In the past decades, numerous transformations have occurred across various industries, including automotive, architectural, and home appliances. Let’s explore the evolution of home appliances, which has influenced industrial processes to create a more modern look and feel.
When it comes to refrigerator designs, the shift from traditional metal panels to elegant glass surfaces has significantly impacted the industry. Glass provides a sense of luxury and durability. The key question now is how these beautiful designs are printed on the flat glass panels used in home appliances. The answer is simple! They are printed via an inkjet printer or digital printer or sometimes screen printed. Moreover, to attach these glasses to the metallic body of the appliance, they are back coated with the inks for proper surface tension and adhesion.
Nevertheless, several challenges arise in digitally printing on glass. A major issue is the inability to directly print digital inks onto the glass surface. Furthermore, direct printing causes a loss of dot gain. To address this, Spinks Lacquers are used as a primer on the glass before digital printing. These lacquers ensure proper dot gain and maintain the necessary surface tension for the digital ink to adhere properly, also protecting the inks from fading. Additionally, lacquers infused with glitter are used to give printed designs a radiant glow. Before applying lacquers, mirror silver-effect printing inks and other colors are used for logo printing to ensure precise and attractive branding.
Additionally, it is common practice to apply a digital white back coat to increase the opacity of the digital print. However, this increases the cost of the digital inks and compromises the surface tension required for PU insulation and tape adhesion during the glass-to-frame bonding process. To address this issue, Spinks screen printing opaque white inks are used for the back coats. This solution not only reduces the consumption and cost of digital inks but also enhances the opacity, durability, vibrancy, and surface tension (>42 dynes) of the glass.
Spinks’s flat glass printing solutions cater to every aspect of the printing process. Our mirror silver-effect inks can be used to print logos. Spinks world’s lacquers and glitters for flat glass panels are used to enhance the adhesive properties of glass. Our color-matching services ensure that printed designs meet our clients’ exact specifications, and with suppliers located in India, we provide quick access and support. Our printing inks on glass exhibit exceptional adhesion properties on float, or flat glass surfaces, ensuring durability and longevity, and they also serve as effective insulators in home appliances. Our inks offer fast drying times and high durability and also comply with European standards REACH, ROHS, and EN-71-3.
Through meticulous attention to detail and innovative solutions, Spinks World facilitates the seamless printing of vibrant and durable designs on flat glass panels, meeting the diverse needs of the home appliance industry.
If you want more information about the glass printing process, from surface preparation and ink application to curing and finishing, we can offer detailed explanations of the techniques and technologies involved in achieving exceptional results in glass printing.
FAQs
1. What is the need for glass instead of traditional metal panels in fridge doors?
Ans: Glass fridge doors offer a luxurious aesthetic and enable intricate digital prints, which are difficult to achieve on metal panels.
2. What kind of glass is used in refrigerator glass doors?
Ans: Toughened flat Glass.
3. How is the fridge glass different from the regular glass?
Ans: It’s toughened, ensuring it will not break or shatter easily.
4. Why is the refrigerator glass door printed?
Ans: Open kitchens are a rage, and glass door fridges are the perfect fit! They look more beautiful, shiny, modern and easy to clean.
5. How is this refrigerator glass printed?
Ans: This refrigerator glass is printed using two methods:
- Digital printing: This method adds intricate designs or patterns to the glass, enhancing its luxurious appearance.
- Screen printing: Screen printing is used to apply prints that adhere to the frame of the fridge, ensuring seamless integration of the glass panel.
6. What are the printing methods?
Ans: Glass panels for refrigerators, microwave ovens, and washing machines are printed using two methods. The first method usually involves the combination of digital printing and screen printing, and the second method is just the screen printing for printing on the toughened refrigerator glass panels.
7. How can Spinks World help in printing flat glass panels?
Ans: We provide Glass inks that are highly opaque, and glossy, and also pass the various test as per industrial standards such as dyne test, cross-hatch test, hot and cold water annealing test, boiling water test etc.
8. What sets Spinks World apart from others?
Ans: Spinks World stands out for its expertise in printing on glass, offering unique solutions for branding, and decor. Our advanced techniques ensure durable, high-quality prints, transforming glass surfaces into visually striking works of art. Clients benefit from innovative and long-lasting printed glass solutions, setting Spinks World apart from traditional printing companies.
9. What is the benefit of working with Spinks World for this requirement?
Ans: Spinks World is a one-stop destination for all things related to the glass industry! Offering a comprehensive range of products, such as
- Mirror silver for logo printing,
- Vibrant UV digital inks,
- Lacquers,
- High opacity inks,
- Pantone colors,
- Screens,
- Frames,
- Squeegees,
- Cleaners, and
- UV digital printing machines
we are dedicated to providing all the solutions for various needs within the glass industry.
10. What are the challenges in printing on flat/float glass?
Ans: The primary challenges include bubble and pinhole formation, surface tension failure, accelerated ink drying, screen choking, lack of bonding with digital ink, ink cracking during foaming, printing irregularities, and color variations resulting from manual processes.
Contact us for a deeper understanding.
