Anthony Locicero, Associate Editor02.21.20
It seems more products featuring printed and flexible electronics are reaching commercialization. Equipment manufacturers reported growth – “particularly with the global demand for low-cost, energy-efficient, thin and flexible consumer electronics,” according to Laurie Panico, MARCOM manager, XENON Corporation.
“The end game for any printed and flexible electronics project or product should be commercialization and mass adoption for return on the investment,” Tim Luong, CERADROP national sales manager, said.
“The markets are definitely more active now than they have ever been in terms of commercializing projects involving flexible or printed hybrid electronics,” NovaCentrix’s chief marketing officer Stan Farnsworth added.
KEY Markets
The most important areas of growth, according to Coatema VP Thomas Kolbusch, are the automotive and healthcare fields, with consumer electronics being a close third. Additionally, the textile market is an area of opportunity, according to Panico.
“We see strong growth in sensor applications, conductive coating on flexible films replacing ITO, and smart textiles/wearables,” Kolbusch said.
XENON saw growth in “ RFID sensors using sub-micro and microparticles conductive materials,” Panico noted.
“The markets with the most opportunities are the same markets with which we have been engaged for some years now, namely consumer electronics, medical products of various types, automotive, and wearables,” Farnsworth said.
For CERADROP, it’s sensors and portable/disposable power source for basic device electronics, per Luong.
DeltaModTech marketing manager Dave Grenwis observed growth in the medical field.
“Pacemakers, heart monitoring equipment and muscle stimulation equipment use printed circuits, as well as diagnostic equipment including glucose monitors and body temperature monitors,” Grenwis said. “Traditional medical products are being updated to include smart features that allow monitoring and communication between patients and medical professionals. For example, data acquisition, dosing control and product notifications.”
“The healthcare market has provided several opportunities, particularly with wearable medical devices,” added Jay Stromberg, senior executive, business development, DeltaModTech. “Not only are these devices able to monitor vitals but they can also transmit information wirelessly, allowing caregivers and patients real-time tracking. RFID tag manufacturing equipment has shown steady growth as well.”
Not only are printed electronics used in these devices, “often batteries need to be manufactured and integrated into
these products,” Grenwis noted. “Battery manufacturing is a common application for our slot die coating systems.”
Capabilities
Cost-effective, user-friendly and programmable software, light-uniformity and high-intensity power over larger areas are atop the list of capabilities XENON’s customers seek when investing in new equipment, Panico said.
CERADROP customers are looking for expandability and integration flexibility, per Luong.
“First and foremost, our customers are looking for the ability to help them be successful. This means they are looking for capabilities in the products, but also they are really looking for a commitment from their providers to go the extra mile and take a solutions perspective,” Farnsworth said. “Our largest tool implementations have been successful because we were solving problems that were not dealing with our tools. Our team had the expertise though, and the business has the commitment to support our customers all the way to success.
“Regarding tool capabilities specifically, reliability and uniformity of results are among the most important. Also important is the ability to accurately measure the processes taking place,” he continued. “That’s why we have invested so much into the analytical capabilities of the PulseForge tools. Without the ability to accurately measure and track inputs and outputs, and the process steps in between, the results are always questionable at best, and are not confidence-instilling.”
Kolbusch said that customers are looking at upscaling into production scale.
“We do conductive coating equipment for flexible films at the moment already on a working width with 2.000 mm,” Kolbusch said. “We see more and more integration of backend processes and also equipment for hybrid electronics after our coating and printing lines. The other important part is integrated quality control systems, automatization of processes and processes related to industry 4.0.”
Stromberg said that on the converting side of DeltaModTech’s business, “We are regularly approached by customers whose products require multilayer lamination, laser etching, precision die-cutting, printing and end of line packaging .
“Many times, inspection systems are supplied for medical and pharmaceutical products to meet quality control requirements,” he continued. “Customers who are developing specialty coatings are typically looking for precise thickness control that is accomplished using slot die coating and drying systems.”
RECENT Innovations
Coatema recently filed a patent on intermittent slot die coating for low viscous media and thin layers, according to Kolbusch, who added that some new technologies from the company will be on display at drupa 2020.
“We added high slot die surfaces to our delivery portfolio and upgraded our click&coat system into an industrial production process, moving on pilot into production,” he said.
