• Login
    • Join
  • FOLLOW:
  • Subscribe Free
    • Magazine
    • eNewsletter
    Checkout
    • Magazine
    • News
    • Printed Electronics
    • Raw Materials
    • Equipment
    • Services
    • Suppliers Guide
    • Resources
    • More
  • Magazine
  • News
  • Printed Electronics
  • Raw Materials
  • Equipment
  • Services
  • Suppliers Guide
  • Resources
  • Current & Past Issues
    Features
    Editorials
    Digital Edition
    Subscribe Now
    Advertise Now
    eNewsletter Archive
    Our Team
    Editorial Guidelines
    Breaking News
    Experts Opinion
    Financial News
    Manufacturers News
    Mergers and Acquisitions
    Online Exclusives
    Personnel
    Product Releases
    Suppliers News
    Live From Shows
    Displays and Lighting
    Photovoltaics
    Printed Batteries
    Printed Circuit Boards/Membrane Switches/In Mold Electronics
    Flexible and Printed Electronics
    RFID and NFC
    Sensors and Wearables
    Smart Cards and Packaging
    Touch Screens
    Adhesives, Barriers and Encapsulants
    Chemicals, Metals and Powders
    Conductive Inks and Coatings
    Electronic Materials
    Film, Paper, Glass and Substrates
    Graphene, Perovskites and Carbon Nanotubes
    Nanomaterials
    Printed Electronic Components
    Research Reports
    Semiconductors and Quantum Dots
    Energy Curing Equipment
    Lab and Testing Equipment
    Manufacturing Equipment
    Printing Equipment
    3D Printing
    Contract Manufacturing Services
    Product Design and Testing
    Research and Consulting
    Research Institutions
    Research Reports
    Universities
    Equipment
    All Companies
    Materials
    Categories
    Converting
    Printed Electronics Systems
    Associations
    Research and Services
    Used Machinery
    Add New Company
    Industry Events
    Live from show events
    Podcasts
    Videos
    Blogs
    Slideshows
    Infographics
    Webinars
    Whitepapers
    Equipment and Services
    Glossary
    • Magazine
      • Current & Past Issues
      • Features
      • Editorial
      • Columns
      • Digital Edition
      • eNewsletter Archive
      • Editorial Guidelines
      • Subscribe Now
      • Advertise Now
    • Breaking News
    • Suppliers Guide
      • Suppliers Guide
      • Add Your Company
    • Printed Electronics
      • Photovoltaics
      • Printed Batteries
      • Printed Circuit Boards/Membrane Switches/In Mold Electronics
      • Flexible and Printed Electronics
      • RFID and NFC
      • Sensors and Wearables
      • Smart Cards and Packaging
      • Touch Screens
    • Raw Materials
      • Adhesives, Barriers and Encapsulants
      • Chemicals, Metals and Powders
      • Conductive Inks and Coatings
      • Electronic Materials
      • Film, Paper, Glass and Substrates
      • Graphene, Perovskites and Carbon Nanotubes
      • Nanomaterials
      • Semiconductors and Quantum Dots
    • Equipment
      • Energy Curing Equipment
      • Lab and Testing Equipment
      • Manufacturing Equipment
      • Printing Equipment
      • 3D Printing
    • Services
      • Contract Manufacturing Services
      • Product Design and Testing
      • Research and Consulting
      • Research Institutions
      • Research Reports
      • Universities
    • Online Exclusives
    • Slideshows
    • Blog
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Infographics
    • Events
      • Industry Events
      • Live from show events
      • Webinars
    • About Us
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of Use
    Online Exclusives

    FLEX Conference Has Come a Long Way in 20 Years

    From its initial emphasis on flexible displays to today’s flexible hybrid electronics, FLEX continues to emphasize latest technology advances.

