David Savastano, Editor11.07.14
In recent years, printed electronics (PE) has made gains throughout the industry, from components, materials and equipment to research that has the potential to open up new opportunities.
Those gains have now led to products reaching commercialization, and the PE industry is gaining traction in the market, with innovative companies like Thin Film Electronics ASA, T-Ink, Printechnologics, Cambrios, PragmatIC Printing, Ynvisible, Heliatek, Plastic Logic and others making gains in their respective markets.
Printechnologics GmbH has received much notice for its Touchcode technology, an invisible data tag which can be printed on nearly any surface – including paper, carton or foil – and establishes a link between online and offline communications. In 2011, more than 25 million of Printechnologics’ Touchcode cards were produced, and the company estimated that Printechnologics would produce more than 100 million in 2012. Among the notable companies to use Touchcode are ICON, iSupergol and Nukotoys.
As a result, Touchcode received Gold Winner honors in the prestigious Wall Street Journal’s Technology Innovation Awards. Stefanie Funke, product manager, Printechnologics GmbH, said that due to technological advances made in recent years, packaging needs to be more than simply protecting its content.
“Nowadays, consumers expect additional benefits and information like ingredients or recipes,” Funke added. “By including Printechnologics’ Touchcode technology, packages can exactly deliver this experience. Simply by placing Touchcode on a multi-touch screen device like smartphones or tablets, consumers get additional information as well as limited benefits like discounts or access to customized areas. As Touchcode can be printed on almost any material like paper, plastic or foil during standard printing processes, the technology neither interferes with existing supply chains nor produces electronic or additional waste.”
Terry Kaiserman, co-founder and chief technical officer for T-Ink, Inc., said T-Ink enjoyed growth during the past year as more of its products reached commercialization, most notably T-Ink Smart Surface 3D In-mold Overhead Console, featuring screen printed capacitive switches, in the 2013 Ford Fusion.
“The release of the 2013 Ford Fusion using our part in the overhead console has given printed electronics enormous credibility,” Kaiserman said. “More and more companies are coming to providers of PE to lower costs, improve performance, lower weight and reduce form factor and, of course, lessen the amount of materials on their bill of materials (BOM). The future of PE is bright and growing, not without its challenges though, but growing none the less.”
Thin Film Electronics ASA (Thinfilm) has made tremendous headway in the field of printed sensors with its Thinfilm Memory. Thinfilm is working with Bemis Company, a leading supplier of flexible packaging and pressure sensitive materials with sales of $5.3 billion in 2011, on Thinfilm’s Intelligent Packaging Platform to develop a flexible sensing platform, and the company just announced that it has received its first order for brand protection products.
“Thinfilm is developing Smart Tags that can add intelligence to virtually any object,” said Jennifer Ernst, executive vice president, sales and business development at Thin Film Electronics ASA. “These tags or labels integrate a variety of electronic functionality at price points that compete with chemistry-based, color change labels.
“ Smart packaging is one of the applications for such tags,” Ernst added. “The specific JDA announced with Bemis is focused on an Intelligent Packaging Platform. The core of the platform is Thinfilm’s Memory and the logic we have co-developed with PARC. To that, we are adding sensor functionality and RF communication for reading of the tag. With such a label, the package itself can keep track of, for example, exposure to heat or other parameters that are of concern for the product contained within.”
Scott White, CEO, PragmatIC Printing Ltd, said that PragmatIC Printing works with a number of large, multi-national brand owners, including Hallmark and De La Rue, on developing and implementing concepts for smart packaging.
“These range from simple brand promotion (e.g. flashing lights on a package to attract the consumer’s attention) to functional features that have a useful benefit to the consumer when using the product (e.g. timers, decision circuits, sensors, etc.),” White added. “We are currently progressing these from prototype stage into commercial production with key customers.”
One of PragmatIC’s customers is Illinois Tool Works (ITW), which had 2011 sales of $17.8 billion. ITW is licensing PragmatIC’s unique imprinted logic circuit technology, enabling ITW to develop and sell novel printed electronics solutions for areas ranging from security applications and brand identity to smart cards .
“Regarding the relationship with ITW, they form part of the emerging supply chain for such applications,” White noted. “ITW already supplies other components to packaging converters, and is developing capabilities to incorporate printed electronics into such components so as to make it easy for converters to embed this functionality into the packaging they supply.”