XENON launched X-1100, which Panico said was “specifically designed with researchers in mind, offering an intuitive system delivering high-peak optical power in fractions of a second, capable of producing a broad continuous spectrum that requires either high photon energy in the UV region or broad-spectrum light.
“Customers requiring larger sintering areas with higher energy density and a seamless transition from research to production will find success with XENON’s S-2210 system,” she added.
Grenwis said DeltaModTech is unveiling smarter machines.
“The use of Artificial Intelligence in machine controls is making the machines smarter, allowing them to detect and correct errors in the process automatically,” he continued. “The ability to monitor all phases of your manufacturing allows you to stay ahead of issues that could slow production.
“For example, monitoring raw materials such as coatings and substrates prevents shortages and waste,” he added. “Real-time feedback on your machine’s health allows you to plan for preventative maintenance and shorten downtime. Inline vision inspection capabilities not only allow machines to automatically adjust the process but also prevent the need for an offline inspection department. By providing data logging of both pass/fail and critical tolerance dimensions, critical quality inspection data can be sent to the end-user before the product reaches the shipping department, providing confidence and increasing speed to market.”
NovaCentrix recently released several new tool accessories, according to Farnsworth. That includes “a very nice wavelength filter set of the PulseForge tools,” the chief marketing officer noted.
“Customers can readily select the wavelengths of lamp output which will be used to process the target materials, and several breakthroughs have been made by controlling the impinging energy more accurately,” Farnsworth said. “Some of our biggest breakthroughs utilizing the new filters have actually occurred in processing more traditional semiconductor materials, as well as polymeric materials.”
One of the most important tool releases though relates to applying the PulseForge tools for soldering, according
to Farnsworth.
“We have released new modular power supplies and related subsystems that are now able to deliver the energy and power curves required for achieving traditional SAC solder reflow albeit in seconds vs. minutes,” he said. “The application of our tools for soldering means that traditional SMT components can now be attached without the use of adhesives to a wide variety of flexible substrates, including polymers, textiles and papers, without any damage to the substrates.”
The capability was launched at the IPC/APEX Expo in San Diego.
“The response was very exciting, and we are continuing to work on projects which initiated at the event,” Farnsworth concluded.
“The end game for any printed and flexible electronics project or product should be commercialization and mass adoption for return on the investment,” Tim Luong, CERADROP national sales manager, said.
“The markets are definitely more active now than they have ever been in terms of commercializing projects involving flexible or printed hybrid electronics,” NovaCentrix’s chief marketing officer Stan Farnsworth added.
KEY Markets
The most important areas of growth, according to Coatema VP Thomas Kolbusch, are the automotive and healthcare fields, with consumer electronics being a close third. Additionally, the textile market is an area of opportunity, according to Panico.
“We see strong growth in sensor applications, conductive coating on flexible films replacing ITO, and smart textiles/wearables,” Kolbusch said.
XENON saw growth in “ RFID sensors using sub-micro and microparticles conductive materials,” Panico noted.
“The markets with the most opportunities are the same markets with which we have been engaged for some years now, namely consumer electronics, medical products of various types, automotive, and wearables,” Farnsworth said.
For CERADROP, it’s sensors and portable/disposable power source for basic device electronics, per Luong.
DeltaModTech marketing manager Dave Grenwis observed growth in the medical field.
“Pacemakers, heart monitoring equipment and muscle stimulation equipment use printed circuits, as well as diagnostic equipment including glucose monitors and body temperature monitors,” Grenwis said. “Traditional medical products are being updated to include smart features that allow monitoring and communication between patients and medical professionals. For example, data acquisition, dosing control and product notifications.”
“The healthcare market has provided several opportunities, particularly with wearable medical devices,” added Jay Stromberg, senior executive, business development, DeltaModTech. “Not only are these devices able to monitor vitals but they can also transmit information wirelessly, allowing caregivers and patients real-time tracking. RFID tag manufacturing equipment has shown steady growth as well.”
Not only are printed electronics used in these devices, “often batteries need to be manufactured and integrated into
these products,” Grenwis noted. “Battery manufacturing is a common application for our slot die coating systems.”
