Printed Electronics: On the Road to Success with Innovations, LOPEC Says
03.18.19
LOPEC takes place March 19-21 in Munich.
Printed lithium-ion batteries and an adhesive alarm tape for vehicles: These are just two of many novelties that visitors to LOPEC 2019 can look forward to.
“In keeping with the success of printed electronics, we are seeing more exhibitor registrations than ever before,” said Barbara Ismaier, LOPEC Exhibition Director at Messe München.
More than 160 exhibitors from 19 countries will be stationed across the 1,600-square-meter show floor.
In Munich, the US company Creative Materials will present a conductive ink for direct printing on textiles.
Even without a protective layer, the electronics produced with it are so robust that they can withstand 100 washing and drying cycles.
The INM – Leibniz Institute for New Materials in Saarbrücken, Germany, on the other hand, has developed a hybrid ink for printing circuits on paper or film. It contains both organic polymers and metallic nanoparticles.
The INM will also provide information on inkjet printing and other processes.
The INM will also provide information on inkjet printing and other processes.
By electrospinning, transparent, conductive nets of extremely fine fibers can be applied to glass. For the conventional entry into printed electronics, on the other hand, LOPEC exhibitor Coatema is offering compact machines that print on DIN A4 formats or by roll-to-roll processing. In addition to other plant manufacturers, companies such as Siemens, Polytec and M. Braun Inertgas-Systeme will be represented with plants for automation and process optimization.
“The high level of maturity of printed electronics is reflected in the fact that LOPEC is presenting a larger number of concrete applications every year,” said Ismaier.
“The high level of maturity of printed electronics is reflected in the fact that LOPEC is presenting a larger number of concrete applications every year,” said Ismaier.
Varta Microbattery is going to introduce several types of printed batteries: Within the scope of the EU INNPAPER project, the company is developing zinc-carbon batteries for paper-based electronics. Printed lithium-ion batteries and rechargeable zinc-air cells are also on display by Varta. Other highlights include the tape for theft protection of vehicles at the stand of Witte plusprint. It consists of a plastic fabric on the back of which electrical conducting paths are applied. When cut, it triggers an audible or visual alarm signal.
The exhibits from InnovationLab and KEX Knowledge Exchange are also of interest for the automotive industry: InnovationLab manufactures high throughput pressure sensors by printing. Integrated into car seats, they detect seat occupancy and remind the driver, for example, to fasten their seat belt. New heating concepts are in demand for e-mobility. KEX is going to present a panel heating system for the interior of electric cars based on a transparent heating foil with a fine metallic net. 16 companies were involved in development.
“Cooperation is crucial for the breakthrough of new technologies,” Ismaier said. “With LOPEC, we are bringing all the players together. We are delighted that, along with companies from all over the world, so many research institutes and networks are actively participating in LOPEC.”
The exhibits from InnovationLab and KEX Knowledge Exchange are also of interest for the automotive industry: InnovationLab manufactures high throughput pressure sensors by printing. Integrated into car seats, they detect seat occupancy and remind the driver, for example, to fasten their seat belt. New heating concepts are in demand for e-mobility. KEX is going to present a panel heating system for the interior of electric cars based on a transparent heating foil with a fine metallic net. 16 companies were involved in development.
“Cooperation is crucial for the breakthrough of new technologies,” Ismaier said. “With LOPEC, we are bringing all the players together. We are delighted that, along with companies from all over the world, so many research institutes and networks are actively participating in LOPEC.”
Several Fraunhofer Institutes, the Spanish Functional Print cluster, the Dutch Holst Centre, the Finnish research center VTT, the Canadian intelliFLEX Innovation Alliance, the Innovation Center for Organic Electronics at Yamagata University in Japan and many other institutions will be represented in Munich.
