May 18, 2023
Digital printing in glass has become an industry standard, enabling companies to provide high-resolution images in a shorter timeframe. The method is now considered complementary to the traditional silk-screening, typically used for high volume glass production, such as industrial, large panel glass applications.
“Digital printing is here to stay,” says Stephen Balik, vice president of Secaucus, N.J., based General Glass International (GGI). The company fabricates and distributes architectural glass and provides direct-to-glass digital ceramic printing. GGI was the first company in the U.S. to offer digital printing when it purchased a Dip-Tech digital glass printer in 2008.
Digital printing on glass is akin to printing on paper. It starts with software that guide nozzles spraying ceramic frit-based inks. This method allows elevated temperatures to meld the ink directly into to the glass. The meticulous and permanent process accounts for its widespread use in different glass applications.