David Savastano, Editor12.30.14
As the flexible and printed electronics’ (PE) industry continues to grow, there are products coming forward that are earning attention, and in some cases, success in the commercial marketplace.
Here then is Printed Electronics Now’s Most Intriguing Printed Electronics Products of 2014 list, a look at five technologies that have drawn interest and/or recognition.
In alphabetical order:
cynora GmbH: Singlet Harvesting technology
cynora GmbH specializes in the R&D of innovative functional organic semiconductor materials for OLEDs, which will allow OLEDs to be printed as foils just like newspapers, using inkjet or slot-die-coating. cynora has received numerous awards in recent years, most notably the prestigious Falling Walls Science Startup of the Year 2013. Most recently, the company received the German Raw Material Efficiency Award 2014 from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy for “Platinum and Iridium-free, optoelectronic materials for Material-Efficient use in OLEDs.” The company has been developing Singlet Harvesting technology, which makes it possible to manufacture efficient OLED components without very rare heavy metals that are currently being used. cynora is continuing to expand, moving to new headquarters in Bruchsal, Germany this year, and has more than 200 patents.
• Heliatek GmbH: HeliaFilms organic solar film
Organic photovoltaics (OPV) have taken a longer time than expected to take off commercially, but a few companies are starting to reach the market. Heliatek GmbH has placed its HeliaFilms into a few building integrated organic photvolatic installations (BIOPV), including its Dresden headquarters and Reckli China’s facility in Pudong, China. Heliatek is poised to move ahead in the coming year, having successfully completed its C-Financing round of €18 million in September 2014 and signing a joint development agreement with AGC Glass Europe, the European branch of AGC, the world’s largest producer of flat glass.
• Iontera: Biobliss cosmetic patch
The recipient of Printed Electronics Europe 2014 Best Commercialization Award from IDTechEx, Iontera is a specialist in transdermal drug delivery systems. Working with Blue Spark Technologies, Iontera has successfully commercialized its flexible, disposable Biobliss cosmetic wrinkle reducing patch on Home Shopping Network as well as major U.S. retailers. Blue Spark’s printed batteries as well as conductive materials create a micro-current that enables dermatologist-approved anti-wrinkle ingredients to reduce wrinkles and crow’s feet. Biobliss’ materials are produced through roll-to-roll screenprinting.
• Kent Displays, Inc.: The Boogie Board Sync eWriter
Kent Displays, Inc. has received critical and commercial success with its line flexible Boogie Board eWriters. The Boogie Board utilizes a pressure sensitive LCD writing surface that allows the user to draw or write memos, which they can store or transmit. After first appearing on Amazon in December 2013, the company reportedly sold out its first year production. As a result of its success, Kent Displays received the Best Commercialization Award from IDTechEx during Printed Electronics USA 2014.
• Ynvisible: Printoo
One challenge for PE manufacturers is getting engineers and designers a full array of products to develop. Utilizing a Kickstarter campaign that achieved four times its goal, Ynvisble and its partners put together a supply kit for product developers to utilize, including printed batteries, flexible displays and lighting. The partners include Ynvisibls (electrochromic display and display driver technology), Blue Spark and Enfucell (printed batteries), Mekoprint (polymer solar cells), VTT (LED strips), Smartrac (RFID tags), LunaLEC (segmented displays) and ISORG (Organic Photodetector Slider) It has received much critical recognition, being named to EDN's Hot 100 Products of 2014.
If you would like to suggest other products of note, please send me an email at dsavastano@rodmanmedia.com.
Here then is Printed Electronics Now’s Most Intriguing Printed Electronics Products of 2014 list, a look at five technologies that have drawn interest and/or recognition.
In alphabetical order:
cynora GmbH: Singlet Harvesting technology
cynora GmbH specializes in the R&D of innovative functional organic semiconductor materials for OLEDs, which will allow OLEDs to be printed as foils just like newspapers, using inkjet or slot-die-coating. cynora has received numerous awards in recent years, most notably the prestigious Falling Walls Science Startup of the Year 2013. Most recently, the company received the German Raw Material Efficiency Award 2014 from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy for “Platinum and Iridium-free, optoelectronic materials for Material-Efficient use in OLEDs.” The company has been developing Singlet Harvesting technology, which makes it possible to manufacture efficient OLED components without very rare heavy metals that are currently being used. cynora is continuing to expand, moving to new headquarters in Bruchsal, Germany this year, and has more than 200 patents.
• Heliatek GmbH: HeliaFilms organic solar film
Organic photovoltaics (OPV) have taken a longer time than expected to take off commercially, but a few companies are starting to reach the market. Heliatek GmbH has placed its HeliaFilms into a few building integrated organic photvolatic installations (BIOPV), including its Dresden headquarters and Reckli China’s facility in Pudong, China. Heliatek is poised to move ahead in the coming year, having successfully completed its C-Financing round of €18 million in September 2014 and signing a joint development agreement with AGC Glass Europe, the European branch of AGC, the world’s largest producer of flat glass.
• Iontera: Biobliss cosmetic patch
The recipient of Printed Electronics Europe 2014 Best Commercialization Award from IDTechEx, Iontera is a specialist in transdermal drug delivery systems. Working with Blue Spark Technologies, Iontera has successfully commercialized its flexible, disposable Biobliss cosmetic wrinkle reducing patch on Home Shopping Network as well as major U.S. retailers. Blue Spark’s printed batteries as well as conductive materials create a micro-current that enables dermatologist-approved anti-wrinkle ingredients to reduce wrinkles and crow’s feet. Biobliss’ materials are produced through roll-to-roll screenprinting.
• Kent Displays, Inc.: The Boogie Board Sync eWriter
Kent Displays, Inc. has received critical and commercial success with its line flexible Boogie Board eWriters. The Boogie Board utilizes a pressure sensitive LCD writing surface that allows the user to draw or write memos, which they can store or transmit. After first appearing on Amazon in December 2013, the company reportedly sold out its first year production. As a result of its success, Kent Displays received the Best Commercialization Award from IDTechEx during Printed Electronics USA 2014.
• Ynvisible: Printoo
One challenge for PE manufacturers is getting engineers and designers a full array of products to develop. Utilizing a Kickstarter campaign that achieved four times its goal, Ynvisble and its partners put together a supply kit for product developers to utilize, including printed batteries, flexible displays and lighting. The partners include Ynvisibls (electrochromic display and display driver technology), Blue Spark and Enfucell (printed batteries), Mekoprint (polymer solar cells), VTT (LED strips), Smartrac (RFID tags), LunaLEC (segmented displays) and ISORG (Organic Photodetector Slider) It has received much critical recognition, being named to EDN's Hot 100 Products of 2014.
If you would like to suggest other products of note, please send me an email at dsavastano@rodmanmedia.com.
