Printed electronics (PE) holds a lot of promise for major corporations
and entrepreneurs alike. The ability to mass produce,
through printing, low cost yet robust electronic systems
may very well revolutionize the way some products are manufactured,
and create entirely new devices. In short, printed electronics
have the potential to be a truly disruptive technology.
Of course, there have been challenges in making PE work.
Researchers have worked diligently to develop the functional materials
needed to make PE applications a reality. Equipment manufacturers
have developed the machinery to run these products.
Designers are creating applications that consumers will want, and
some enterprising printers have brought these products to reality.
However, many companies have found out the hard way that
what works in the lab does not necessarily translate to success in a
production environment. As a result, early estimates of the size of
the PE market have proved to be inflated, which then makes the
actual PE market look much smaller.
The reality, though, is that PE is making strong headway into the
marketplace. For example, in my article, “Printed Electronics Finds
Commercial Success,” which begins on page 9, leading PE manufacturers
discuss products that are reaching commercial success.
Printers are playing a key role in the manufacturing of these
PE systems. Starting on page 13, leading printers discuss the challenges
they faced and the successes they have achieved in my article,
“Printers Find Opportunities in Printed Electronics.”
Equipment manufacturers are key to the ultimate success of PE,
and some industry leaders offer their perspective in the market in
“Equipment Advances Help Drive Growth of Printed Electronics,”
which begins on page 22. Among the major raw materials, conductive
inks are critical components, and leading ink suppliers offer
their insights in “The Conductive Ink Market,” starting on page 16.
For the past five years, Printed Electronics Now has been at the
forefront of the PE movement, offering our independent perspective
on the industry at our website, www.printedeectronicsnow.com, as
well as our weekly breaking news emails. As part of Rodman Media,
an award winning media group whose global reach spans to markets
as diverse as household and personal products, pharmaceuticals,
medical products, paint and coatings, printing inks, printing, nonwovens
and more, we at Printed Electronics Now offer a printed
issue to help established companies learn about this market and the
key players that can help them thrive in it.
I hope you enjoy our inaugural issue, and look forward to hearing
your thoughts on the field of printed electronics.