Wide-format printer specialist swissQprint has introduced a glass printing option for its UV-curing flatbed printers that avoids the need for a priming stage but still supports the usual process and ‘light’ colours, plus white and special effects varnish.
Retrofittable to existing flatbeds from the Swiss manufacturer, the glass option includes a pivoting alignment edge with five steplessly-adjustable horizontal stops for precise positioning of glass panels on the print bed, which is covered by a special protective paper that is air-permeable.
This allows the vacuum to hold down the media, while the paper catches ink printed in the bleed margin, so that the print bed stays clean. For printers fitted with the roll-to-roll option, the operator can advance the paper at the touch of a button, cutting set-up times between jobs.
The inks, which swissQprint says have a less than 40% cost premium over its regular ones, are optimised for adhesion to glass without any pre-coating or bonding agent, thus eliminating an additional process. They can be used with other non-porous substrates, but are not suitable for porous types such as paper or board. The clear ink can be used to create partially frosted glass or gloss effects.
The company expects that the option will only be taken by specialist glass printers serving architectural, retail and related clients and does not recommend switching between ink sets; if a change in application requires one, a qualified technician can carry out the process.