Rahul Gupta, Cambrios’ senior director of business development, said that Cambrios has been working on ClearOhm transparent conductive material technology since 2005.
“Currently, Cambrios is particularly focused on the touch panel market, which is growing rapidly as Windows 8 is driving adoption of touch screens on laptops and All-in-One computers,” Gupta said. “The larger size of these devices compared to smartphones requires a low resistance transparent conductor in order to maintain the highly responsive touch experience consumers are accustomed to in much smaller devices. ClearOhm coated PET with resistance as low as 30-80 ohms/sq, a resistance range unachievable with ITO sputtered on plastic substrates, is already enabling touch sensors for All-in-One PCs.
“The cost effectiveness of touch sensors made using Cambrios’ ClearOhm technology is driving faster mass-market adoption of touch-enabled laptops and all-in-one PCs,” Gupta added. “In addition to enabling innovation within the large area touchscreen market, Cambrios has made significant strides with OLED lighting. ClearOhm material is also enabling high volume, low cost roll-to-roll production of efficient solar cells. Together with flexible thin-film solar module developer Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., Cambrios demonstrated effective copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar cells using its wet-processed, transparent conductive ClearOhm material. In addition, ClearOhm material is in pilot qualification for high throughput roll-to-roll production of OPV devices and has the potential to improve the performance of photovoltaic (PV) modules.”
Plastic Logic GmbH is making headway in the field of flexible displays.
“Plastic Logic’s high-quality flexible plastic displays are available in color and monochrome and in various sizes,” said Rachel Lichten, head of marketing communications, Plastic Logic GmbH. “These flexible, bendable displays enable revolutionary design possibilities and are set to transform existing markets, such as signage, wristwatches and wearable devices, and automotive as well as many others.”
Jani-Mikael Kuusisto, chief business development officer at Ynvisible, noted that Ynvisible develops and markets interactive solutions for everyday printed items. “Ynvisible’s vision is to bring everyday objects and surfaces to life, making them more useful and enjoyable to people,” Kuusisto said.
Kuusisto said that Ynvisible is focused on developing consumer applications using in part printed electronics/printed intelligence technologies.
“We work with CPG companies and their printing and packaging supply chains to realize new products,” said Kuusisto. “We see packaging having an increasing role within the entire product experience, and it is a platform for new product innovation. While packaging is still often regarded as a cost component and the ever-increasing pressures to minimize the environmental impacts of packaging, new printed functionality on or in packaging can also improve product performance, thereby adding both value to the entire package and enabling reductions in waste.”
The field of organic photovoltaics (OPV) has seen opportunities for roll-to-roll production, with companies such as Heliatek and Solar Press enjoying success.
Heliatek CEO Thibaud Le Segullian noted that Heliatek delivers solar films as energy harvesting components (semi-finished goods) to various industry partners, that apply or integrate its films into their existing or new products.
“These films are very suitable for consumer applications thanks to their lightweight (0.5Kg/m2), their thin profile (less than 1mm thick) and their ability to harvest power in very low light environment such as indoors,” said Le Segullian.
“Solar Press brings a fresh approach to the OPV field,” said Chris Harris, CEO of Solar Press. “Solar Press is pioneering the development, sale and support of turnkey production systems for OPV that reduce the barrier to entry for new manufacturers in all regions of the world.”
Initial Successes
Printed electronics products have reached commercialization, and PE manufacturers are showcasing these products as examples of opportunities to come.
Funke said that since Touchcode was market-ready in mid-2011, different projects have proven its potential to inspire a series of innovative products. “Axel Springer was the first multimedia company using Touchcode to offer their readers a completely new adventure,” Funke said. “By adding a Touchcode card into the printed magazine ICON, the readers were able to enjoy that issue on the iPad as well.
“The successful launch in the field of media publishing was followed by another project in the gaming sector carried out with PMI, the largest distributor of stickers and trading cards in Israel,” Funke added. “For the first time, Israeli soccer fans were able to access additional video links, build their own virtual dream team and add players to an album. Within two days, the app was downloaded more than 10,000 times and it became No. 1 App in Israel’s ‘Kids Game’ section. A large number of further products – including the two awarded and interactive Nukotoys’ games ‘Monsterology’ and ‘Animal Planet’ - demonstrated Touchcode’s potential as well.”
