David Savastano, Editor04.01.11
As Printed Electronics & Photovoltaics Europe 2011 gets ready to open its doors tomorrow in Dusseldorf, Germany, there will be plenty of innovations displayed by show organizers IDTechEx as well as exhibitors.
IDTechEx will be showcasing Demonstration Street, a large area dedicated to showing the full range of complete working printed electronics products. Among the products on hand are Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials’ (CeNTI) wireless socks with biometric monitoring systems; Thin Film Electronics' card game powered by printed memories; MWV's electronically enabled Kent cigarette package designed by T-Ink; and Neuber’s solar bag. Many other leading-edge items will be showcased as well.
Exhibitors will also have a host of new items to show attendees, from the latest printed electronics applications to materials and equipment. On the PE side, Printechnologics will be holding its European launch of its AirCode touch system, which is gaining notice among major brand owners. AirCode touch allows the user to place a card, package or even a piece of paper on their smart phone’s touch screen or hold the smart phone on a label, which will allow access to a brand owner’s app, leading to anything from coupons and games to additional informational information.
Thin Film Electronics ASA has made tremendous strides in printable memories, and will share some of its latest developments with attendees.
“We will showcase our demo game powered by printed memories,” said Davor Sutija, Thin Film Electronics ASA CEO. “The game demonstrates how you can monetize online experiences in a playground-ready interactive game. In the game, which we have called OBA, you evolve the Oba inhabitants and mature their capabilities and powers through the game levels. Cards with Thinfilm Memory store your game status.”
Furthur advances in printed batteries, particularly in higher voltages, will be important in driving growth in PE, and Enfucell Ltd. is developing higher power systems.
“We have new development versions of 4.5V and 6V SoftBatteries and have seen a real need for higher voltages for printed batteries,” said Risto Huvila, COO, global customer operations, Enfucell Ltd. “These batteries will enable many new possibilities with printed electronics applications.”
Printed batteries from Blue Spark Technologies were recently used for the Canvas Magazine cover which illustrated the possibilities of printed electronics.
“The real showcase for the show will be our participation in the Canvas Magazine project,” said Matt Ream, vice president marketing, Blue Spark Technologies. “We were the printed power source, in a totally printed interactive electronic cover, a first for any Interactive Printed Media (IPM) project that I know of. It is really exciting stuff. Our overall message here is that the technology exists and is ready to go now. So, at the show we will be showcasing the magazine in our booth. I will be using it as a case study in my presentation on the use of printed batteries in IPM during the first day of the conference. And the cover, along with our participation, has been nominated for the Best Commercialization Award at the show.”
On the materials side, NovaCentrix will be showcasing the new Metalon screen print copper-oxide reduction ink, ICI-020, which debuted at the PE USA 2010 show in December in Santa Clara.
“Printed Electronics Europe 2011 is our first European showing of this new ink,” said Stan Farnsworth, vice president marketing for NovaCentrix. “Metalon ICI-020 is designed for low-cost/high-volume applications such as smart packaging and RFID, and as such paper is a primary target substrate. The ink achieves functionality when a PulseForge processing tool is used to convert the water-based copper-oxide formulation into thin-film copper. It is achieving as low as 40 milliOhms/sq on regular paper, and is only $75/kg in volume orders. This is based on the same copper-oxide reduction technology that received the Materials award at this conference in 2010 and also the R&D 100 award last fall. With the cost of silver continuing to climb, the market has been very receptive to this new ink.”
Haiku Tech Inc. is highlighting its new hot melt screen printing system at the conference.
“We will showcase our new Keko Equipment hot melt screen printing machine,” said Roderik Höppener, president of Haiku Tech Inc. “The machine boasts a belt transporter for gentle support of fragile products or roll-to-roll work. Due the hot melt feature, there is no need to dry a paste and no solvents are emitted.”
Coveme will exhibit its films and backsheets at PE Europe 2011.
“As far as printed electronics is concerned, Coveme shall show its premium printable films, with advanced dimensional stability features; such products grant a top bond between the film and the inks/pastes used by the printers, thus avoiding any setoffs, in a range of treated and untreated solutions, with different printing primers, on both clear, haze and white base substrates,” said Stefano Favero, Engineered Films Division manager at Coveme.
“Coveme has developed a number of high-quality non-fluoropolymer backsheets for all PV applications, “ said Michele Vannini, business unit manager, Coveme SpA. “Particularly for thin-film applications, we have our dyMat APYE backsheet that provides thorough flexible protection as an alternative to bulky glass. The APYE maintains a very low WVTR level, highly engineered material and superior adhesive qualities that will withstand degradation in any condition. Coveme's development of backcontact backsheets has introduced a highly innovative structure consisting of the highest grade polyester and 35 micron copper laminate layer.”
Printed Electronics Ltd. is launching its research-grade electronic-rated paper NanoP60 at the conference. NanoP60 is a non-organic coated paper for use with nanoparticulate inkjet inks.