    FLEX Conference Has Come a Long Way in 20 Years
    Related CONTENT
    • Jabil’s May Yap Awarded 2021 CIO of the Year by IDC Singapore
    • Integrated Electronics Trend to Drive In-Mold Electronics to $1.5 Billion by 2032: IDTechEx
    • The 2021 Conductive Ink Market
    • RDS Launches Tianma 13.3-inch Full HD TFT
    • SEMI: North American Semiconductor Equipment Posts $3.65 Billion in Billings in August 2021
    David Savastano, Editor02.10.21
    Twenty years ago, the idea of flexible hybrid and printed electronics (FHE) was but a figment in the imagination of researchers. However, the idea of flexible displays, such as organic light-emitting displays (OLEDs), was of interest for military and commercial applications.
     
    With that in mind, the US Display Consortium (USDC) decided it was time to host their first conference in 2001. The USDC created the Flexible Microelectronics Manufacturing Workshop; looking at the agenda from the following year, much of the workshop centered on the technical challenges centered on flexible displays.
     
    Much has changed over the years. The USDC would morph into FlexTech Alliance, which is now a strategic partner of SEMI. Today, the Flexible Microelectronics Manufacturing Workshop is now known as FLEX, and is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The audience has grown steadily, from 60 in the first year to nearly 650 registrants, depending on the year, location and other factors.
     
    While OLEDs remain a technology of interest, FHEs are the key focus, as flexible sensors and wearables are finding homes in major markets such as automotive, healthcare and much more.

    The History of FLEX

    FLEX was created in 2001 as the Flexible Microelectronics Manufacturing Workshop by CTO Bob Pinnel. Mike Ciesinski, president of FlexTech Alliance, a SEMI Strategic Association Partner, said that the workshop was designed to bring together the best thinkers on the state-of-the-art in displays, materials, processing and related technologies and determine a roadmap of technology gaps for developing for manufacturing of flexible displays.
     
    “This type of work was not being done anywhere else,” Ciesinski said. “The main driver for USDC in flexible display manufacturing was the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL), who wanted to (and still does want to) outfit soldiers with more portable and rugged electronics.”
     
    USDC and ARL had been funding projects in the field for several years and realized the flexible display technology needed completely new paradigms in manufacturing - whether roll-to-roll was possible, rather than sheet-based – and new materials, such as flexible barrier layers for moisture-sensitive OLEDs.
     
    Heidi Hoffman, senior director, marketing and communications for SEMI, added, “As more and more researchers learned of the event and the challenges it was created to highlight, the topics have expanded to include multiple materials and process sessions, applications sessions, interconnect and equipment. The session list from each year is very illuminating on the progress and thinking of the industry experts.”
     
    Looking at the first few years of the conference, the early emphasis was on how to get to a conformable display. Hoffman said that quickly transitioned to manufacturing on flexible substrates, and concepts for flexible batteries, human performance monitors, wearables, smart materials, and more.
     
    “Since it was always a technical conference first, we had trouble calling it a ‘show’, but eventually so many companies wanted to show their products as well as talk about their products, we added a 12 table, tabletop exhibition around 2004,” she added. “That eventually grew to host more than 60 exhibitors.
     
    “Exhibitors realized that the attendees of the conference were the buyers and influencers who knew the technology so well that they are buyers, but also key contributors to products’ further development,” Hoffman continued. “The exhibit floor quickly became more of a place for building collaborations and many exhibitors return year-after-year for this reason. That dynamic has also lent itself to the event being a very collegial environment overall.”

    Joining SEMI

    In October 2015, SEMI announced that FlexTech Alliance became its first Strategic Association Partner. This provided FlexTech Alliance with a global platform. Ciesinski said the merger foretells changes in two directions.
     
    “First, from the SEMI vantage point, the microelectronics supply chain is more than traditional materials and equipment supplies into fabs,” Ciesinski said. “And by bringing in FlexTech as the first strategic alliance, the packaging , interconnect and non-Si elements of the semiconductor industry began to be folded into the SEMI reach helping to emphasize the importance of post-fab technology.
     
    “From the FlexTech vantage point, technology adoption is slow if it does not get into the hands of the users that can make the most of it. New technology introduction can be accelerated by tapping into the SEMI constituency. This is a win/win for the customer that gets leading-edge products and the industry that supplies into and manufactures that product,” Ciesinski added.

