Printed Electronics Becoming More Relevant to Our Market Segments

Printed electronics have been around for a while now, but it seems corporations have only just taken notice. Companies like Procter & Gamble (P&G), Home Depot, Boeing, and Decathlon SA have begun to use, or have plans in place to begin using, printed electronics.

Printed Electronics Technology Version 2.0—the printing of active devices such as thin film transistors (TFTs) for display backplanes and RFID—has been moving along the technology development curve for the past 10 years. Printed Electronics Technology Version 1.0—the printing of passive devices such as membrane switches for a touch-control panel on a microwave oven—is more than 25 years old. Since the end of 2010, we have seen the blending of these two technology portfolios. It appears that this year may be the turning point as companies begin integrating printed electronics technologies (materials, substrates, roll-to-roll manufacturing format, processes, devices, components, and more) in a variety of automotive, aerospace, communications, medical, and smart grid applications.