“As a UV bonding specialist, I set the bar high”
At SDB Vitrinebouw, it’s all about craftsmanship. After all, it’s the details – visible and invisible – that make the difference. And that’s exactly what our people ensure. One of them is Heino Ploegmakers. We bring him in for a specific task: UV bonding of glass to glass, and sometimes also to metal or wood.
Could you start by introducing yourself briefly?
“Certainly! My name is Heino and I run a two-person business with my girlfriend: Studio Ploegmakers. Together, we design, make and repair glass furniture and display cabinets for the commercial market. Bonding is really my speciality: I’ve been doing this for twenty-two years. That’s quite remarkable, actually, because there aren’t many UV bonders left.”
What does your collaboration with SDB look like?
“Since this spring, they’ve been hiring me for all the bonding work. That varies from an hour to a day a week. When I arrive at the workshop, work planner Ted already has the jobs ready, including the drawing and the glass. Once I’m done, the glass goes to the next specialist: in the assembly department.”
What skills do you need as a UV gluer?
“It might sound strange, but cleaning the glass is the most important thing. In fact, 95 per cent of my job consists of cleaning. If you don’t do that, the bond in the finished product won’t be crystal clear. Furthermore, as a UV bonder, you need technical insight and the ability to think ahead. For example, about which parts to bond first, where the most stress will be applied, and how a display case is assembled. How do you learn that? It’s mainly a matter of experience.”
“It has to be so precise that the adhesive
is invisible: without bubbles or discolouration”
How can you tell if a bond has been done by a professional?
“If you can’t see the bonding! It has to be so precise that the adhesive is invisible: no bubbles or discolouration. The angle must also be spot on. Because if I deviate by just one millimetre at the start, that can lead to a deviation of up to four millimetres. So my work demands the necessary precision.”
What would be the ultimate challenge at SDB?
“That would be a display case made entirely of glass panels that need to be mitred and glued. With a standard panel, you can still adjust it a little, but in this case, even a minimal deviation of 0.1 millimetres makes a noticeable difference. If you manage to pull it off, it must be incredibly satisfying. Although the bar is set high here anyway. And that suits me fine, because that’s what I love!”
