IDTechEx Honors Companies during Printed Electronics USA 2016

Three companies were awarded for their achievements in developing and commercializing printed electronics technologies during Printed Electronics USA 2016, which featured more than 200 exhibitors and 3,000 attendees in Santa Clara, CA.
 
• Best Technical Development Materials Award: SAFI-Tech
SAFI-Tech was the recipient of this award for their development of supercooled metal inks, a transformational no-heat technology that enables flexible electronics manufacturers to electrically connect components without thermal damage or issues caused by coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch. The technology consists of water-balloon-like microparticles of liquid metal in a super-cooled state at ambient temperature. This super-cooled state is stabilized by a subnanometer thick oxide layer that can be mechanically broken or chemically dissolved to release the liquid metal and then rapidly solidify all without requiring heat.
 
“IDTechEx repeatedly hear from integrators about the challenges of attaching components to low temperature flexible substrates where a high conductivity connection is needed but without using a high temperature process,” Raghu Das, CEO of IDTechEx, said. “The judges commented on the need for the solution offered by SAFI-Tech, where a room temperature, cure on-demand solution would be very valuable.”
 
• Best Technical Development Manufacturing Award – Kateeva
Kateeva won this award due to YIELDjet, their inkjet printing system, which is being used in the mass production of OLED displays today. YIELDjet  replaces a vacuum thermal evaporation system with an inkjet printed solution.
 
“This is printed electronics in action, where inkjet printing is used to create commercial consumer electronics devices today,” Das said. “Kateeva has achieved building a system that continuously provides uniform, reliable and precise function required for the demanding display business.”
 
• Best Product Development Award – T F Massif
TF Massif’s objective was to produce a cost effective method of producing a large area printed electronic flexible circuit that would serve the point of purchase (POP) industry. This would be a roll-to-roll process capable of producing a continuous circuit both single- and double-sided, and could be used to cost effectively electrify the POP display industry.
 
“We believe that printed electronics has large potential in the POP industry, where flexibility and a need to stand-out-from the-crowd is needed,” Das stated. “However, the manufacturing process to enable cost effective printed electronics POP has not been addressed – until now. This development will help to bring printed electronics to market.”