The first digital printed RFID tag?

A Chartered Engineer with a First Class Honours Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mike Johnson began his career in Production Management. Initially with Metal Box Limited (packaging) and then with Thorn EMI (electronics). He then became a Director of Livingson Hire, a Market leading Service Organisation before being appointed Managing Director of Soundcraft Electronics Limited, a £40 million producer of music mixing consoles. From here he became MD of COIL - the leading designer and manufacturer of plastic optics. This was acquired by Carclo plc in 1998, which led to him being appointed Business Development Director of Carclo Technical Plastics. One of the areas he investigated was the inkjet printing onto plastic, which led to the formation of CIT.

Conductive Inkjet Technology Limited is a joint venture company, owned by Xennia Limited and Carclo plc. It has developed innovative new technology for the digital printing of a catalyst sponge that enables rapid further metallization. With line widths below 100 microns, a process requiring no heat treatment, a surface resistivity of below 10 milli ohms per square and a truly additive digital solution, the interest is immense. The applications range from printed circuitry, RFID antenna printing to automotive heaters. A narrow web reel-to-reel system enables digital printed, UV cured and metallised UHF antennas to be produced at speeds of up to 100 feet per minute.

 

Examples of CIT printed products can be seen at the exhibition.

Mike, a Chartered Engineer, has run manufacturing in both Metal Box Limited and Thorn EMI. He then moved to become a Director of Livingson Hire, a Market leading Service Organisation before being appointed Managing Director of Soundcraft Electronics Limited, a £40 million producer of music mixing consoles. From here he became MD of COIL - the leading designer and manufacturer of plastic optical parts. This was acquired by Carclo plc, where he was appointed Business Development Director. The role of bringing new technologies to the plc led to the formation of Conductive Inkjet Technology.