Vitrum: Trends, technology and added value with lasers

Question:
Dr Thomas Rainer, the Vitrum fair will take place in Milan soon. Why would you recommend visiting Vitrum?

Dr Rainer:
Vitrum is a very special trade fair and worth a visit for two reasons. On the one hand, you can experience the Italian flair and lifestyle. On the other hand, Milan always has innovations, trends and things to discover. In our industry, it is one of the biggest trade fairs and an opportunity to present new developments directly to a professional audience and get their reactions straight away. Visitors can be inspired – and you always end up going home with at least one great idea. 

Question:
Laser processing and creating functionalities plays a key role with you. What’s behind it?

Dr Rainer:
Laser processing opens up completely new possibilities for finishing glass. There’s hardly any product out there like glass, which can be upgraded in value with such little effort. For example, standard glass can be improved with functions such as bird protection, RF-transparency or even heatability. A bird protection pattern can either be added directly in production or applied retroactively with a laser printing process. This pattern fulfils three functions at once: it prevents collisions by showing the bird that there is a barrier, it interrupts reflections – of trees and bushes, for example – and also creates a reflection that is only visible to the animal.

Question:
How does laser treatment affect glass quality?

Dr Rainer:
The glass surface remains completely undamaged. We transfer ceramic particles for the bird protection pattern onto the glass. These particles are particularly resistant, weatherproof and keep their colour for at least 20 years. This makes them a long-lasting and high-quality finishing treatment. Layer removal or conversion generates many other functions.

Question:
Which new technologies will you present at the fair?

Dr Rainer:
One highlight is our laser edge decoating. Here, the coating is removed with the highest optical quality without damaging the glass surface. We are also presenting the “UC-Stamp line” for the first time. It was developed by our laser experts in Halle and is an extremely simple entry point into laser marking. Its light weight and compact design makes it very easy to use.

HEGLA boraident will exhibit at Vitrum in Hall 9 at Stand 21. We look forward to many interesting conversations and showcasing our innovations in person.

HEGLA boraident GmbH & Co. KG
37688 Beverungen, Germany

Carsten Koch

Tel.: + 49 (0) 52 73 / 9 05 - 121
E-Mail: carsten.koch(at)hegla.de