T-Ink has developed a number of promising applications, including Touchpac, a joint venture with Printechnologics.
“We have a new JV called Touchpac where T-Ink has partnered with Printechnologics,” Kaiserman said. “They invented this technology, and T-Ink is bringing it into a printable ink format for many product packages. The technology involves printing a capacitive signature that can be read by any touch screen device, but is invisible. It functions as a QR code would, but takes up no visible real estate on a package and doesn’t detract from the aesthetics of a package. It is rolling out in product packaging this year for both an information play and a security feature. This is using a quickset offset conductor capable of running above 18K sheets per hour.”
White said that PragmatIC Printing is active in packaging, brand protection and novelties.
“Key initial markets for us are consumer packaging, security (brand protection, document authentication , etc.) and novelties (greeting cards, toys, games, etc.),” White said. “Specific products and customers are covered under NDAs, although it is public information that we have worked with Hallmark (via their Tigerprint subsidiary) and De La Rue (the world’s largest integrated banknote supplier).”
“Thinfilm has publicly announced several product development activities,” Ernst said. “Temperature tracking, in the form of an electronic label, for perishable goods is one. These labels can be used for pharmaceuticals, food products and sensitive shipments like floral. With Bemis, we are testing other parameters that one might want to know about during shipment that affect product quality. We have also announced a project partially backed by Eurostars to develop dynamic pricing labels.”
“Our current developments relating to potential packaging applications are confidential in nature, and will take some time to reach market,” Kuusisto said. “However, we are actively working with companies delivering printed point of sale and merchandise display solutions. There, one of the first products is an electrochromics-based printed product selector that helps people in the product selection process. This type of functionality can, with time, be extended into packaging.”
The OPV market also has shown signs of growth. Le Segullian said that Heliatek’s customers are all still under NDA, except RECKLI.
“Heliatek’s first focus is on BIPV solutions by working with a number of building and construction materials manufacturers,” he added. “One targeted market is, of course, on transparent solar film between glasses; Heliatek is fully engaged with the world leaders in glass manufacturing. Heliatek is also working with large industry partners involved in supplying other facade material such as concrete, steel and polycarbonate. Automotive solar glass roof is the other focus market. There, also, the transparency is a key success factor.”
Harris said that Solar Press is initially targeting indoor energy harvesting applications for OPV.
“There is a growing market for autonomous, wireless sensors for environmental monitoring and building control, and providing a sustainable power source reduces the inconvenience and cost of battery changes or installing fixed wiring,” Harris noted. “OPV, with its conformable, thin and lightweight form, ease of integration and compatibility with indoor as well as outdoor illumination, meets the needs of this application well. As Solar Press further develops its OPV platform, it plans to address the market for portable solar chargers and lamps, particularly for developing countries.”
On the display side, Cambrios’ ClearOhm technology appears in the LG V325, a 23” Windows 8 certified All-in-One computer; LG’s Touch 10 ET83 touchscreen monitor, which delivers full 10-point touch capability in a 23” touchscreen LCD computer monitor; and GVision’s L15AX, a 15” Integrated Touchscreen LCD point-of-sale (POS) display.
Lichten said that Plastic Logic is working with several leading brand-name companies, which are developing next-generation wearable electronics with Plastic Logic’s flexible display technology.
“We have recently showcased several revolutionary design concepts, which our flexible plastic display technology enables: the next generation of products, if you will, including a large-area, ultra-thin and superlight reading device and a wristwatch with a fully integrated display, which quite literally wraps around your wrist,” Lichten said. “Devices such as these have simply not been possible until now, because all other displays are based on glass.”
PE’s Growth in the Consumer Market
With PE successfully moving into commercialization, PE manufacturers are seeing new opportunities ahead.
“According to a technical market research report released in 2011, the global market for printed electronics is expected to increase to $12.6 billion in 2016,” Funke said. “Today, the potential character of printed electronics lies in the ability to facilitate applications that are not feasible or uneconomical with conventional electronics and methods. Using that framework, Touchcode bears the potential to set up a new communication standard. Besides Touchcode technology, we are developing new and upcoming technologies to further the evolution of paper products.”
“We see PE in consumer packaging as being somewhat similar to the evolution of color printing – initially viewed as a bit of a novelty, and only used on high profile or promotional products due to cost, but able to evolve over time to become ubiquitous on all forms of packaging,” White said.
