process. We will look at the various curing technologies, from conventional ARC systems UV LED technology and discuss the many environmental and cost-saving benefits of adopting a more sustainable curing solution.

Digital printing on glassware is an optimal printing method due to its sustainable output, personalisation capabilities and inimitable decoration properties. While digital printing on glassware yields a vibrantly decorated product, there are additional considerations to keep in mind such as pre-treatment methods and the type of ink. This presentation will discuss the requirements around these considerations as well as dive into different digital machine types.