Colour Design by means of Laser

An entirely new laser process for creating colour designs on glass attracted a great deal of attention at glasstec 2008.

Fleischle Siebdruckmaschinen (silkscreen printing machines), since late September 2008 part of Steinemann Technology AG in Switzerland, spoke before the world's leading glass industry trade fair of a world premier. Meanwhile the long-established company has been renamed as Steinemann Coating GmbH. The world-renowned Fleischle brand will, however, still be used.

The new, patent-pending laser process presented at glasstec is seen by the company as an alternative and an addition to conventional silkscreen printing, especially for the production of individual units and small series. The new technology offers a broad spectrum of design possibilities. According to company statements, the laser beam can burn logos, pictures or figures out of ink that has been applied to the entire sheet of glass.

Simple process

According to a press release regarding the new technology, the process combines the advantages of silkscreen printing with those of laser marking. During the ablation process, the dried organic or ceramic ink is on the backside of the glass. The ink is pulverised and thus removed where the laser hits it, without damaging the glass. Fleischle/Steinemann explain that this allows the quick, simple and cost-effective creation of logos, pictures or figures on the glass.

Ablation of ceramic ink

The new technology also allows glass ablation with special laser-capable ceramic ink. First either the entire surface of the glass or the area receiving the design is coated. The ink dries in just a few minutes at depending upon the room temperature. Then the laser ablates the desired motifs and text, ensuring a lasting bond between the ink and the glass. The remaining, non-ablated ink can be easily removed with water.

Quick, accurate colouring

The new laser process offers, in Fleischle/Steinemann's assessment, numerous advantages that silkscreen printing simply cannot offer. Colour designs, for example, are significantly less costly with laser than with silkscreen, since templates and screens — as well as their transport, care and cleaning — are not necessary. This translates into short setup times and an accelerated printing process on the whole. The process runs autonomously and fully automatically once it is programmed on the PC, which saves personnel and virtually eliminates errors. The new technology also allows multicoloured motifs to be "printed", which line up precisely and without mismatch. www.fleischle.com