Europe Takes Global Leadership in Printed Electronics

Major players, but tough competition

BASF in Germany is the largest chemical company in the world and it shares leadership in printed electronic materials with Merck, H.C. Starck, CIBA and other European companies though US companies, such as Plextronics, have been entering this scene rapidly of late, picking up many awards. Ink jet printing was first developed in Europe and it is one of the preferred methods of making printed electronics, with many European companies progressing new developments alongside leaders such as the Japanese company, Fuji Dimatix. European names such as Xennia Technology, Xaar, Ixpressia and PixDro come to mind although there is also fine work being done by such companies as Imaging Technology International of the US and the UK in this area and Soligie of the US is very successful in providing total, integrated manufacturing solutions for printed electronics. Indeed, the US has huge military money being pumped into the subject and global leadership in many aspects.