Komori Expands Investment in Printed Electronics

As part of Komori Corporation’s ongoing dedication to shaping the future of printing technology, the company is expanding its focus on printed electronics (PE). Komori America will be responsible for driving PE technology sales in North America.

To lead this effort, Doug Schardt has been appointed director of printed electronics to capitalize on emerging opportunities in sectors where electronic functionality is increasingly in demand and to support the growth of Komori’s PE business. He will also continue in his role as director of product management at Komori America.

Komori views printed electronics as a growth business. In 2023, Komori Corporation established the Printed Electronics Elemental Technology Development Center on the premises of the Tsukuba Plant in Japan to develop elemental technologies for PE.

The company is expanding on this investment in the United States in response to the current push by the US government to tackle the supply chain disruptions associated with traditional silicon-based chips brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic with processes that rely on different materials and manufacturing processes.

Printed electronics uses printing techniques to create electrical devices on various substrates. Instead of traditional methods that involve etching circuits onto silicon chips, PE uses special inks and presses to create electronic devices on various surfaces, like paper, plastic or even fabric.

The result is a class of electronics that are lightweight, versatile and cost-effective—qualities that open a host of business opportunities from the ability to produce a wide range of applications, such as wearable technologies and smart packaging.