Industrial Identification of Glass

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 1, 2001 -- There are numerous reasons why a company in any industry would want to mark their product. Also, there are numerous marking technologies with advantages and disadvantages depending on the material or substrate: Molding/Indenting or displacing the surface, removing or etching the surface and adding ink to the surface.

Etching is a process that involves removing a small portion of the substrates surface in a set pattern to make a permanent mark. Technologies used to accomplish etching include acid etching, Airgrit® or stencil blasting, and laser. The use of acid is the slow and difficult control. It is very effective for decorating and marking large areas but not practical for coding and production marking. Airgrit is a process, which uses a rubber mask and stencil, through which the aluminum-oxide grit is blasted under high air pressure. Airgrit differs from sandblasting in that the grit is controlled and re-circulated back into an enclosed hopper. Machines can be as simple bench top style or fitted into a cutting table before washing. Automated systems require that the glass stop and a good seal is made between the glass and the mask to prevent a fuzzy mark and grit leakage.

For additional information please contact: Matthews International Corporation, Marking Products Division, 6515 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Telephone: 412-665-2500 Fax: 412-665-2550 Internet: www.matthewsmarking.com