    The Evolution into FHE

    While the USDC was originally looking into flexible organic displays, other associations were focusing on printed electronics. The problem was that the fully printed electronics are not a mainstream technology for a variety of reasons. Combining traditional silicon-based electronics with flexible substrates, possibly using printing, LED to FHE and a host of new opportunities.

    Melissa Grupen-Shemansky, CTO of SEMI, said that in the last 20 years, the world has seen some of the most dramatic changes in the semiconductor industry since the invention of the solid state device.

    “The outsourcing or fabless craze of the early 2000s changed the way the industry looks at manufacturing,” Grupen-Shemansky observed. “This led to greater and greater off-shoring of semiconductor manufacturing from the US and a greater concentration of manufacturing skill in Asia.

    “Then there is Moore’s Law,” Grupen-Shemansky added. “Well before the 14nm node, top fabs in the world like TSMC started emphasizing the importance of advance packaging like flip chip and 3D as well as OSATs taking up additional multichip packaging and new interconnect technologies like FOWLP. Advance off-chip interconnect trend and importance has increased as node shrinks hit 14nm and below where fab costs skyrocketed and linear shrinks were hitting practical limits.”

    These dynamic shifts have opened the doors and the industry’s investments to multi-chip solutions, heterogeneous integration, and advance board assembly where the board or subsystem becomes the package. This is where FHE sits.

    “But FHE brings more to the party,” Grupen-Shemansky said. “It enables conformal electronics not limited to box-shaped and in some cases soft or stretchable. FHE also employs what is called additive processing, which, in comparison to substrative processing often used in semiconductors, has the promise of being faster, more customizable and more ecologically friendly. These promising features led to the MII, NextFlex, to develop pilot manufacturing process and design platforms.

    “Also, R&D on possible applications solutions was born, such as NBMC, which concentrates on integration R&D, bringing the building blocks of FHE technology together to develop wearable electronic sensing systems to enable both commercial and military markets. The health and medical wearable market is likely to be the largest growth market for FHE,” Grupen-Shemansky noted.

    The Future of FLEX

    Looking back at early USDC programs through this year’s agenda, it is telling that many committed leaders give much of their time to growing the conference and the industry.
     
    “Industry has been a key partner and this event has always been industry-driven. We have harnessed the interests and directions of our international program committees to identify and invite speakers who are at the leading edge or innovation,” Hoffman said.
     
    The Program Committees have led the contents for the programs, short courses, student posters and more. What started as a workshop to identify technology development for flexible display quickly transformed into sessions on all of the inputs needed to successfully develop flexible products, from their displays to the boards, to the chips, sensors and power supplies,” she added.
     
    “Our Board of Directors and other experts saw flexible electronics as just a part of an emerging flexible electronics industry,” Ciesinski said. “Many visionaries have contributed over the years, including Chris Ober of Cornell, Dalen Keys of DuPont, Diego Olego of Philips, Dan Gamota of Motorola (now with Jabil), Mike McCreary of E Ink, and envisioned a future of electronics being manufactured on substrates other than hard and brittle, e.g., silicon wafers, display glass. Roll-to-roll manufacturing was envisioned, as were applications in many spaces - telecom, medical, aerospace, retail, etc.”
     
    FLEX 2021 is different than previous conferences, as it will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, what does not change is the emphasis on the latest technological advances. FHEs and the FLEX conference alike have lots to bring to attendees in the coming years.
     
