How sedak took the Swiss Alps to Middle Franconia, Bavaria

For the HT Group, a supplier of room solutions in the sector of medical engineering, the fabricator has produced a 9m x 3m digital printed glass pane. The 10mm thick, heat-strengthened low iron glass has been finished with a photorealistic print of a mountain panorama of the Swiss Alps. sedak thus combines two exceptional capabilities: the fabrication of large-size glass units, and a finish with the world’s biggest digital printer for ceramic inks.

In order to be able to reach a new level of hygiene standards in laboratories and hospitals, designers have been relying on panels for walls. Glass opens up new possibilities where conventional materials set limits. Due to the nearly non-porous surface, the robust, and durable material can be aseptically cleaned very quickly and without any difficulties. Therefore, glass is particularly suitable for rooms with an especially high demand for hygiene like surgery rooms, intensive care units, and clean rooms.

Oversize glass goes even a step further. That is why the HT Group relies on a glass pane with a surface of 27 square meters that covers a complete wall. Thus, the entire surface is jointless. Bacteria, and other germs have no way to find any kind of breeding grounds.

The glass wall covering with its 27 square meter large surface has been produced by sedak. It allows new standards of esthetics and hygiene in hospitals and laboratories. The picture by Oberli Engineering GmbH has been printed using the ceramic-ink digital printing technology.

Photo: sedak GmbH & Co. KG

Esthetics Embrace Functionality

With this glass wall, the HT Group sets new design standards. The glass pane of 9m x 3m is one of the first installed glass unit in the interior of a building and finished with a photorealistic print in this dimensions.

The glass has been produced by sedak in Gersthofen, Germany. The corporation is the world’s leading manufacturer of oversize insulating, and safety glass. The 10mm thick safety glass “sedak secudecor” has been printed with a mountain panorama showing the Swiss Alps. The digital print is made of natural stone colors applied directly to the glass surface. After the printing, the glass was tempered, the colors melted, and burnt into the surface (enameled). The result is not only visually convincing, but also technically. The surface is scratch resistant to the greatest extent and conditionally acid-resistant. “The brilliance of the print is unique. You can see the smallest details like flours or faces from great distance,” says Thomas Fritsch, CEO of the HT Group. The UV and adhesive resistance of the print reach the high values of ceramic enamel colors. This enables the use of glazing in bright areas such as lobbies, lounges, corridors or hallways station.

sedak does not only produce glass units in maximum formats. The full service package also covers logistics, and a safe transport to the construction site.

Photo: sedak GmbH & Co. KG

Positive Atmosphere for Quicker Recovery

Regardless of hygiene and a simple cleaning, a medical aspect comes into play. Usually there are no pictures on the walls of intensive care units for reasons of hygiene. Printed glass units allow now a hint of freedom to your fantasy. With atmospheric pictures like the mountain panorama, the ambiance and thus the patients’ mood are improved. That has a positive effect on the recovery. “We are looking forward to offer our clients such a solution thanks to sedak, especially since the quality of the print allows any design,” says Fritsch.

HT Group GmbH

HT Labor + Hospitaltechnik AG develops, produces and distributes innovative modular room systems and their components worldwide.

Since the establishment in 1963, the company has grown to a global brand. More than 200 employees advise a large number of institutes, companies and public authorities around the globe. Founding HT Group GmbH, HT extends its market leadership.

HT Group supervised the installation of the printed large format glass and demonstrates with it the future of hygiene for clean rooms in hospitals.

Large-sized Digital Printing on Glass

For some time, sedak has expanded its capabilities for its oversize products to the possibility of large-size printing. Besides a full coverage printing with the roller coater technique, sedak is now also capable of printing glass in dimensions up to 3.2m x 15m with the digital flatbed printer. Thus, complex, multiple-color designs, and high resolution photos can be printed on glass. “With a resolution of 720 dpi, our print quality is exceptional. Due to the digital printing technology, the colors are applied in a thinner layer than it is possible using a screen or rotary printer,” explains Bernhard Veh, CEO of sedak, continuing, “This allows translucent printing and designing smooth transitions” The printing process is similar to the inkjet printing on paper. However, the printing inks are composed of fine ceramic particles, splashing a plotter on the disc. During the burning process in the oven, the colors are permanently bond to the glass surface. The color coat stays scratch resistant. Afterwards, the glass panes can be laminated, cold bent, or processed to insulating glass units. Possible designs are photos, imitations of material structures, or the repeated pattern of ornaments. The ceramic-ink digital printing thus offers a cost-effective way to an individually designed façade or wall.