“We will be launching our new electronic grade paper substrate ‘PEL NanoP60’ at the show,” said Dr. Neil Chilton, technical director, Printed Electronics Ltd. “Results both at PEL and at customer sites have shown that this substrate gives significant advantages (cure time/temperature) over any of the commercially available alternatives. This is something that we have been working on for some years and has become our substrate of choice for many of our applications/demonstrators.”
IDTechEx will be showcasing Demonstration Street, a large area dedicated to showing the full range of complete working printed electronics products. Among the products on hand are Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials’ (CeNTI) wireless socks with biometric monitoring systems; Thin Film Electronics' card game powered by printed memories; MWV's electronically enabled Kent cigarette package designed by T-Ink; and Neuber’s solar bag. Many other leading-edge items will be showcased as well.
Photo courtesy of Enfucell Ltd. |
Thin Film Electronics ASA has made tremendous strides in printable memories, and will share some of its latest developments with attendees.
“We will showcase our demo game powered by printed memories,” said Davor Sutija, Thin Film Electronics ASA CEO. “The game demonstrates how you can monetize online experiences in a playground-ready interactive game. In the game, which we have called OBA, you evolve the Oba inhabitants and mature their capabilities and powers through the game levels. Cards with Thinfilm Memory store your game status.”
Furthur advances in printed batteries, particularly in higher voltages, will be important in driving growth in PE, and Enfucell Ltd. is developing higher power systems.
“We have new development versions of 4.5V and 6V SoftBatteries and have seen a real need for higher voltages for printed batteries,” said Risto Huvila, COO, global customer operations, Enfucell Ltd. “These batteries will enable many new possibilities with printed electronics applications.”
Printed batteries from Blue Spark Technologies were recently used for the Canvas Magazine cover which illustrated the possibilities of printed electronics.
“The real showcase for the show will be our participation in the Canvas Magazine project,” said Matt Ream, vice president marketing, Blue Spark Technologies. “We were the printed power source, in a totally printed interactive electronic cover, a first for any Interactive Printed Media (IPM) project that I know of. It is really exciting stuff. Our overall message here is that the technology exists and is ready to go now. So, at the show we will be showcasing the magazine in our booth. I will be using it as a case study in my presentation on the use of printed batteries in IPM during the first day of the conference. And the cover, along with our participation, has been nominated for the Best Commercialization Award at the show.”
On the materials side, NovaCentrix will be showcasing the new Metalon screen print copper-oxide reduction ink, ICI-020, which debuted at the PE USA 2010 show in December in Santa Clara.
“Printed Electronics Europe 2011 is our first European showing of this new ink,” said Stan Farnsworth, vice president marketing for NovaCentrix. “Metalon ICI-020 is designed for low-cost/high-volume applications such as smart packaging and RFID, and as such paper is a primary target substrate. The ink achieves functionality when a PulseForge processing tool is used to convert the water-based copper-oxide formulation into thin-film copper. It is achieving as low as 40 milliOhms/sq on regular paper, and is only $75/kg in volume orders. This is based on the same copper-oxide reduction technology that received the Materials award at this conference in 2010 and also the R&D 100 award last fall. With the cost of silver continuing to climb, the market has been very receptive to this new ink.”
Haiku Tech Inc. is highlighting its new hot melt screen printing system at the conference.
“We will showcase our new Keko Equipment hot melt screen printing machine,” said Roderik Höppener, president of Haiku Tech Inc. “The machine boasts a belt transporter for gentle support of fragile products or roll-to-roll work. Due the hot melt feature, there is no need to dry a paste and no solvents are emitted.”
Coveme will exhibit its films and backsheets at PE Europe 2011.
“As far as printed electronics is concerned, Coveme shall show its premium printable films, with advanced dimensional stability features; such products grant a top bond between the film and the inks/pastes used by the printers, thus avoiding any setoffs, in a range of treated and untreated solutions, with different printing primers, on both clear, haze and white base substrates,” said Stefano Favero, Engineered Films Division manager at Coveme.
“Coveme has developed a number of high-quality non-fluoropolymer backsheets for all PV applications, “ said Michele Vannini, business unit manager, Coveme SpA. “Particularly for thin-film applications, we have our dyMat APYE backsheet that provides thorough flexible protection as an alternative to bulky glass. The APYE maintains a very low WVTR level, highly engineered material and superior adhesive qualities that will withstand degradation in any condition. Coveme's development of backcontact backsheets has introduced a highly innovative structure consisting of the highest grade polyester and 35 micron copper laminate layer.”
Printed Electronics Ltd. is launching its research-grade electronic-rated paper NanoP60 at the conference. NanoP60 is a non-organic coated paper for use with nanoparticulate inkjet inks.
“We will be launching our new electronic grade paper substrate ‘PEL NanoP60’ at the show,” said Dr. Neil Chilton, technical director, Printed Electronics Ltd. “Results both at PEL and at customer sites have shown that this substrate gives significant advantages (cure time/temperature) over any of the commercially available alternatives. This is something that we have been working on for some years and has become our substrate of choice for many of our applications/demonstrators.”