Partial processing is a unique method for the glass processing industry, is a new way of processing large glass panes. In partial processing, only a part of glass is processed using various methods. This allows processes used in the semiconductor industry, for example, to be adapted to the glass processing industry. As only a small area of the glass is processed, the equipment is significantly smaller and cheaper than equipment processing the whole pane. Furthermore, running the processes partially consumes significantly less time, energy and source material than processing the whole glass. The local nature of the method means that, for example, different glass shapes are no longer an obstacle i.e., the glass does not always have to be processed in flat glass form. The equipment can be adapted to the different shapes of the glass, thus also allowing the processing of bent glass.
Depending on the end-product, processes can be carried out at lower requirements than in the semiconductor industry, if necessary, but still achieve completely new product combinations. With lower requirements, methods can be streamlined and carried out more quickly and cost-effectively. As a result, the glass processing industry will be able to manufacture directly on glass a whole new range of products that were previously manufactured by another industry. This will in turn open up a wide range of new revenue streams. Adapting methods from other industries to glass processing allows small and large companies driving development to find entirely new applications without excessive cost increases.
