The Vanguard of Luxury: Digital Printing (Inkjet) and Hybrid Coatings

In the luxury sector, where aesthetic excellence must necessarily be combined with flawless functional performance, Research and Development (R&D) is not optional—it is a strategic pillar. Every company attentive to market trends must pursue a constant R&D policy that not only follows market demands but anticipates future developments.

Research and Development (R&D): The Engine of Luxury Customization

With over 50 years of experience since its founding in 1971, Contecolor stands out for its ability to create customized coatings in every aspect, developed to perfectly meet the needs of each project on plastic, metal, or glass substrates.
The research and development laboratory is the beating heart of the company, where every new request takes shape through the combination of technical expertise and innovation.
Thanks to this R&D, the specialized technical staff ensures a high problem-solving capacity, supporting the customer from analysis to production to guarantee the highest aesthetic and performance standards. The customization process begins with an in-depth dialogue with the client to translate their needs into top-level technical solutions.

Technological Innovation: Digital (Inkjet) Printing for Glass and Metal

Contecolor’s commitment to innovation has led to the development of advanced solutions supporting high-precision customization. A tangible result is the “SINAPSI – Innovative High-Value Solutions for Inkjet Printing” project.
Funded in 2017, this project led to the creation of a new product designed for digital (inkjet) printing—a technology specifically developed for innovative materials such as glass and metal.
Inkjet printing on glass and metal is crucial because it can be applied both to prototyping and mass production, offering solutions that expand the range of alternative products for clients.
The research and experimentation carried out in the laboratory significantly broadened the company’s know-how.

Custom Coating Formulations: Functionality and Safety

True innovation lies in the formulation of the coating itself. For Contecolor, creating a custom coating means building it from scratch around the customer’s needs, not merely modifying an existing product.
The technicians in the tintometric laboratory use state-of-the-art color mixing systems for pigment measurement and blending. The development process is rigorous and carefully evaluates:

• Chemical composition

• Resistance to various external agents

• Adhesion to the substrate (plastic, glass, or metal)

• Guarantee of innovative and tailor-made products

The coatings developed include a wide range—acrylic, polyurethane, epoxy, with glossy or matte rubberized effects—and are available in both solvent-based and water-based versions.
R&D ensures that these products represent excellence in both aesthetics and performance.

A particular focus is placed on sustainability: the company produces coatings that comply with strict regulations for reducing environmental impact, such as water-based coatings or those with low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) content, where solvent emissions are drastically reduced to around 5% during application.

Luxury Applications and Strict Technical Requirements

The excellence of these customized coatings reaches its peak in the luxury sectors, where technical requirements are at their highest.

A. Glass Sector (Cosmetics and Wine & Spirits)

Coating is essential for decorating, coloring, and enriching glass, enhancing luxury cosmetic bottles, architectural glass panels, and decorative objects. The coatings must ensure both aesthetic appeal and high technical performance.

In the Cosmetics sector, water-based glass coatings are crucial for eco-compatibility but must also feature strong alcohol resistance, essential for perfumery. Common luxury packaging finishes include:

• Pearlescent/Mother-of-Pearl Effect: refined and elegant, with iridescent reflections.

• Gloss Effect (including UV-curable versions for rapid polymerization): mirror-like surface, ideal for high-end bottles.

• Metallic Effect: for a high-tech, luxurious look (gold, silver, copper).

In the Wine & Spirits sector, where the bottle is an integral part of brand communication, coatings must withstand rigorous testing such as G1 hot test, boiling water resistance up to 90°C, and durability up to 250 dishwasher cycles.

B. Metal Sector (Fashion and Design)

Coatings for metals, alloys, and electroplated substrates are formulated to ensure maximum adhesion.
In the Fashion and Accessories industry (eyewear, handbags, leather goods), finishes must meet particularly demanding technical standards, such as:

• Resistance to synthetic sweat (e.g. the F140FF coating for eyewear exceeds sweat resistance tests per ISO 12870:2016).

• Nickel release compliance (e.g. UNI EN 16128:2015).

• Turbula resistance (UNI EN ISO 23150:2011).

The use of versatile alloys like Zamak (zinc and aluminum) is common for fashion accessories and eyewear. Contecolor offers customized solutions for both raw and electroplated Zamak, applying adhesion primers, coloring, and finishing, with certified production cycles.

For steel, coatings act as a protective barrier against humidity, corrosion, and chemicals.
For outdoor furniture, customized coatings are developed to resist harsh weather conditions (high-altitude or marine areas).
For indoor furniture, coatings must ensure resistance to scratches, impacts, and aggressive cleaning agents.

The Vanguard of Luxury Finishes is driven by the intersection of technological innovation and coating chemistry, combining the precision of digital (Inkjet) printing with the excellence of hybrid formulations.
Projects such as SINAPSI have led to the development of new products for digital printing on glass and metal—applications crucial both in prototyping and serial production through inkjet technology.
This advanced customization capability on complex substrates such as glass, metal, and plastic directly meets the high demands of the premium market.

This technical evolution is fundamental in the furniture and design sectors, where decorative and architectural finishes—and especially painted glass excellence—define a product’s identity.
At the same time, growing environmental awareness is pushing the industry toward sustainable coatings for luxury cosmetics.
Water-based coatings represent the future of glass decoration, offering an innovative solution that combines aesthetics, resistance, and sustainability.

In summary, luxury customization is no longer purely aesthetic—it is the integration of advanced R&D technologies (such as Inkjet printing) and tailor-made chemical formulations that guarantee durability, safety, and sustainability.