Experience, professionalism and technology to produce quality glass for the lighting sector

The architectural and industrial lighting sector is the reference market of Vetreria Gnutti, a historic glass company based in Lumezzane in the province of Brescia, Italy.

A company that has had glass in its DNA since 1949 and now mainly deals with various processing and cutting of flat glass for drive-over luminaires, spotlights, LED lamps and lanterns.

And also objects and furnishing accessories such as gifts, brass mirrors, frames, trays and the new and spare cut-to-size glass for equipment, tools and sandblasting machines.

Glass processing starts with precision cutting, even for large thicknesses, thanks to a professional cutting bench on which the glass sheet is laid and cut with automated machinery, resulting in a linear or shaped glass that precisely respects the set measures.

On the other hand, grinding consists of removing material with irregular edges of the glass using diamond wheels with rough or fine grain. That procedure eliminates the sharp part and roughness, getting a product that is exactly to measure in the order of a tenth of a millimetre. By means of this operation, it is possible to obtain different types of finishes (raw or glossy) and various edge profiles (round, flat, rim).

Vetreria Gnutti’s numerically controlled machinery carries out contouring, milling, drilling, bevelling and engraving on glass. The contouring is the perimeter grinding of the edges, while by the milling grooves and hollows are made on the glass profile. It is also possible to make rough, polished and countersunk holes of different sizes by careful drilling. The bevelling thins and polishes the perimeter parts of the glass for an original frame effect on the edge, perfect for mirrors and display cabinets. Lastly, the engraving of writings, logos and drawings on the surface of the glass makes it possible to customize products as desired.

Serigraphy (also called screen printing) is another second process of Vetreria and consists in the application of a thin layer of paint on the surface of the glass in order to create drawings and writings for both artistic and functional purposes. The painted glass thus takes on a new image and has a greater visual impact than the typical neutral shade of the material. It can be applied with different designs and in different colours based on customer’s specifications.

Tempering is a particular heat treatment that Vetreria Gnutti carries out by placing the glass inside an oven to heat it up to a temperature of about 650°C. By the heat of the furnace, the material reaches a state close to softening, and it is precisely at this moment that it generates an instant glass cooling. That process gives the piece an increased surface mechanical resistance and guarantees safety – in case of breakage – by reducing the glass into small, non-sharp fragments.

Lastly, sandblasting consists in a surface abrasion of the glass by exposing it to a very powerful jet of sand and air in order to erode the surface. This ancient technique makes it possible to create decorations and designs that are both functional or aesthetic. It is relevant to underline that this decorative process does not affect the traditional glass feature, as the light passes through creating a matting effect.

Experience, combined with competence and the use of advanced technology allows Vetreria Gnutti to be the perfect partner for all those lighting companies looking for certified glass components to produce quality fixtures.