Producing a compact disc
The compact disc industrial production process can be described as a set of stages:
Polycarbonate drying
The first step is removing humidity from the polycarbonate-content of the disc with special drying equipment. The material is then automatically transferred to the injection presses for disc molding.
Digital information transfer
During molding, digital information (in the form of microscopic pits) is transferred from the nickel matrix to the disc.
Metallizzation
The disc is removed from the mold and transferred to the metallizer which, by means of a process termed sputtering, adds a thin layer to the surface (aluminium for CDs and silicon for DVDs). This process ensures that the light is reflected (a prerequisite if information content is to be read by the player’s pick-up).
Lacquering and drying
After metallization, the surface with the data must be protected with a thin layer of UV irradiation-dried lacquer.
Check
At this stage the CD is subjected to precision control checking for flaws. If flaws are found, the disc is immediately rejected.
Screen printing
At this stage, disc printing (of images, titles etc.) takes place (6-colour screen printing).
Packaging
Following screen printing, the discs are ready for packaging (jewel boxes or other packaging form), after which they are delivered to the customer. From the content and look angles, the product is perfect.
