IDTechEx

Anatomy of the largest EV business: industrial and commercial

For the next decade, the largest electric vehicle sector will be industrial and commercial electric vehicles on land. In great contrast to the hybrid and pure electric cars that come next in market size, industrial and commercial electric vehicles are almost never bought by private individuals. That means that they are almost never bought on up-front price, the criteria being cost-over-life, reliability and performance with any extra life over conventional versions much appreciated.

Tekscan Inc

Tekscan manufactures force sensors but their business model is slightly different than their competitor's . Tekscan is a company manufacturing measurement systems: they make sensors but 3/4 of their business is the integration into a complete instrument for the customers. They specialize in medical applications in particular.

NikkoIA

NikkoIA is a French company making organic-based image sensors with an exclusive worldwide license from Siemens who originally developed the technology. The company has achieved making some prototypes with minimal investment so far. One to watch over the coming years to see if they can create viable commercial products.

plastic electronic GmbH

Based in Austria, the company was founded in 2006 by Niyazi Serdar Sariciftci and Philipp Weissel who wanted to specialize on developing, producing and marketing intelligent multi-layer surfaces. They have developed two families of capacitive sensors: touch sensors for control panels and pressure sensors for store shelves. Plastic electronic is an engineering company, making products using existing materials and processes.

Sensitronics

Sensitronics is one of several companies making force sensing resistors. These sensors can be used for such applications as computer input devices, musical instruments, interactive toys, robotics fingertips, automotive, sports, or medical applications. Sensitronics is based on a licensing model. The company transfers the knowledge to licensed factories around the world where the sensors are produced. Sensitronics have recently designed new variants of their force sensors to better target specific applications.

GlasNovations

GlasNovations is a smart glass company that manufactures and trades Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal smart glass installations and also trades thermochromic smart glass sourced externally.

Graphene LIVE! USA set to become largest graphene tradeshow

Graphene LIVE! will take place on 20-21 November 2013 at Santa Clara, California.

ITO transparent conducting films-technology, drivers, and players

Sputtered ITO is the dominant technology used as a transparent conductive layer in a variety of applications, including LCD and OLED displays and touch screens. ITO has a well-established value chain as well as a high installed and largely-depreciated production capacity.

3D Printing: Retailers get a piece of the action

3D printers for home use are emerging from the relative obscurity of web-based sales - often, one suspects, attached to addresses corresponding to garages in residential districts - into the mainstream of the high street.

CRP Group

CRP Group develop and manufacture the highest performance thermoplastic powders for use with the selective laser sintering 3D printing technique. This profile discusses the challenges the company faces in up-scaling its activities and it's opportunities for the future specifically in respect of its 3D printing activities only.

Webinar Wed 28 Aug: Mobile Phone Indoor Positioning Systems 2014-2024

A free webinar by IDTechEx, on Wednesday 28 August. "Mobile Phone Indoor Positioning Systems (IPS) 2014-2024" will be presented by Dr Peter Harrop, Chairman, IDTechEx.

DropSens

DropSens specialize in the design and manufacture of tools for electrochemists. Their product line is composed of: screen-printed electrodes, reagents, and potentiostats (electrochemical instrument). It is small company with a good know-how and expertise in screen printed electrodes.

Oxford Performance Materials

This profile discusses the position of Oxford Performance Materials within the 3D printing space. The strengths and weakness of the company are discussed, as well as its plans for the future.

Cookson Precious Metals

Cookson Precious Metals are working together with 3D printer manufacturers EOS to develop a market for direct 3D printing of jewelry. This profile discusses the potential market and timeline for bringing the technology to market and focuses only on the activities of CPM from a 3D printing perspective.

Insignia Technologies

Insignia is a Scottish company in low cost smart packaging. Their patented smart pigments are incorporated into plastic food packaging, creating colour changing plastic film which will help minimise food wastage and ensure consumers know when food is fit for consumption.

Printed electronics: the winner is the chemical industry

The chemical industry will end up with most of the added value from printed electronics, one of the fastest growing technologies in the world.

Electric vehicle range extenders: leaving piston engines behind

This article shares some of the research in the new IDTechEx report, "Range Extenders for Electric Vehicles Land, Water & Air 2013-2023" which covers all such vehicles, on land, on/under water and airborne.

Beneq

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) has the potential to provide effective moisture barrier at low cost. Beneq is the leading the development of roll-to-roll ALD, which is more suitable for flexible susbtrates. However, the technology is not mature yet.

IDTechEx announces 3D Printing LIVE

IDTechEx is pleased to announce its inaugural event 3D Printing LIVE which is taking place in Santa Clara CA on November 20-21 2013.

Carbon nanotubes for transparent conductive films

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are one of multiple technology options for making transparent conductive films (TCFs). Similar to graphene, there are many different types of CNTs and many production techniques. The main processes are arc discharge, laser ablation and chemical vapour deposition (CVD); while the main types are single, double or multi-wall, and semiconducting and metallic. This article assesses the latest progress with using CNTs as transparent conductive films. IDTechEx outlines the latest improvements in performance, manufacturing processes and cost. It identifies key players globally and discusses their business models and progress with commercialisation. Where appropriate, it makes reference to competing technology options such metal mesh, silver nanowires, graphene, PEDOT:PSS, etc. This article provides a realistic assessment and insight into the fortunes of carbon nanotubes in the future of the fast changing transparent conductive film industry.