David Savastano, Editor08.08.12
There are numerous collaborations occurring throughout the printed electronics (PE) supply chain, as researchers and companies work together to develop the materials, processes and applications that will be ideal for PE.
In July 2009, a particularly noteworthy partnership was formed under the name of Forum Organic Electronics Excellence Cluster. The 27-member Excellence Cluster includes 16 large- and medium-sized companies and 11 research institutes and universities.
The Forum is sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), which has provided €40 million in funding. To achieve its goals, the Forum formed InnovationLab GmbH (iL), a combined, application-oriented platform for research and knowledge transfer in science and business in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region in Germany.
In July 2009, BASF SE, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG and Darmstadt Technical University’s Institute for Printing Presses and Printing Methods (IDD) announced a collaboration to develop the printing technology of the future, with an eye on intelligent production processes creating numerous applications for flexible components
Each of these partners is a leader in their respective fields. BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, brings extensive experience in materials. The global leader in the sheetfed offset press market, Heidelberg also has a 30% interest in the Gallus Group, a label and folding carton press specialist, and offers expertise in printing processes. The IDD is a major leader in the study of print media, and has placed an emphasis on functional printing.
The goals of the BASF-Heidelberg-IDD project, NanoPEP (Nano-structuring and Plastic Electronics Precision Printing Platform), is to develop nanoparticulate functional materials and innovative printing processes to be used for flexible, bendable applications ranging from photovoltaic films and smart labels to organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs).
To achieve the ability to print flexible circuits, conductive materials will have to be printed on flexible substrates. BASF focused on nanomaterials. Heidelberg worked on developing the printers necessary for the production of PE products.
Three years later, the results for NanoPEP have been promising, as functional elements have already been produced under lab conditions using modified printing methods. BASF’s R&D team has successfully designed nanoparticles which are then processed into printable suspensions. Heidelberg has developed a rotary printing press based on the Gallus RCS 330. IDD is working on the challenge of transfering production to an industrial scale.
Under NanoPEP2, the three partners will be continuing their research over the next two years.The new goal of NanoPEP2 is to further develop the materials and processes, produce practical demonstrators and bring production to industrial scale, using roll-to-roll printing on inexpensive flexible polymer foils.
The research being conducted by the Forum Organic Electronics Excellence Cluster is just one example of the extensive efforts underway in the field of PE. By combining the expertise and resources of BASF, Heidelberg and the IDD, NanoPEP offers the potential for breakthrough materials and manufacturing processes that could drive new growth in the PE field.
In July 2009, a particularly noteworthy partnership was formed under the name of Forum Organic Electronics Excellence Cluster. The 27-member Excellence Cluster includes 16 large- and medium-sized companies and 11 research institutes and universities.
The Forum is sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), which has provided €40 million in funding. To achieve its goals, the Forum formed InnovationLab GmbH (iL), a combined, application-oriented platform for research and knowledge transfer in science and business in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region in Germany.
In July 2009, BASF SE, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG and Darmstadt Technical University’s Institute for Printing Presses and Printing Methods (IDD) announced a collaboration to develop the printing technology of the future, with an eye on intelligent production processes creating numerous applications for flexible components
Each of these partners is a leader in their respective fields. BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, brings extensive experience in materials. The global leader in the sheetfed offset press market, Heidelberg also has a 30% interest in the Gallus Group, a label and folding carton press specialist, and offers expertise in printing processes. The IDD is a major leader in the study of print media, and has placed an emphasis on functional printing.
The goals of the BASF-Heidelberg-IDD project, NanoPEP (Nano-structuring and Plastic Electronics Precision Printing Platform), is to develop nanoparticulate functional materials and innovative printing processes to be used for flexible, bendable applications ranging from photovoltaic films and smart labels to organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs).
To achieve the ability to print flexible circuits, conductive materials will have to be printed on flexible substrates. BASF focused on nanomaterials. Heidelberg worked on developing the printers necessary for the production of PE products.
Three years later, the results for NanoPEP have been promising, as functional elements have already been produced under lab conditions using modified printing methods. BASF’s R&D team has successfully designed nanoparticles which are then processed into printable suspensions. Heidelberg has developed a rotary printing press based on the Gallus RCS 330. IDD is working on the challenge of transfering production to an industrial scale.
Under NanoPEP2, the three partners will be continuing their research over the next two years.The new goal of NanoPEP2 is to further develop the materials and processes, produce practical demonstrators and bring production to industrial scale, using roll-to-roll printing on inexpensive flexible polymer foils.
The research being conducted by the Forum Organic Electronics Excellence Cluster is just one example of the extensive efforts underway in the field of PE. By combining the expertise and resources of BASF, Heidelberg and the IDD, NanoPEP offers the potential for breakthrough materials and manufacturing processes that could drive new growth in the PE field.