Printed electronics is the new megatrend at Interpack

Messe Dusseldorf, in cooperation with ESMA (European Screen Printing Manufacturers Association) is promoting PEPSO, which features innovations in the field by Thin Film Electronics (Norway), Printed Electronics (UK), Printcolor (Germany), Fraunhofer Institute for Modular Solid State Technology (Germany) and ESMA.

The printed electronic products boast of conductive and semi-conductive ink printed with micro gravure and rotary screen printing processes to make circuits. These circuits, in combination with batteries, displays and sensors; all printed, can cater to manifold applications.

A manufacturer of printed electronics, PolyIC uses PET as a base layer of 50-75 microns and prints roll-to-roll at web speeds of up to 30 m/min.

The Norway-based, Thin Film Electronics, a four year-old company with strength of 80, displayed three products at its stand: memory labels, sensor labels and display labels.

Thomas Strubreiter, pre-sales engineer, Thin Film, said, “Memory labels are the core of Thin Film’s brand protection solution.”

The brand protection solution is a two-part system that can counter grey market activity. Strubreiter explained, “It consists of adhesive labels that generate a distinct forensic electrical signature that can only be produced from our closely guarded production methods. At key points in the supply chain, inspectors can verify product authenticity using low-cost simple readers.”

He added, “With price points comparable to holograms and less than one third of the cost of RFID labels, are fully compatible with standard labelling procedures.”

The sensor labels are intelligent labels, which can sense information and store data in printed memory, while the printed electrochromic display labels use low cost display media to communicate information stored in the memory.

The Thinfilm Time-Temperature Sensor provides digital temperature and exposure information for perishable products.

Another exhibitor informed PrintWeek India that they are working on sensors that could sense blood oxygen.

Considering the potential of this emerging field Organic and Printed Electronics Association OE-A’s Roadmap has launched a 110-page White Paper “OE-A Roadmap for Organic and Printed Electronics”. It discusses the applications that make use of organic and printed electronics. It gives an overview of functional materials, substrates as well as printing and patterning techniques.