In a previous article we highlighted Camtek (NASDAQ:CAMT), a company that develops enhanced automated solutions for production processes in the printed circuit board (PCB) industry, and their intent to move into “3D printing”. Camtek is preparing to launch their “GreenJet 3D printer”, which in fact is a digital inkjet solder mask printing system which has been around since 2007. This printing system deposits solder mask on printed circuit boards, but is not capable of printing circuits on plastic, paper, card or metal surfaces that are flexible or curved. One company that can is PragmatIC Printing.
About
Cambridge UK based Pragmatic Printing acquired the printed electronics business of Nano ePrint Ltd. in 2010. Spun off from the University of Manchester in 2006, Nano ePrint was a specialist in the design and manufacturing of planar nano-electronics. Pragmatic Printing uses imprint lithography to produce sub-micron transistors on various substrates using physical force to pattern the elements, which has the potential to be very cost effective. The electronics can be integrated onto plastic, paper, card or metal surfaces, which may be curved or flexible.
The printed electronics can be partially transparent, or integrated into the artwork of the product, and are extremely thin so that they do not appear raised.
Technology Applications
While Pragmatic has used this technology to create electronic greeting cards for Tigerprint, a Hallmark subsidiary, they propose some much more interesting applications for this technology going forward. Animated branding can bring a brand logo to life by making it flash or change color when the consumer touches it.
em>Smart packaging can integrate useful functionality into packaging, for example a timer allowing the consumer to easily check how long their hair dye has been applied. All the potential applications for printed electronics have tremendous growth potential in the next six years as see in the below chart by NanoMarkets:
The above forecast by NanoMarkets calls for a $1.15 billion printed electronics market in 2014 which will grow to $16.7 billion in 2019, a CAGR of 58 percent. Recently Pragmatic partnered with Procter & Gamble and several other firms to create the world’s first flexible multi-functional timer based on commercially available printed electronics which will be distributed at the IDTechEx Printed Electronics Europe event in Berlin next month. The device consists of an electronic logic circuit implemented with thin film metal oxide transistors, powered by a printed battery, and integrated onto a paper substrate. The piece of paper has four individually controlled timing options, activated by bending or “dog-earing” one of the corners of the paper.
