Harnessing the Power of a Futuristic Construction Material
Glass has a long history as an architectural element, and over time, technological innovations redefined the way people used and related to it. From stained glass panels that served as indicators of social status and wealth to etchings that gave windows and other surfaces undeniable aesthetic appeal, glass has always ventured beyond the functional and into the realm of the artistic. For businesses, these ornate building materials imparted instant class and professionalism to typical retail and commercial settings.
Like many business owners, you may suffer from the misconception that there’s nothing new in the realm of glass technology. Digitally printed glass, however, stands as a testament to the fact that progress is still going strong. Here’s how it works and what it might do for your business.
What Is Digitally Printed Glass?
Classic etching and other glass manufacturing techniques use chemicals, sandblasting and other abrasive methods to create different textures and surfaces on glass panes. Digital printing pushes these concepts into the future by using image reproduction techniques that you might find surprisingly familiar.
Digital glass printing utilizes machines that work similarly to inkjet printers like the ones in your office. Instead of using liquid-based pigments, ceramic frit is digitally jetted onto the surface of the glass, then heat-fused during the tempering process resulting in durable & permanent image embedded within the glass itself.
This new imaging process offers fantastic benefits that were never before possible with glass. Because the process uses ceramic frit, images are UV, fade, and scratch-resistant, and will last for years on any interior or exterior application. The process uses digital files so there are no screens to keep or recreate, no set up or storage charges and images can be easily reproduced at any time. Finally, images can be layered in such a way to have different images on either side of the glass, and images can be easily printed across multiple panels to create large motifs.
The Advantages for Businesses
Why might you install digitally printed glass at your corporate location? Since this substance works anywhere that other forms of glass would, it can inject life into elements like signs, interior and exterior walls, and windows. Digital printing also has the power to:
- Makes great, easily front or back-lit signage for businesses, restaurants and bars
- Requires almost no maintenance and is simple and easy to clean.
- Will heighten the visibility of your brand, logo, slogan or retail theme for boosted advertising power
- Improve the thermal and shade-giving characteristics of windows to minimize building heating and cooling costs,
- Increase privacy in a tasteful fashion
- Make your business stand out from its neighbors.
One of the coolest aspects of printing on glass is that you can work at extremely high resolutions. Whether you’re trying to create a photorealistic facade or redesign your office interior to reflect your corporate culture better, there are no limits to the types of images that you can reproduce with glass.
Since the inks used to print on glass are ceramic, they’re just as robust as glass itself. This means that you can install printed glass in sanitary spaces like healthcare facilities, food service sites and electronics manufacturing plants without adding to your maintenance burdens or risking contamination.
Want to learn more about why rising numbers of companies are making the shift to digitally printed glass? Get informed by visiting us online.