by Cassandra Balentine
Part three of three
Proper surface preparation is essential when it comes to digital direct to object (DTO) printing to glass.The June issue of Industrial Print magazine highlights certain challenges, like ink adhesion and durability discusses how these issues are solved with a myriad of pretreatment solutions.
Here we discuss a few of the solutions on the market.
3DT
3DT LLC features a line of surface treatment systems designed for many typical manufacturing challenges involving bonding and cleaning. For 35 years it has engineered both corona and plasma systems for numerous medical, coating, and decorative glass applications.
All are customizable for unique applications and processes, including turnkey systems with product handling and automation.
3DT’s corona treatment systems include PolyDyne Pro, HeliDyne, FlexiDyne, PlasmaDyne Pro, and PlasmaFlow.
PolyDyne Pro is ideal for high-speed printing, assembly, extrusion, and coating lines. It is a versatile system that includes custom-built product handling and enclosure for each unique application.
HeliDyne is a surface treatment for wide and thick materials such as glass sheets/panels and more. 3DT’s patented HeliDyne corona system produces strong bonding on substrates for adhesive, printing, as well as coating and laminating applications. Its numerous electrodes rotate while corona treating the material passed underneath. HeliDyne accommodates materials up to two inches thick and 200 inches wide. The system is equally effective for inline applications, as well as sheets cut-to-size.
FlexiDyne is a compact, self-contained corona treating unit with a built-in conveyor that can be set inline or used as a stand-alone unit. FlexiDyne is designed to effectively treat most three dimensional parts without set up changes. Inside the enclosed treating station all exposed surfaces receive corona treatment improving their surface energy. 3DT’s FlexiDyne is perfect for treating labware, Petri dishes, lenses, and panels.
Among its atmospheric plasma systems, PlasmaDyne Pro uses atmospheric plasma discharge to improve bonding on a variety of surfaces including glass. PlasmaDyne Pro also removes impurities, residue, and organic compounds from surfaces for long-lasting adhesion. It is engineered with Smart programming and data collection, modular generators, adjustable discharge level, and is highly customizable. PlasmaDyne Pro is potential free.
PlasmaFlow is 3DT’s plasma system. Plasma discharge is created within an electrode housing and blows the plasma onto material of any thickness. It is capable of treating high-tech materials, such as silicon wafers, plastic films and glass with electric circuits which are sensitive to electric discharge. PlasmaFlow raises surface tension and cleans surfaces for the improved bonding of media.
EPS
EPS support DTO printing on glass through a combination of equipment, testing, and process development. For cylindrical glass applications such as bottles, drinkware, and similar round products, it offers cylindrical UV inkjet solutions designed to manage the added complexity of curved surfaces, controlled rotation, and precise drop placement. For flatter or partially contoured glass components, its UV inkjet platforms can provide a flexible route to high-quality decoration. Where the application is better suited to analog, we also support pad printing as part of a broader technology offering.
“What makes our approach different is that we do not just provide the machine. We help customers develop the full process. We carry out in-house application testing using the customer’s actual glass substrate and evaluate different combinations of ink, curing, and pretreatment. We have flame, plasma, corona, and pyrosil systems available, so we can test multiple approaches and determine which method delivers the best adhesion and durability for that specific application,” says Ken Tyler, national sales manger, Engineered Printing Solutions.
EPS also supports full production cell development, including pretreatment, printing, curing, and automation. That is especially important for cylindrical glass, where geometry, part tolerances, and UV curing all need to be considered together. Its goal is not just to produce a good-looking sample, but to deliver a process that works reliably in production.
Innovative Digital Systems (IDS)
IDS takes an application-first approach to digital glass printing. Rather than recommending a one-size-fits-all solution, we work with customers to understand their substrates, durability requirements, production goals, and workflow needs.
IDS’ solutions combine UV printing platforms, pretreatment technologies, application expertise, and process development support to help customers move from proof-of-concept to reliable production.
The PyroBond 4GL is a custom-designed solution for pretreating glass drinkware items with flame and Pyrosil in a cost-effective and efficient process.
PyroTrack is designed to pretreat flat or sheet goods, such as glass tiles or panels.
Whether customers are printing promotional drinkware, packaging components, or industrial glass products, IDS’ focus is on helping them achieve consistent, durable, and scalable decoration processes.
Plasmatreat
Plasmatreat GmbH offers Openair-Plasma and PlasmaPlus Technology as pretreatment. These technologies give maximum process control and repeatability. They can be integrated in printing processes and printers.
Because glass is considered as a liquid that oxidises quickly, Openair-Plasma cleans the surface from organic contamination and remove (reformulate) the oxide on the surface. It then changes/increases the surface energy.
Inkcups
Inkcups’ portfolio offers a complete end-to-end solution for DTO glass printing, including printers, inks, and pretreatment solutions. Printers include the Double Helix, Helix, Helix+, and Helix ONEcylindrical DTO printers for seamless 360-degree prints, as well as the X5-T High Throw UV flatbed printer for irregular or uneven shaped items, or drinkware with handles.
All of these systems enable seamless printing with vibrant, consistent results and immediate curing, allowing products to be handled or shipped straight away. Available on the Helix range of cylindrical DTO UV printers, Inkcups’ Nano Pin Curing technology enables direct printing onto clear glass without the need to fill vessels with UV-blocking material. By precisely controlling UV exposure, it reduces stray light and protects printheads, improving efficiency and simplifying the process.
Inkcups’ DL Series UV inks are specifically formulated for glass and other non-porous substrates. They cure instantly under UV LED light and, when paired with pretreatments such as MagiCoat, deliver strong adhesion and durability, including resistance to repeated wash cycles. Inkcups also offers pretreatment systems as part of this full solution. The MagiCoat Pre-Treatment System is designed for higher-volume production, while the MagiCoat Mini provides an option for lower output. Both use flame treatment combined with a primer to prepare the surface and optimize adhesion prior to printing.
For those looking to just get started digitally printing on glass, the Helix ONE with LV-R Series inks and a GL Pimer wipe is an economical way to enter the scene. With this combination we’ve already surpassed 50 top-rack dishwasher cycles in ongoing testing, and the prints have passed standard abrasion evaluations: including crosshatch and tape tests: showing strong adhesion and solid durability for drinkware applications.
SURA
SURA offers a Pyrosil coating and SURALink primer coating for direct printing on glass.
Jun2026, Industrial Print Magazine
