Decorative glass comes in all shapes,sizes,colors,textures,patterns and styles.And for those glasstec attendees on the search for these eye-catching displays,they don't have to look far.Something decorative can be found in just about every hall.Exhibitors this year are showcasing a number of recent decorative innovations that can give architectural applications an attention-grabbing effect.
Decorative glass,from colors to prints,such as these examples in the glass technology live pavilion,has a prominent presence at glasstec 2012.Photo:Messe Duesseldorf,Constanze Tillmann
The Paul Wissmach Glass Co.Inc.is showing the wide range of colors and textures possible with its glass products.Mark Feldmeier,president,said this is also the first glasstec show where they are featuring their temperable art glass line,which was launched last year.
"We're continually focusing on new products,"he said,adding that this year marks his company's tenth at glasstec.
"This show is a chance to see our global customers and develop new markets,"he added.
Speaking of colors,ICD High Performance Coatings also launched a new coating option.Called CeramiGlass,the coating can be cured in high temperatures and was created with VOCs or heavy metals.
"After curing it can be processed and then tempered,"said Tomek Wierzchowski,who provides technical service for ICD."It can also be laminated after drying."
A number of colors,such as white,black,green,yellow and red are available and others are being developed.
Color offerings are also on display by Trosifol,which is featuring PVB options for laminated glass.The two newest colors for the company are a 30-gauge completely opaque black and a 30-gauge completely opaque white.According to Christian Amad,director,these are already being stocked and sold.
While North America compared to Europe typically does not use as much laminated glass,Amad says he has seen growing interest.
"We've seen more interest in the United States with custom glass,different thicknesses,etc."he said,explaining that much of that interest is coming from the value-added benefits that laminated glass can offer."We're continuing to see companies start up laminated lines,"he added,"even in challenging markets."
While glass companies are featuring examples of digitally printed glass,machinery companies are busy demonstrating the lines used to create these displays.
Shlomit Niva Tevet,director of marketing for dipTech,said they were seeing much traffic in the booth as interest has been growing around the world.She said more and more companies are purchasing the line as digital printing can provide so much creative design freedom.Her company debuted two new inks,a conductive product that runs electricity to the installation as a well as a skid-resistant ink for applications such as flooring,walkways and stairs.
