David Savastano, Editor12.14.15
Conductive inks are a critical component for flexible and printed electronics. It is also a sizable market, with IDTechEx stating that the market for conductive inks is currently more than $2 billion, with a large portion of these inks used for solar panels. Still, new technologies are being created, which are driving products toward commercialization.
At last month’s Printed Electronics USA 2015, held in Santa Clara, CA, IDTechEx handed out a wide range of awards. On the printed electronics side, there were five honors handed out. Three of these awards were directly related to conductive inks.
For example, Parker Hannifin was presented with the Best Technical Development Materials Award for developing its own stretchable ink to use for its Electroactive Polymer sensors. The company could not find a supplier with the ink it needed, so it developed its own technology.
The University of Massachusetts Lowell Raytheon was honored with the Academic R&D Award for its ferroelectric ink, which can be used for direct printing of high-frequency voltage variable dielectrics on flexible substrates.
The Best Commercialization Award went to Engineered Materials Systems, Inc., Division of Nagase & Company (EMS). EMS provided its CI-1036 stretchable conductive ink to Rest Devices, which makes MIMO Baby. MIMO Baby Mimo uses sensors to monitor how the baby is breathing, temperature, body position and more. Because it is connected to Bluetooth, the parent receives reports and alerts.
These awards cover the range from university and corporate development to commercialization, and show clearly the growing potential for conductive inks in flexible and printed electronics technology.
At last month’s Printed Electronics USA 2015, held in Santa Clara, CA, IDTechEx handed out a wide range of awards. On the printed electronics side, there were five honors handed out. Three of these awards were directly related to conductive inks.
For example, Parker Hannifin was presented with the Best Technical Development Materials Award for developing its own stretchable ink to use for its Electroactive Polymer sensors. The company could not find a supplier with the ink it needed, so it developed its own technology.
The University of Massachusetts Lowell Raytheon was honored with the Academic R&D Award for its ferroelectric ink, which can be used for direct printing of high-frequency voltage variable dielectrics on flexible substrates.
The Best Commercialization Award went to Engineered Materials Systems, Inc., Division of Nagase & Company (EMS). EMS provided its CI-1036 stretchable conductive ink to Rest Devices, which makes MIMO Baby. MIMO Baby Mimo uses sensors to monitor how the baby is breathing, temperature, body position and more. Because it is connected to Bluetooth, the parent receives reports and alerts.
These awards cover the range from university and corporate development to commercialization, and show clearly the growing potential for conductive inks in flexible and printed electronics technology.