“If you are looking for rapid market disruptions, interest and expectations are down,” said Kuusisto. “However, if you look at the markets emerging more from niche applications, interest is certainly growing. Some are even talking about a second wave for printed electronics, and this time with less hype and more focus on realizing products with current technological capabilities.”
Gupta observed that while the printed electronics industry is still in its infancy, interest is definitely growing.
“For example, Cambrios’ ClearOhm material already enables several commercially-available devices and is continuing to make big strides,” Gupta added. “Samsung has made a large investment in the company, as have many other large strategic customers. The company is confident that its ClearOhm material will continue to gain market share and eventually replace ITO as the go-to transparent conductive material for numerous applications. There is also increasing interest from large multibillion dollar companies in emerging markets, such as e-paper, touch panels and sensors, efficient OLED lighting and OPV devices, and flexible displays.
“However, in order for printed electronics innovations to reach mass production and broad consumer acceptance, they must deliver exceptional performance at an affordable cost – two of Cambrios’ primary value propositions,” Gupta added. “Cambrios is confident that this market will grow significantly over the next decade. We are continuing to build strong partnerships that will ensure our success not only on the touch panel market but also in many other emerging markets.”
“Embedded electronic intelligence is a massive trend, often called the Internet of Things ,” Ernst noted. “Consider that 23% of the value of a car is in the electronics. However, most of the markets that electronics address today scale by the number of people in the world. One or two cell phones, a computer per household or per person. Except for the most extravagant collectors of cars, it’s usually no more than one car per driver. The opportunity scales by the number of people in the world.
“But there are huge market segments that electronics can’t penetrate,” Ernst added. “Toys and games are an example of a market at the cross-over point, where electronics have only been used in the highest priced products. These segments scale, not by the number of people, but by the number of objects in the world. Number of collectable figures in a game, number of packages, number of temperature sensor items shipped. If we can add just 1% to the retail value these segments, it’s at least a $100 billion opportunity.
“PE isn’t about the tags we make; it’s about the systems that can be built because those devices are becoming available,” Ernst concluded. “And those systems will be different from what you’d build with conventional electronics. PE isn’t a substitute; it’s a change of paradigm. Bemis understands that. Hasbro understands that. Now is exactly the right time to reach the system providers.”
Those gains have now led to products reaching commercialization, and the PE industry is gaining traction in the market, with innovative companies like Thin Film Electronics ASA, T-Ink, Printechnologics, Cambrios, PragmatIC Printing, Ynvisible, Heliatek, Plastic Logic and others making gains in their respective markets.
Printechnologics GmbH has received much notice for its Touchcode technology, an invisible data tag which can be printed on nearly any surface – including paper, carton or foil – and establishes a link between online and offline communications. In 2011, more than 25 million of Printechnologics’ Touchcode cards were produced, and the company estimated that Printechnologics would produce more than 100 million in 2012. Among the notable companies to use Touchcode are ICON, iSupergol and Nukotoys.
As a result, Touchcode received Gold Winner honors in the prestigious Wall Street Journal’s Technology Innovation Awards. Stefanie Funke, product manager, Printechnologics GmbH, said that due to technological advances made in recent years, packaging needs to be more than simply protecting its content.
“Nowadays, consumers expect additional benefits and information like ingredients or recipes,” Funke added. “By including Printechnologics’ Touchcode technology, packages can exactly deliver this experience. Simply by placing Touchcode on a multi-touch screen device like smartphones or tablets, consumers get additional information as well as limited benefits like discounts or access to customized areas. As Touchcode can be printed on almost any material like paper, plastic or foil during standard printing processes, the technology neither interferes with existing supply chains nor produces electronic or additional waste.”
Terry Kaiserman, co-founder and chief technical officer for T-Ink, Inc., said T-Ink enjoyed growth during the past year as more of its products reached commercialization, most notably T-Ink Smart Surface 3D In-mold Overhead Console, featuring screen printed capacitive switches, in the 2013 Ford Fusion.
“The release of the 2013 Ford Fusion using our part in the overhead console has given printed electronics enormous credibility,” Kaiserman said. “More and more companies are coming to providers of PE to lower costs, improve performance, lower weight and reduce form factor and, of course, lessen the amount of materials on their bill of materials (BOM). The future of PE is bright and growing, not without its challenges though, but growing none the less.”
