DIGITAL PRINTING ON PVC WINDOWS

First serial production of Digitally Printed PVC Windows

The world of window production is witnessing exciting developments, and I’m proud to share one of the most innovative projects I’ve had the privilege to be part of: the integration of #inkjet printing into serial PVC window production. This project represents a new era, where window producers or PVC profile system providers move away from using decorative foil lamination technology and instead #inkjetprint the requested designs directly onto the profiles.

Internorm together with TIGER Coatings and Qres Technologies , became the first companies ever to successfully implement #inkjet printing into serial window production.

How It Began ?

There will always be a discussion about when and where the idea of digital printing on PVC profiles was born. For me, the first time I heard about it was during a meeting with Herbert Hochreiter who is Leader of Technology Development at Internorm in Traun, Austria. He asked, "Could we use your newly developed TIGITAL Inks & Tattoo to print on our PVC profiles instead of wrapping foils on them?" What sounded like a crazy idea back then in 2015 turned into a serial production lines ten years later at Internorm 's plant in Sarleinsbach, Austria.

The Ups and Downs of Innovation

As with any pioneering project, the path to success was not always straightforward. One of the biggest challenges we faced was ensuring that the printing technology could adapt to the wide variety of complex profile shapes used in window frames. A customized printer capable of covering all sides of the profile was crucial. Thanks to the expertise of Lukas T?rngren , Derek Montgomery and the engineering team from Qres Technologies , these demands were met.

Instead of trying to adapt existing well-known single pass or multi-pass inkjet printer designs, they developed a completely new concept which years later proved to be optimal for profile printing.

To illustrate this journey, I’m sharing a link to a video published by Internorm this year, presenting the first prototype printer specifically designed for printing on profiles. This early model played a crucial role in overcoming the initial challenges and was a big milestone for the later built operational machines used in today’s serial production. Printing on 6.5-meter-long bars is not a challenge anymore.

But obviously that wasn’t the only hurdle. We also needed inks that could meet the demands of outdoor exposure. This challenge was met by the engineering team led by Holzinger Dieter from TIGITAL Inks & Tattoo , whose innovative ink formulations provided strong adhesion, scratch and abrasion resistance, and most importantly, color stability over time.

After many trials and continuous development, we succeeded in developing a solution that met all of these requirements.

Integration of the #inkjetprinting system into existing production processes wouldn't be possible without the full commitment and drive provided by Internorm managers Herbert Hochreiter , Bernhard Spaller, Peer Martin . Their vision and dedication were crucial in turning this innovative idea into a reality.

The Key Benefits of Digital Printing vs. Decorative Foil Lamination on PVC

• Cost Efficiency: Digital printing reduces material waste and the need for large inventory stocks of different foil designs.
• Faster Production Time: Digital printing eliminates the need for time-consuming setup of wrapping machines, which is necessary for each profile change when decorating with foils. By printing directly onto the profiles, manufacturers can quickly adapt to different designs without the downtime required for retooling or machine setups.
• Sustainability: TIGITAL Inks & Tattoo inks are VOC-free. There’s no need anymore to apply highly VOC-heavy glues or primers, which are typically required in the foiling process. This not only simplifies the process but also reduces the carbon footprint of companies that decorate PVC profiles. Digital printing is more environmentally friendly option.
• Design Flexibility: Digital printing allows for unlimited design possibilities. Unlike foil lamination, which relies on pre-manufactured designs, digital printing enables the creation of custom patterns, and textures on demand, giving manufacturers and customers more creative freedom.

Looking to the Future

For me, digitally printed PVC window that you can see on the picture above is more than just another printed product. It is a symbol of what’s possible when innovations-driven companies join forces and work together to push technological boundaries forward. I’m proud to have been part of this pioneering project, and I’m looking forward to see how digital printing technology will continue to shape the future of sustainable window production.