Sensors

Smartkem is a UK company set up in 2009. Smartkem has developed p-type organic semiconductors consisting of a mixture of small molecules and polymers. Their champion materials offer a mobility of 10 cm2/Vs. Key differentiators are the ability to improve solution processability without sacrificing performance, and processability in air.

Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) was founded in 1876 and is one of the largest printing companies in the world. They have started diversifying from traditional printing. This profile focuses on the low power paper-like display. The display is aimed for large sizes and is ideally segmented rather than full active matrix. It is reflective, meaning that it can be viewed most easily in bright light conditions, and has a viewing angle of 180 degrees.

Toppan Forms' background is in business forms and data print service fields. Since then the company has also developed a strong software solutions/business process offering, in addition to some electronics manufacture including smart cards and NC reader modules, and associated systems and software. The company covers a wide variety of information-based businesses, such as integration of printed matter and electronic documents, information media like RFID and IC, and development of products compatible with printed electronics technologies, including conductive ink.

Founded in 2005, Torqeedo is a market leader in the fast growing electric outboard motor industry. As the pioneer in the area of high-tech electromobility on water the company has set many new standards with their motors in comparison to all other solutions. The company has deployed 45,000 electric propulsion systems in the market.

FlexEl was founded in 2008 and is based in Maryland. It works with partner companies to create, design, develop, license and/or manufacture novel flexible electronics and power management systems.

In this article we focus on the current status of the main printed electronics technologies for components in consumer goods and healthcare applications, providing for each one market drivers, case studies and key suppliers, cost structures and challenges.

Founded in 1909, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. has become a household name in Japan due to the popularity of its seasoning and processed food. The company has a strong expertise in the production of amino acids and continues to invest in new technologies. They have developed a new ink for printed pressure sensors.

Bpifrance, Sofimac Partners and CEA Investissement participate in ISORG financing round of 6.4M Euros ($8.7 million).

STMicroelectronics is one of the world's largest semiconductor companies with net revenues of US$ 8.08 billion in 2013. They recently launched their new product--rechargeable thin film batteries. This profile focuses only on that aspect.

Founded in 2004, Canatu is a spin-off from the Helsinki University of Technology (now Aalto University). The synthesis process was developed by University of Helsinki, but the IP went entirely to the spin-off. Canatu won the silver award at SID 2014 in San Diego. It is claimed that its touch layers have near zero reflectance, reducing power consumption therefore extending battery lifetime by as much as 20%, while also improving contrast by 40%. Canatu has recently also focused on bringing touch sensitivity to 3D-shaped surfaces.

DuPont Microcircuit Materials (DuPont) and Holst Centre have extended their collaboration focused on advanced materials for the printed electronics industry.

Enfucell was founded in June 2002 after a decade of research on power sources for low power applications at the Automation Laboratory of The Helsinki University of Technology. It is based in Finland. Their main product is a flexible and thin battery made of low-cost industrial environmentally-friendly materials that are disposable with other household waste. The main target t markets are in RFID/logistics, cosmetics, and medical industry.

Teijin Limited is a leading supplier of plastic films and resins. The company has a joint venture with DuPont for the commercialization of polyester films (PET and PEN). Teijin also make polycarbonate resins for electronic materials. Teijin has improved the glass transition temperature of the polycarbonate films to be compatible with high temperature processes.

IDTechEx recently attended a Printed Electronics conference in Germany. IDTechEx analysts attended talks from a wide variety of companies. Here we include very brief highlights/summaries of the important points.

CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES SA is a high-tech French SME focused on mechatronics covering piezo and electromagnetic sensors and actuators, as well as a host of other technologies such as magnetoresistive, magnetorestrictive, etc. CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES was bought by ACTIVE STRUCTURE FINANCE in Jan 2012. CEDRAT is customer oriented and not a product focused company

PixDro is based in the Netherlands and develop and supply industrial grade inkjet printers. They were acquired by Roth and Rau, who in turn were acquired by Meyer Burger. Meyer Burger, a Swiss company, is global technology Group specialising in systems and processes based on semiconductor technologies. It employs around 1,700 people across three continents.

John Deere is an industrial machine manufacturer for the agriculture, construction and forestry industries. Based on stringent regulatory requirements on emissions the company has developed a series of hybrid electric machines.

Developer, designer and manufacturer of actuators based on printed electroactive polymers (EAPs).

The application of Clevios™ invisible touch technology providing clear patterning has resulted in the signing of a license agreement between Toagosei, Japan and Heraeus Precious Metals, Electronic Materials Division, Germany.

Sonoplot manufactures Microplotter systems for research and prototyping. The dispensing mechanism used within the Microplotter systems is significantly different from inkjet technology. Rather than eject droplets over a distance to a surface, a Microplotter acts like a pen plotter, directly dispensing droplets or true continuous features. Microplotters are capable of printing a wide variety of materials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and living cells.