Thin Film Electronics ASA (Thinfilm) has made tremendous headway in the field of printed sensors with its Thinfilm Memory. Thinfilm is working with Bemis Company, a leading supplier of flexible packaging and pressure sensitive materials with sales of $5.3 billion in 2011, on Thinfilm’s Intelligent Packaging Platform to develop a flexible sensing platform, and the company just announced that it has received its first order for brand protection products.
“Thinfilm is developing Smart Tags that can add intelligence to virtually any object,” said Jennifer Ernst, executive vice president, sales and business development at Thin Film Electronics ASA. “These tags or labels integrate a variety of electronic functionality at price points that compete with chemistry-based, color change labels.
“ Smart packaging is one of the applications for such tags,” Ernst added. “The specific JDA announced with Bemis is focused on an Intelligent Packaging Platform. The core of the platform is Thinfilm’s Memory and the logic we have co-developed with PARC. To that, we are adding sensor functionality and RF communication for reading of the tag. With such a label, the package itself can keep track of, for example, exposure to heat or other parameters that are of concern for the product contained within.”
Scott White, CEO, PragmatIC Printing Ltd, said that PragmatIC Printing works with a number of large, multi-national brand owners, including Hallmark and De La Rue, on developing and implementing concepts for smart packaging.
“These range from simple brand promotion (e.g. flashing lights on a package to attract the consumer’s attention) to functional features that have a useful benefit to the consumer when using the product (e.g. timers, decision circuits, sensors, etc.),” White added. “We are currently progressing these from prototype stage into commercial production with key customers.”
One of PragmatIC’s customers is Illinois Tool Works (ITW), which had 2011 sales of $17.8 billion. ITW is licensing PragmatIC’s unique imprinted logic circuit technology, enabling ITW to develop and sell novel printed electronics solutions for areas ranging from security applications and brand identity to smart cards .
“Regarding the relationship with ITW, they form part of the emerging supply chain for such applications,” White noted. “ITW already supplies other components to packaging converters, and is developing capabilities to incorporate printed electronics into such components so as to make it easy for converters to embed this functionality into the packaging they supply.”
Rahul Gupta, Cambrios’ senior director of business development, said that Cambrios has been working on ClearOhm transparent conductive material technology since 2005.
“Currently, Cambrios is particularly focused on the touch panel market, which is growing rapidly as Windows 8 is driving adoption of touch screens on laptops and All-in-One computers,” Gupta said. “The larger size of these devices compared to smartphones requires a low resistance transparent conductor in order to maintain the highly responsive touch experience consumers are accustomed to in much smaller devices. ClearOhm coated PET with resistance as low as 30-80 ohms/sq, a resistance range unachievable with ITO sputtered on plastic substrates, is already enabling touch sensors for All-in-One PCs.
“The cost effectiveness of touch sensors made using Cambrios’ ClearOhm technology is driving faster mass-market adoption of touch-enabled laptops and all-in-one PCs,” Gupta added. “In addition to enabling innovation within the large area touchscreen market, Cambrios has made significant strides with OLED lighting. ClearOhm material is also enabling high volume, low cost roll-to-roll production of efficient solar cells. Together with flexible thin-film solar module developer Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., Cambrios demonstrated effective copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar cells using its wet-processed, transparent conductive ClearOhm material. In addition, ClearOhm material is in pilot qualification for high throughput roll-to-roll production of OPV devices and has the potential to improve the performance of photovoltaic (PV) modules.”
Plastic Logic GmbH is making headway in the field of flexible displays.
“Plastic Logic’s high-quality flexible plastic displays are available in color and monochrome and in various sizes,” said Rachel Lichten, head of marketing communications, Plastic Logic GmbH. “These flexible, bendable displays enable revolutionary design possibilities and are set to transform existing markets, such as signage, wristwatches and wearable devices, and automotive as well as many others.”
Jani-Mikael Kuusisto, chief business development officer at Ynvisible, noted that Ynvisible develops and markets interactive solutions for everyday printed items. “Ynvisible’s vision is to bring everyday objects and surfaces to life, making them more useful and enjoyable to people,” Kuusisto said.
Kuusisto said that Ynvisible is focused on developing consumer applications using in part printed electronics/printed intelligence technologies.
