The specific patent 10,988,942, with a 2013 priority date, strengthens Unilin Technologies’ broad patent portfolio on the method of digitally printing a specific design, such as a wood or marble design, in register with the correspondingly structured relief surface of ceramic tiles. Unilin Technologies also holds similar patent protection in Europe and in other countries around the world.
 
This patent is complementary to Unilin Technologies’ comprehensive and growing ceramic tile patent portfolio on Digital Surface Texture technologies. Several patents have already been granted for the use of digital glaze to create a surface texture before or after printing the decorative design, including patent EP2108524.
 
In addition, important patents have been granted to Unilin Technologies regarding digital powder glazing technology. This technology involves glue being digitally printed in a predefined pattern and then a powder being spread onto the glue, creating beautifully embossed structures after vacuum removal of unglued powder and subsequent firing.
 
For more information regarding Unilin Technologies’ patent portfolio on Print In Register or Digital Surface Texturing for Ceramics, visit unilintechnologies.com.