    “The FLEX show is an industry event where innovation is showcased and the customers and suppliers get a front-row seat, early in the development process,” Hoffman concluded.
    Suggested For You
    Jabil’s May Yap Awarded 2021 CIO of the Year by IDC Singapore Jabil’s May Yap Awarded 2021 CIO of the Year by IDC Singapore
    Integrated Electronics Trend to Drive In-Mold Electronics to $1.5 Billion by 2032: IDTechEx Integrated Electronics Trend to Drive In-Mold Electronics to $1.5 Billion by 2032: IDTechEx
    The 2021 Conductive Ink Market The 2021 Conductive Ink Market
    RDS Launches Tianma 13.3-inch Full HD TFT RDS Launches Tianma 13.3-inch Full HD TFT
    SEMI: North American Semiconductor Equipment Posts $3.65 Billion in Billings in August 2021 SEMI: North American Semiconductor Equipment Posts $3.65 Billion in Billings in August 2021
    Sustainability and the Flexible and Printed Electronics Industry Sustainability and the Flexible and Printed Electronics Industry
    Sensirion Opens New Sensor Production Site in Hungary Sensirion Opens New Sensor Production Site in Hungary
    Jabil Board of Directors Appoints CEO Mark Mondello as Chairman of the Board Jabil Board of Directors Appoints CEO Mark Mondello as Chairman of the Board
    Sensirion Acquires Machine Diagnostics Start-up AiSight Sensirion Acquires Machine Diagnostics Start-up AiSight
    Sogegross Group Increases Productivity with Zebra Technologies Sogegross Group Increases Productivity with Zebra Technologies
    Flex Receives Third Consecutive European Lenovo Logistics Excellence Award Flex Receives Third Consecutive European Lenovo Logistics Excellence Award
    JOLED Display Adopted for Newly-Announced ASUS OLED Monitor for HDR Content Creators JOLED Display Adopted for Newly-Announced ASUS OLED Monitor for HDR Content Creators
    ams OSRAM to Showcase Sensor Portfolio at Sensors Converge 2021 ams OSRAM to Showcase Sensor Portfolio at Sensors Converge 2021
    eMagin Finalizes $33.6 Million US DoD Contract for OLED Microdisplays eMagin Finalizes $33.6 Million US DoD Contract for OLED Microdisplays
    Seven in 10 Hospital Executives See Need to Invest More to Maximize Staff Efficiency Seven in 10 Hospital Executives See Need to Invest More to Maximize Staff Efficiency

    Related Online Exclusives

    • Manufacturers News | Photovoltaics
      The Future of Organic Photovoltaics

      The Future of Organic Photovoltaics

      Leaders from Heliatek, ASCA and Epishine discuss OPV applications and the technology’s future for the IoT, BIPV and more.
      David Savastano, Editor 05.18.22

    • 3D Printing | Flexible and Printed Electronics | Printed Circuit Boards/Membrane Switches/In Mold Electronics
      RadTech 2022 Highlights Energy Curing Roles in Electronics

      RadTech 2022 Highlights Energy Curing Roles in Electronics

      UV/EB curing is playing a role in numerous areas, including structural electronics, Li-ion batteries and 3D printing.
      David Savastano, Editor 05.11.22

    • Manufacturers News | Photovoltaics | Suppliers News
      After Overcoming Challenges, Organic Photovoltaics Market is Growing

      After Overcoming Challenges, Organic Photovoltaics Market is Growing

      Heliatek, ASCA and Epsihine are among the companies that are finding new opportunities for OPV.
      David Savastano, Editor 05.04.22


    • Manufacturers News | RFID and NFC
      Avery Dennison Brings Physical, Digital Worlds Together with atma.io

      Avery Dennison Brings Physical, Digital Worlds Together with atma.io

      Connected product cloud works with RFID, NFC and 2D barcodes to provide end-to-end transparency.
      David Savastano, Editor 04.27.22

    • Breaking News | Manufacturers News | RFID and NFC
      RFID is Helping Solve Luggage Problems at Airports

      RFID is Helping Solve Luggage Problems at Airports

      Following the 2019 IATA recommendation for the use of RFID, more airports are implementing RFID inlays on baggage tags.
      David Savastano, Editor 04.20.22

    • Flexible and Printed Electronics | Research Institutions | Semiconductors and Quantum Dots | Sensors and Wearables | Universities
      Imec, KU Leuven and PragmatIC Collaborate on Flexible Microprocessors