“We work with CPG companies and their printing and packaging supply chains to realize new products,” said Kuusisto. “We see packaging having an increasing role within the entire product experience, and it is a platform for new product innovation. While packaging is still often regarded as a cost component and the ever-increasing pressures to minimize the environmental impacts of packaging, new printed functionality on or in packaging can also improve product performance, thereby adding both value to the entire package and enabling reductions in waste.”
The field of organic photovoltaics (OPV) has seen opportunities for roll-to-roll production, with companies such as Heliatek and Solar Press enjoying success.
Heliatek CEO Thibaud Le Segullian noted that Heliatek delivers solar films as energy harvesting components (semi-finished goods) to various industry partners, that apply or integrate its films into their existing or new products.
“These films are very suitable for consumer applications thanks to their lightweight (0.5Kg/m2), their thin profile (less than 1mm thick) and their ability to harvest power in very low light environment such as indoors,” said Le Segullian.
“Solar Press brings a fresh approach to the OPV field,” said Chris Harris, CEO of Solar Press. “Solar Press is pioneering the development, sale and support of turnkey production systems for OPV that reduce the barrier to entry for new manufacturers in all regions of the world.”
Initial Successes
Printed electronics products have reached commercialization, and PE manufacturers are showcasing these products as examples of opportunities to come.
Funke said that since Touchcode was market-ready in mid-2011, different projects have proven its potential to inspire a series of innovative products. “Axel Springer was the first multimedia company using Touchcode to offer their readers a completely new adventure,” Funke said. “By adding a Touchcode card into the printed magazine ICON, the readers were able to enjoy that issue on the iPad as well.
“The successful launch in the field of media publishing was followed by another project in the gaming sector carried out with PMI, the largest distributor of stickers and trading cards in Israel,” Funke added. “For the first time, Israeli soccer fans were able to access additional video links, build their own virtual dream team and add players to an album. Within two days, the app was downloaded more than 10,000 times and it became No. 1 App in Israel’s ‘Kids Game’ section. A large number of further products – including the two awarded and interactive Nukotoys’ games ‘Monsterology’ and ‘Animal Planet’ - demonstrated Touchcode’s potential as well.”
T-Ink has developed a number of promising applications, including Touchpac, a joint venture with Printechnologics.
“We have a new JV called Touchpac where T-Ink has partnered with Printechnologics,” Kaiserman said. “They invented this technology, and T-Ink is bringing it into a printable ink format for many product packages. The technology involves printing a capacitive signature that can be read by any touch screen device, but is invisible. It functions as a QR code would, but takes up no visible real estate on a package and doesn’t detract from the aesthetics of a package. It is rolling out in product packaging this year for both an information play and a security feature. This is using a quickset offset conductor capable of running above 18K sheets per hour.”
White said that PragmatIC Printing is active in packaging, brand protection and novelties.
“Key initial markets for us are consumer packaging, security (brand protection, document authentication , etc.) and novelties (greeting cards, toys, games, etc.),” White said. “Specific products and customers are covered under NDAs, although it is public information that we have worked with Hallmark (via their Tigerprint subsidiary) and De La Rue (the world’s largest integrated banknote supplier).”
“Thinfilm has publicly announced several product development activities,” Ernst said. “Temperature tracking, in the form of an electronic label, for perishable goods is one. These labels can be used for pharmaceuticals, food products and sensitive shipments like floral. With Bemis, we are testing other parameters that one might want to know about during shipment that affect product quality. We have also announced a project partially backed by Eurostars to develop dynamic pricing labels.”
“Our current developments relating to potential packaging applications are confidential in nature, and will take some time to reach market,” Kuusisto said. “However, we are actively working with companies delivering printed point of sale and merchandise display solutions. There, one of the first products is an electrochromics-based printed product selector that helps people in the product selection process. This type of functionality can, with time, be extended into packaging.”
The OPV market also has shown signs of growth. Le Segullian said that Heliatek’s customers are all still under NDA, except RECKLI.
“Heliatek’s first focus is on BIPV solutions by working with a number of building and construction materials manufacturers,” he added. “One targeted market is, of course, on transparent solar film between glasses; Heliatek is fully engaged with the world leaders in glass manufacturing. Heliatek is also working with large industry partners involved in supplying other facade material such as concrete, steel and polycarbonate. Automotive solar glass roof is the other focus market. There, also, the transparency is a key success factor.”
Harris said that Solar Press is initially targeting indoor energy harvesting applications for OPV.
