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Image shows a relief print on glass as an example of the application of the innovative inject printing process by Marabu and Koenig & Bauer.© Koenig & Bauer

The Inkjet Innovation - Relief Printing on Glass

The manufacturing process of haptically elaborately decorated glass involves many preliminary printing stages and a high energy input by the glassworks. Small series have been very expensive until now, as they are otherwise not profitable. This is because a separate mould has to be made for each glass object with haptic decoration. Production is time-consuming and requires a correspondingly high level of planning. Objects produced in this way go through the so-called embossing process. Embossing is not the right process for trendy individualised glass products, such as those currently in high demand in the perfumery and beverage industries by winegrowers' cooperatives, spirits producers and breweries.

Marabu and Koenig & Bauer now offer an innovative solution for this using the inkjet printing process on glass. Individualised glass bodies of all kinds can be produced using the direct printing process, from single pieces to large industrial quantities. There is no loss of quality whatsoever. The sharpness of the contours far exceeds that of classically produced embossing forms. With a precise application of varnish or ink, the finest haptic structures are applied in a single pass on the Koenig & Bauer printing systems of the KAMMANN K15 and K20 machine families and hardened accordingly. Large-area print runs are also possible, as desired for brand logos, for example. In addition to haptic effects, combinations with coloured elements are also possible, so that haptic effects can be combined with visual effects. All printing stages are fully integrated in the systems. Servo-motor movements of the object to be printed, as well as of the printing unit itself, enable the unwinding and decoration of any glass shapes.

 

The demand for personalised and individualised articles is growing. The trend can be observed in many areas: Packaging, games, in the fashion industry as well as in household goods and everyday items. As demand grows, so does the increased willingness to spend more money on personalised items.  The trend continues to move towards highly attractive designs, which should be quick and inexpensive to realise and meet high quality standards.

This is where glass finishing comes into focus: With the jointly developed innovative and pioneering finishing process for glass applications, the cooperation partners Koenig & Bauer and Marabu provide the glass industry with a unique process that also makes individualisation possible in the field of glass finishing in a unique way.

 

 

The Mara Shape DUV-HBV High-Built Varnish is a varnish specially developed for the decoration of haptic structural effects, especially on glass. The precise printing enables intricate and very noble-looking designs on glass bodies, in the form of a flacon, drinking glass or beverage bottle. Depending on the number of layers of lacquer applied, the lacquer application can be flexibly realised according to the customer's individual requirements. The use of the precision lacquer enables the individual and personalised haptic decoration of glasses without the need for elaborate moulds as used in the embossing process. The product advantages are extensive: outstanding contour sharpness, application of the finest structures and dots, realisation of coloured and transparent motifs, printing of convex and concave shapes as well as quick and easy adjustments during printing. The unit costs are independent of the printed quantity. The selected glass form can be used for countless designs during a single printing process. There is no minimum order quantity and no need to produce different glass forms. The precision lacquer meets the given requirements for dishwasher resistance: 500 cycles in industrial dishwashers and 50 cycles in household appliances. In terms of recyclability, the lacquer also scores points: applied to a glass body, it oxidises in the glass melt without leaving any residue.

 

With Mara Shape DUV-HBV High-Built Varnish, Marabu is setting new standards.
 

The advantages of the innovation for glass applications at a glance:

  • Outstanding contour sharpness
  • Fine contours and dots can be reproduced
  • Coloured and haptic effects
  • Convex and concave shapes printable
  • Quick and easy adjustments

Individualisation up to batch size 1

  • Scalable with identical unit costs
  • One glass mould for countless designs
  • Ultimate flexibility for repeat orders
  • No minimum order quantity for commissioned glass moulds

Dishwasher resistance

  • The final product meets the given requirements for dishwasher resistance (500 cycles industry; 50 cycles household).

Low maintenance

  • Filigree contours are printed, thus reducing the maintenance effort of the glass form

Recyclability

  • In the melt, the lacquer oxidises without leaving any residue

     

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