      Imec, KU Leuven and PragmatIC Collaborate on Flexible Microprocessors

      Project opens the possibilities for low-cost, low-power IoT applications which do not require very high performance.
      David Savastano, Editor 04.13.22


    • Manufacturers News | RFID and NFC
      Nedap’s RFID, iD Cloud Solutions Help Retailers Meet Customers’ Needs

      Nedap’s RFID, iD Cloud Solutions Help Retailers Meet Customers’ Needs

      Providing real-time insights helps retailers achieve perfect inventory visibility.
      David Savastano, Editor 03.30.22

    • Breaking News | Graphene, Perovskites and Carbon Nanotubes | Manufacturers News | Sensors and Wearables
      Grapheal Brings Graphene to Medtech

      Grapheal Brings Graphene to Medtech

      Grapheal’s TestNPass test strip technology earns honors, interest at CES 2022.
      David Savastano, Editor 03.23.22

    • Conductive Inks and Coatings | Flexible and Printed Electronics | Manufacturers News | Photovoltaics | Printed Circuit Boards/Membrane Switches/In Mold Electronics | Sensors and Wearables | Suppliers News
      The Conductive Ink Market is Showing Growth

      The Conductive Ink Market is Showing Growth

      There are more products featuring printed and flexible electronics that are reaching the market, and conductive inks are playing a critical role.
      David Savastano, Editor 03.16.22


    • Displays and Lighting | Flexible and Printed Electronics | Manufacturers News | Photovoltaics | Printed Batteries | Printed Circuit Boards/Membrane Switches/In Mold Electronics | Sensors and Wearables | Smart Cards and Packaging | Suppliers News
      LOPEC 2022 Returns to Munich

      LOPEC 2022 Returns to Munich

      After three years, the conference will showcase advances in printed, flexible electronics and more.
      David Savastano, Editor 03.09.22

    • Displays and Lighting | Manufacturers News
      Lumitronix Brings Flexibility to Lighting

      Lumitronix Brings Flexibility to Lighting

      Using its LUMPROTECT® lamination system, Lumitronix is developing LED lighting for wallcoverings, customized applications and more.
      David Savastano, Editor 03.02.22

    • Breaking News | Manufacturers News | Mergers and Acquisitions | RFID and NFC
      TexTrace Acquisition Allows Avery Dennison to Integrate RFID into Garments

      TexTrace Acquisition Allows Avery Dennison to Integrate RFID into Garments

      Addition of woven, knitted RFID specialist brings new capabilities in theft protection, customer interaction and more.
      David Savastano, Editor 02.16.22


    • Graphene, Perovskites and Carbon Nanotubes | Manufacturers News | Photovoltaics
      Saule Technologies Brings Perovskites to ESLs

      Saule Technologies Brings Perovskites to ESLs

      Self-powering electronic shelf labels could change the world of retail.
      David Savastano, Editor 02.02.22

    • Manufacturers News | Research Institutions | Sensors and Wearables
      Onera Health’s Biomedical-Lab-on-Chip Draws Interest at CES 2022

      Onera Health’s Biomedical-Lab-on-Chip Draws Interest at CES 2022

      It is designed for wearables, patch-based and implantable technologies.
      01.26.22

    • Breaking News | Displays and Lighting | Manufacturers News
      Continental’s $1 Billion OLED Order Shows Opportunities in Automotive Market

      Continental’s $1 Billion OLED Order Shows Opportunities in Automotive Market

      Design, viewing and energy-saving advantages of OLEDs are leading to increasing interest in the technology from automotive manufacturers.
      David Savastano, Editor 01.19.22

    Breaking News
    • Weekly Recap: Graphene Flagship, Japan Display and LG Display Top This Week’s Stories
    • Evonik Launches New Processing Aids for PV Wafer Cutting
    • NREL Creates Highest Efficiency 1-Sun Solar Cell
    • eMagin Wins People’s Choice Award at Display Week 2022
    • Wiliot Launches Battery-Assisted Version of its IoT Pixel Tags
    View Breaking News >
    CURRENT ISSUE

    Winter 2021

    • Printed Electronics Now’s International Suppliers’ Directory
    • The Automotive Market and Flexible and Printed Electronics
    • Flexible and Printed Electronics in Healthcare
    • Flexible and Printed Electronics Make Gains in Smart Packaging
    • PAPERONICS: Low-cost multisensory paper and packaging applications
    • View More >

    Cookies help us to provide you with an excellent service. By using our website, you declare yourself in agreement with our use of cookies.
    You can obtain detailed information about the use of cookies on our website by clicking on "More information”.