“There is a growing market for autonomous, wireless sensors for environmental monitoring and building control, and providing a sustainable power source reduces the inconvenience and cost of battery changes or installing fixed wiring,” Harris noted. “OPV, with its conformable, thin and lightweight form, ease of integration and compatibility with indoor as well as outdoor illumination, meets the needs of this application well. As Solar Press further develops its OPV platform, it plans to address the market for portable solar chargers and lamps, particularly for developing countries.”
On the display side, Cambrios’ ClearOhm technology appears in the LG V325, a 23” Windows 8 certified All-in-One computer; LG’s Touch 10 ET83 touchscreen monitor, which delivers full 10-point touch capability in a 23” touchscreen LCD computer monitor; and GVision’s L15AX, a 15” Integrated Touchscreen LCD point-of-sale (POS) display.
Lichten said that Plastic Logic is working with several leading brand-name companies, which are developing next-generation wearable electronics with Plastic Logic’s flexible display technology.
“We have recently showcased several revolutionary design concepts, which our flexible plastic display technology enables: the next generation of products, if you will, including a large-area, ultra-thin and superlight reading device and a wristwatch with a fully integrated display, which quite literally wraps around your wrist,” Lichten said. “Devices such as these have simply not been possible until now, because all other displays are based on glass.”
PE’s Growth in the Consumer Market
With PE successfully moving into commercialization, PE manufacturers are seeing new opportunities ahead.
“According to a technical market research report released in 2011, the global market for printed electronics is expected to increase to $12.6 billion in 2016,” Funke said. “Today, the potential character of printed electronics lies in the ability to facilitate applications that are not feasible or uneconomical with conventional electronics and methods. Using that framework, Touchcode bears the potential to set up a new communication standard. Besides Touchcode technology, we are developing new and upcoming technologies to further the evolution of paper products.”
“We see PE in consumer packaging as being somewhat similar to the evolution of color printing – initially viewed as a bit of a novelty, and only used on high profile or promotional products due to cost, but able to evolve over time to become ubiquitous on all forms of packaging,” White said.
“If you are looking for rapid market disruptions, interest and expectations are down,” said Kuusisto. “However, if you look at the markets emerging more from niche applications, interest is certainly growing. Some are even talking about a second wave for printed electronics, and this time with less hype and more focus on realizing products with current technological capabilities.”
Gupta observed that while the printed electronics industry is still in its infancy, interest is definitely growing.
“For example, Cambrios’ ClearOhm material already enables several commercially-available devices and is continuing to make big strides,” Gupta added. “Samsung has made a large investment in the company, as have many other large strategic customers. The company is confident that its ClearOhm material will continue to gain market share and eventually replace ITO as the go-to transparent conductive material for numerous applications. There is also increasing interest from large multibillion dollar companies in emerging markets, such as e-paper, touch panels and sensors, efficient OLED lighting and OPV devices, and flexible displays.
“However, in order for printed electronics innovations to reach mass production and broad consumer acceptance, they must deliver exceptional performance at an affordable cost – two of Cambrios’ primary value propositions,” Gupta added. “Cambrios is confident that this market will grow significantly over the next decade. We are continuing to build strong partnerships that will ensure our success not only on the touch panel market but also in many other emerging markets.”
“Embedded electronic intelligence is a massive trend, often called the Internet of Things ,” Ernst noted. “Consider that 23% of the value of a car is in the electronics. However, most of the markets that electronics address today scale by the number of people in the world. One or two cell phones, a computer per household or per person. Except for the most extravagant collectors of cars, it’s usually no more than one car per driver. The opportunity scales by the number of people in the world.
“But there are huge market segments that electronics can’t penetrate,” Ernst added. “Toys and games are an example of a market at the cross-over point, where electronics have only been used in the highest priced products. These segments scale, not by the number of people, but by the number of objects in the world. Number of collectable figures in a game, number of packages, number of temperature sensor items shipped. If we can add just 1% to the retail value these segments, it’s at least a $100 billion opportunity.
“PE isn’t about the tags we make; it’s about the systems that can be built because those devices are becoming available,” Ernst concluded. “And those systems will be different from what you’d build with conventional electronics. PE isn’t a substitute; it’s a change of paradigm. Bemis understands that. Hasbro understands that. Now is exactly the right time to reach the system providers.”