Capabilities
Cost-effective, user-friendly and programmable software, light-uniformity and high-intensity power over larger areas are atop the list of capabilities XENON’s customers seek when investing in new equipment, Panico said.
CERADROP customers are looking for expandability and integration flexibility, per Luong.
“First and foremost, our customers are looking for the ability to help them be successful. This means they are looking for capabilities in the products, but also they are really looking for a commitment from their providers to go the extra mile and take a solutions perspective,” Farnsworth said. “Our largest tool implementations have been successful because we were solving problems that were not dealing with our tools. Our team had the expertise though, and the business has the commitment to support our customers all the way to success.
“Regarding tool capabilities specifically, reliability and uniformity of results are among the most important. Also important is the ability to accurately measure the processes taking place,” he continued. “That’s why we have invested so much into the analytical capabilities of the PulseForge tools. Without the ability to accurately measure and track inputs and outputs, and the process steps in between, the results are always questionable at best, and are not confidence-instilling.”
Kolbusch said that customers are looking at upscaling into production scale.
“We do conductive coating equipment for flexible films at the moment already on a working width with 2.000 mm,” Kolbusch said. “We see more and more integration of backend processes and also equipment for hybrid electronics after our coating and printing lines. The other important part is integrated quality control systems, automatization of processes and processes related to industry 4.0.”
Stromberg said that on the converting side of DeltaModTech’s business, “We are regularly approached by customers whose products require multilayer lamination, laser etching, precision die-cutting, printing and end of line packaging .
“Many times, inspection systems are supplied for medical and pharmaceutical products to meet quality control requirements,” he continued. “Customers who are developing specialty coatings are typically looking for precise thickness control that is accomplished using slot die coating and drying systems.”
RECENT Innovations
Coatema recently filed a patent on intermittent slot die coating for low viscous media and thin layers, according to Kolbusch, who added that some new technologies from the company will be on display at drupa 2020.
“We added high slot die surfaces to our delivery portfolio and upgraded our click&coat system into an industrial production process, moving on pilot into production,” he said.
XENON launched X-1100, which Panico said was “specifically designed with researchers in mind, offering an intuitive system delivering high-peak optical power in fractions of a second, capable of producing a broad continuous spectrum that requires either high photon energy in the UV region or broad-spectrum light.
“Customers requiring larger sintering areas with higher energy density and a seamless transition from research to production will find success with XENON’s S-2210 system,” she added.
Grenwis said DeltaModTech is unveiling smarter machines.
“The use of Artificial Intelligence in machine controls is making the machines smarter, allowing them to detect and correct errors in the process automatically,” he continued. “The ability to monitor all phases of your manufacturing allows you to stay ahead of issues that could slow production.
“For example, monitoring raw materials such as coatings and substrates prevents shortages and waste,” he added. “Real-time feedback on your machine’s health allows you to plan for preventative maintenance and shorten downtime. Inline vision inspection capabilities not only allow machines to automatically adjust the process but also prevent the need for an offline inspection department. By providing data logging of both pass/fail and critical tolerance dimensions, critical quality inspection data can be sent to the end-user before the product reaches the shipping department, providing confidence and increasing speed to market.”
NovaCentrix recently released several new tool accessories, according to Farnsworth. That includes “a very nice wavelength filter set of the PulseForge tools,” the chief marketing officer noted.
“Customers can readily select the wavelengths of lamp output which will be used to process the target materials, and several breakthroughs have been made by controlling the impinging energy more accurately,” Farnsworth said. “Some of our biggest breakthroughs utilizing the new filters have actually occurred in processing more traditional semiconductor materials, as well as polymeric materials.”
One of the most important tool releases though relates to applying the PulseForge tools for soldering, according
to Farnsworth.
“We have released new modular power supplies and related subsystems that are now able to deliver the energy and power curves required for achieving traditional SAC solder reflow albeit in seconds vs. minutes,” he said. “The application of our tools for soldering means that traditional SMT components can now be attached without the use of adhesives to a wide variety of flexible substrates, including polymers, textiles and papers, without any damage to the substrates.”
The capability was launched at the IPC/APEX Expo in San Diego.
“The response was very exciting, and we are continuing to work on projects which initiated at the event,” Farnsworth concluded.