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms And Conditions
    • Contact Us

    follow us

    Subscribe
    Nutraceuticals World

    Latest Breaking News From Nutraceuticals World

    GOED Creates Infographic Highlighting Omega-3 Health Claims Approved in Europe
    Kyowa Hakko Appoints Dr. Colin Hill to Immuse Scientific Advisory Board
    Expert Consensus Statement: Diet is Best Primary Intervention to Achieve Diabetes Remission
    Coatings World

    Latest Breaking News From Coatings World

    Teknos Receives EcoVadis Gold Medal for Sustainability Performance
    AkzoNobel and Partners Team Up to Hack Carbon Reduction Challenges
    Five PPG Facilities in Ohio Recognized for Sustainability, Health, Safety Practices
    Medical Product Outsourcing

    Latest Breaking News From Medical Product Outsourcing

    MPO's Most-Read Stories This Week—May 21
    Iterative Scopes Expands its Senior Leadership Team
    Viz.ai Raises $100 Million in Series D Funding
    Contract Pharma

    Latest Breaking News From Contract Pharma

    Piramal Pharma Solutions New API Plant in Canada Now Online
    MG America Appoints Claudio Radossi as President
    Catalent Invests $175M to Expand Mfg. Capabilities at Winchester, KY
    Beauty Packaging

    Latest Breaking News From Beauty Packaging

    Authentic Beauty Concept Launches Second-Generation ‘Refill Bar’
    HASK Beauty Enters Exclusive Partnership with Amazon
    Garance Doré Launches Made in France Skincare Line
    Happi

    Latest Breaking News From Happi

    SPF Setting Spray, Lip Contour and Knotless Braids Are Hot Trends: Spate
    Nutrafol Launches Collagen Infusion
    ÄZ Craft Luxury Haircare Products Support All Hairstyles
    Ink World

    Latest Breaking News From Ink World

    Weekly Recap: Zeller+Gmelin, Sun Chemical and Kornit Top This Week’s News
    Nazdar Celebrates 100 Years with a New Look
    hubergroup Chemicals Exhibits at Paint India for First Time
    Label & Narrow Web

    Latest Breaking News From Label & Narrow Web

    Specialty announces move to new facility
    Mark Andy hosts dealer's open house in Warsaw
    Nazdar celebrates 100th anniversary with refreshed brand identity
    Nonwovens Industry

    Latest Breaking News From Nonwovens Industry

    3M to Expand in Nebraska
    Nicely Offers Nonwoven Slitters, Winders
    'Right' Hygiene Conference to be Held in June
    Orthopedic Design & Technology

    Latest Breaking News From Orthopedic Design & Technology

    ODT's Most Read Stories This Week—May 21
    FDA Clears Anika Therapeutics' X-Twist Knotless Fixation System
    Paragon 28 Rolls Out TenoTac 2.0 Hammertoe and Soft Tissue Repair
    Printed Electronics Now

    Latest Breaking News From Printed Electronics Now

    Weekly Recap: Graphene Flagship, Japan Display and LG Display Top This Week’s Stories
    Evonik Launches New Processing Aids for PV Wafer Cutting
    NREL Creates Highest Efficiency 1-Sun Solar Cell

    Copyright © 2022 Rodman Media. All rights reserved. Use of this constitutes acceptance of our privacy policy The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Rodman Media.

    AD BLOCKER DETECTED

    Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
    Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.


    FREE SUBSCRIPTION Already a subscriber? Login