Date: 05/02/2012

Printed electronics gaining role in more applications

IPC has reported the event IPC APEX EXPO will feature a dedicated printed electronics area on the show floor, a printed electronics track in the technical conference, and historic standards development meetings where the first-ever industry requirements for the manufacture and assembly of printed electronics will be discussed and developed.

IPC explains although the printing of active devices, such as thin film transistors (TFTs) for display backplanes and RFID, has been moving along the technology development curve for the past 10 years and the printing of passive devices, such as membrane switches for a touch control panel on a microwave oven, is more than 25 years old, Dan Gamota, president of Printovate Technologies, Inc., sees 2012 as a "turning point" for the industry.

"Printed electronics is a lower-cost technology that provides greater product design freedom," explains Gamota. "Innovative companies that recognize that fact are integrating printed electronics technologies in a variety of automotive, aerospace, communications, medical, and smart grid applications, to get a jump on their competition.

"As the premier event for the electronics manufacturing industries, IPC APEX EXPO presents an ideal venue to showcase the applications and benefits of printed electronics," says Gamota. "The standards development meetings allow engineers from companies in all areas of printed electronics to contribute to the development of the very first industry guidelines. It's a truly exciting time for companies in this growing field."

Last year, IPC established a Printed Electronics Committee (D60) and five subcommittees (D61, D62, D63, D64 and 8-61) to develop standards to facilitate companies to seamlessly integrate printed electronics technologies in future products. These volunteer committees will meet at IPC APEX EXPO on March 1-2 to work on guidelines in printed electronics design, base materials/substrates, base materials, functional materials and final assembly as well as the development of a printed electronics technology roadmap.

For more information on the printed electronics activities at IPC APEX EXPO, visit www.IPCAPEXEXPO.org/printed-electronics