Stolzle Glass Group has invested in 3D printer kits at two of its production sites. After months of research, two different systems were acquired and installed in the Austrian headquarters, Stolzle Oberglas, as well as in the UK plant, Stolzle Flaconnage. The UK site invested in a kit which can be customised to suit special needs. It prints by heating and extruding plastic filament (ABS/PLA or T-glass) through a 0.5mm diameter nozzle on a heated base, and builds layers on itself to create any shape required. The printer has a build platform of 280mm in diameter by 368mm in height. The Austrian headquarters invested in a more sophisticated model of 3D printer which is able to produce translucent UV cured acrylate sample bottles. The 3D models are built in subtle layers of acrylate around wax which, after the printing process, will be melted away easily to achieve a sample bottle which can be filled and used for testing of closures by the customer. The 3D printer can create objects with a maximum size of 185mm in height by approximately 200mm in diameter.
