The company, well known for its DigiKote and GlassKote applications, is using the flatbed to print full colour, high-resolution images, photographs, logos etc directly onto glass, for a variety of high profile clients in customised applications.
The installation of the Océ 360 XT streamlines the process, adding superior print quality and reducing turnaround time for its printing procedures.
Joe Ross, who heads the company’s printing section at MSG, says the Océ equipment replaces old technology. “We looked at a number of printers but decided the Océ system of using a moving print head over a stable print bed was superior to our previous technology, with a conveyor system moving the panel beneath the stationary print head. This often resulted in jerkiness and movement of the glass panel we were printing.
“It made it very hard to line up jobs correctly, particularly in multi-panel work where a series of matching panels has to be accurate to within a millimetre. There were also quality issues that needed to be resolved, such as banding, density and integrity of colour.
“The Océ printer overcomes all of these challenges, and even speeds up the printing process. What took an hour on our old printer can be accomplished in about eight minutes on the new Océ printer.”
The functionality and aesthetic appeal of glass in domestic and commercial settings means that its use as a building material is always in high demand. The fact that it can now easily be printed it adds to this appeal.
The purchase of the Océ flatbed is enabling MSG to tackle abnormally heavy jobs. The previous printer was unable to manipulate panels of 70kg or heavier under the print heads. As the panels remain stationary on the Océ Arizona 360 XT flatbed, weight is no longer a problem. Says Ross: “This is important when you are dealing with glass, which often involves issues of weight. Laminating two already heavy panels together for instance can give a combined weight of well over 100kgs.”
DigiKote and GlassKote systems involve a special treatment of the glass panels to facilitate high resolution printing, unaffected by the silicon adhesives often used in their applications in commercial and domestic surroundings. So effective is the GlassKote treatment in bonding printing to glass that MSG is able to give a 10 year guarantee.
While the printing division still represents a small percentage of the total work produced by MSG, it is growing and, given the technical proficiency required, constitutes high margin work.
“Our customers include interior designers, architects, commercial shopfitters and even artists,” says Ross. “In the main we work to their designs but we also produce in-house designs if required.”
Typical products requiring print include glass splashbacks in kitchens, bathrooms and laundries, shower walls, domestic and commercial feature walls, door panels, lift interiors and wall dividers
High profile customers include the Melbourne Children’s Hospital where the elevators and the emergency ward are fitted with glass panels decorated with naïve children’s art featuring animals and fish motifs and Tiffany’s in Melbourne with panels highlighting jewellery showcases.
Printing directly onto the glass splashbacks and panels provides a durable permanent finish, superior to film and decals, and virtually eliminates cracking and fading,. The Océ Arizona 360 XT can print on various glass types including flat, textured, tinted and frosted from virtually any artwork.
Joe Ross with a range of colours available to him on the Arizona 360 XT printed on glass
Comment below to have your say on this story.
If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.
Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter
