David Savastano, Editor05.07.14
In the last few years, the leading printed electronics (PE) trade shows – the IDTechEx conferences and LOPEC – have made a point of having a manufacturing line on hand to show attendees, particularly end users. There also may be a small product being produced, as well as displays full of PE products that have reached the market.
For example, LOPEC 2014, organized by the OE-A and Messe Munich, is producing a battery tester at its May 27-28 conference. The battery tester is based on an idea by TU Darmstadt (IDD Printing Science Technology) and coordinated by Fraunhofer ENAS (Baumann Printing Research). More than 10 companies are participating in this project.
The companies participating in this line include adphos, Bosch Rexroth, Coatema, DuPont Microcircuit Materials, Fujifilm Dimatix, Heraeus Precious Metals, LCR Hallcrest, NovaCentrix, Schoeller Technocell, Thieme and Xenon Corporation.
“A fully functional ‘battery-tester to go’ is the product produced live on-site on this year’s LOPEC demo line,” exhibition chair Thomas Kolbusch, vice president of Coatema Coating Machinery GmbH and a member of the OE-A Board, said recently.
Koplbusch added that the idea is that attendees can see the printing process, “starting with the materials and components required, via the machines to the finished product, the battery-tester. This demonstrates the benefits of printed electronics.”
It is interesting to see working projects, and this year, the OE-A will be awarding prizes for its Prototypes and New Products competition.
“This way we are supporting the market entry of organic and printed electronics,” said Dr. Klaus Hecker, managing director of the OE-A.
According to the OE-A, there are 17 projects that are being judged, including:
• A touch sensor directly integrated into furniture, designed by Felix Scholler.
• An electronic tag for employees and guests developed by Plastic Logic.
• A paper cup, designed by Holst Centre, with printed sensors and an LED that shows the temperature of a drink.
• A touch sensor by PolyIC.
Having examples of printed electronics systems on hand that can be seen by end users offers attendees the opportunity to consider how they can adapt flexible and printed electronics for their own products. That provides tangible evidence that the technology has the potential to be used in real-world applications.
Photo courtesy of Felix Scholler. |
The companies participating in this line include adphos, Bosch Rexroth, Coatema, DuPont Microcircuit Materials, Fujifilm Dimatix, Heraeus Precious Metals, LCR Hallcrest, NovaCentrix, Schoeller Technocell, Thieme and Xenon Corporation.
“A fully functional ‘battery-tester to go’ is the product produced live on-site on this year’s LOPEC demo line,” exhibition chair Thomas Kolbusch, vice president of Coatema Coating Machinery GmbH and a member of the OE-A Board, said recently.
Koplbusch added that the idea is that attendees can see the printing process, “starting with the materials and components required, via the machines to the finished product, the battery-tester. This demonstrates the benefits of printed electronics.”
It is interesting to see working projects, and this year, the OE-A will be awarding prizes for its Prototypes and New Products competition.
“This way we are supporting the market entry of organic and printed electronics,” said Dr. Klaus Hecker, managing director of the OE-A.
Photo courtesy of Holst Centre. |
• A touch sensor directly integrated into furniture, designed by Felix Scholler.
• An electronic tag for employees and guests developed by Plastic Logic.
• A paper cup, designed by Holst Centre, with printed sensors and an LED that shows the temperature of a drink.
• A touch sensor by PolyIC.
Having examples of printed electronics systems on hand that can be seen by end users offers attendees the opportunity to consider how they can adapt flexible and printed electronics for their own products. That provides tangible evidence that the technology has the potential to be used in real-world applications.