Optomec and Applied Nanotech Holdings Form Strategic Cooperation

Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc. announced that its subsidiary, Applied Nanotech, Inc. (ANI), established a strategic development program with Optomec, Inc. a global leader in the emerging field of printed electronics for solar, display, electronic packaging and flexible electronics applications.

As a part of the commitment, ANI will install a dedicated Optomec M3D Aerosol Jet printer at its facilities in order to adapt its revolutionary copper ink to Optomec’s patented ultra high resolution printing technology. By utilizing ANI’s copper ink, the Optomec printer will offer the solar, display, flexible circuit and PCB manufacturers contact-free deposition of high quality, low cost metal lines. The Optomec printing solution is able to produce much finer lines than is currently possible with traditional screen printing and inkjet printing equipment.

The combined ANI/Optomec copper ink printing solution will provide an alternative to silver inks facilitating lower cost, coupled with the promise of higher reliability. Furthermore, ANI’s copper inks do not require expensive vacuum installation or inert gas environment lowering the cost of the capital for manufacturing equipment.

“We are very pleased that ANI has committed to optimize its copper for use with our M3D Aerosol Jet printing technology,” said David Ramahi, president and CEO of Optomec. “Our customers have a rapidly growing appetite for Aerosol Jet proven materials as they deploy their systems in production applications for solar cells, displays, and printed electronics manufacturing. ANI’s copper ink offers significant cost benefits to our mutual customers and we look forward to facilitating its adoption as an Aerosol Jet standard for next generation electronic products.”

“Today the metallic conductive ink technology is based on expensive silver inks,” said Dr. Yaniv, president and CEO of Applied Nanotech. “The electronic printing industry is actively looking to replace silver inks with copper inks that can be deposited at low temperature in air. These proprietary copper inks based on copper nanoparticles are available today at Applied Nanotech and the collaboration with Optomec will provide an excellent total solution to the flexible electronics industry needs.”