UV on Glass

UV Printing on Glass

Glass is non-porous and needs a primer, but UV ink on glass survives hand washing and looks premium.

Substrates: Borosilicate, soda-lime, coated glassware

Settings that work

Temperature	No heat
Press time	3–6 minutes
Pressure	N/A
Peel	N/A
Wash care	Hand wash recommended

Settings are a starting point, not gospel. Film batches, ink lots and press calibration all shift the ideal number — always pull-test a sample before a paid run.

What goes wrong, and how to fix it

Problem	Fix
Ink flakes off after washing	Glass needs an adhesion promoter. Without it, the print lifts at the first wash.
Dishwasher destroys the print	Standard UV ink is not dishwasher safe. Say so on the product page.

Good fit

Beer and wine glasses
Award trophies
Decorative bottles

Where it fails

Dishwasher-cycle products
Frosted glass (uneven absorption)

What to buy for glass

Weekly volume	Machine class	Why
Small items (cases, pens, keychains)	A5 / A4 flatbed	One object at a time. Enough for gift orders, too slow for batch retail.
Up to 30 × 45 cm (plaques, tumblers with jig)	A3 flatbed	The default size for gift and promo work. Add a rotary jig for cylinders.
Signs, panels, batch cases	4060 / 6090 flatbed	Bed size decides throughput. A 6090 prints a full panel in one pass.

Volume bands assume one operator and a standard 38 × 38 cm press. Verify with a sample before committing to a machine size.