SEMI-FlexTech Announces 2019 FLEXI Awards Winners in Flexible Hybrid Electronics

The 2019 FLEXI Awards has recognized outstanding accomplishments in the Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE) industry in 2018. Presented at the 18th annual FLEX 2019 Conference and Exhibition in Monterey, CA, the awards spotlight leaders in the categories of R&D Achievements, Product Innovation and Commercialization, Technology & Education Leadership, and Industry Leadership.
 
The following are the recipients of this year’s awards:
• Product Innovation Award – American Semiconductor won the FLEXI for the innovative product design of FleX NFC, the industry’s first flexible IC to support NFC communication and new ways to connect to the Internet of Things (IoT).
 
“We sincerely appreciate this recognition from SEMI-FlexTech and are excited about collaborating with our Semiconductor-on-Polymer Chip Scale Packaging customers,” said Richard Ellinger, VP of sales and marketing of American Semiconductor. “Our high-functioning, zero-profile, flexible, durable ICs will enable Smart products in 2019 and beyond.”
 
• R&D Achievement Award – FlexEnable developed the world’s first industrially-proven, low-cost flexible transistor technology, allowing displays to be built on plastic. Now entering mass production, this organic LCD (OLCD) technology will soon be used in displays for applications including Smart home appliances, automotive and digital signage.
 
• Technology Champion & Leadership in Education Award – Mark Poliks, Empire Innovation Professor of Engineering and Director of the Center for Advanced Microelectronics Manufacturing at Binghamton University, won a FLEXI for advancing flexible and printed electronics and for his contributions to the FLEX conference including participating in Calls for Abstracts, leading a Tech Course, and serving on every SEMI-FlexTech committee.
 
“Mark has long been a leader in integrating engineering education with high-quality research,” said Bahgat Sammakia, VP of research at Binghamton University and director of its New York State Center of Excellence. “Our students are fortunate to benefit from his mentorship. I appreciate Mark’s innovative approach to working with industry and to bringing real-world challenges into his classroom.”
 
• Industry Leadership Award – Keith Rollins, formerly with DuPont Teijin Films, won a FLEXI for his dedication and work to commercialize flexible electronics materials. Rollins served as volunteer chair of the UK Plastic Electronics Leadership Group and a member and chair of the SEMI-FlexTech Governing Council.
 
“I’m honored to receive this award and privileged to have seen the flexible and hybrid electronics market develop in so many exciting directions,” Rollins said.  “Many thanks to both to my colleagues in the Global DuPont Teijin Films business for their outstanding contributions to this industry and to the leadership and staff of SEMI-FlexTech for making my work with them so rewarding.”
 
“SEMI salutes this years’ corporate winners – FlexEnable and American Semiconductor – for their remarkable accomplishments,” said Michael Ciesinski, VP of SEMI Technology Communities. “In the individual award categories, Keith Rollins and Mark Poliks have been longstanding leaders in their fields and richly deserve this recognition for their exceptional contributions.”