David Savastano, Editor07.20.10
The field of printed electronics (PE) is a blend of, quite naturally, printing and electronics. Many of the companies that are designing PE projects come from the graphic arts side of the field. However, there is also a need for electronics specialists.
That is where Printed Electronics Ltd. (PEL) fits in. Founded by Dr. Steve Jones and Dr. Neil Chilton, PEL is developing processes and systems for the commercial fabrication of electronic circuits and devices using inkjet.
“We came from the printed circuit board (PCB) and semiconductor side of the business,” said Dr. Chilton, PEL’s technical director. “We realized that digital is the future, and looked to combine PCB and digital. We quickly diversified our business into printed electronics, as we found that the interest in PE is ubiquitous. I think we got in at the right time.
“We are a process development company. We work with customers, and take their ideas and facilitate how it can be done using printed electronics,” Dr. Chilton added. “We have a realistic view of what can be achieved. While I can’t say PE is as reliable as conventional electronics, it is ideal in areas such as smart packaging, smart fabrics and security applications. If you talk with electronics people, they ask how reliable printed electronics will be, and the obvious answer is that PE will not be as reliable as a traditional electronics system. However, if you talk with a manufacturer of greeting cards or textiles, PE is a step up from what is available in the market.”
PEL was formed in Cambridge in 2006, and recently opened a manufacturing facility in Tamworth in 2009. The company has close relationships with many of the leading companies involved in digital printing.
“Cambridge is the center of the inkjet world in the UK,” Dr. Chilton noted.
PEL offers ink development services using its state-of-the art fluid analysis tools. PEL recognizes that the fundamentals of successful ink jet printing of functional materials are the ink, the printhead and the substrate, and the company brings expertise in all three areas.
“The first two years were all about getting the inks and printheads to work together,” Dr. Chilton said. “Once that was accomplished, we focused on design and creating demonstrators that allow us to show what PE can bring to customers. When they see what can be done, it sets off their train of thought.”
PEL has enjoyed success in bringing inkjet and PE together. In one example, the company designed a seven-layer PCB, alternating dielectric and silver ink layers. PEL is also developing technology for displays and textiles.
PEL’s latest work has been in developing and printing copper inks. “We have been working on direct additive printing of copper tracks,” Dr. Chilton reported. “Nanosilver has been our primary material for conductive inks, but we are now able to print with nano-copper. Printing ink is only half of the challenge; curing is also critical.”
One area where PEL has excelled is developing strategic partnerships with technology leaders in a wide range of disciplines. One of PEL’s key partners is Integrity Industrial Ink Jet Integration, a full-service industrial ink jet integration company located in the U.S.; PEL is also allied with Invotec, a printed circuit company.
“Once our customers bring their ideas to us, we can provide all of the parts they will need, such as the process, the equipment and the know-how, using the best bits out there,” Dr. Chilton said. “We don’t look to reinvent the wheel; we work closely with excellent equipment and software providers.”
PEL is working closely with customers and partners on projects that will showcase the capabilities of printed electronics.
“We are currently working with companies to produce demonstrators, in applications ranging from posters with printed microphones that act as transducers to sensors,” Dr. Chilton said. “These are probably a year or a year and a half away, and five years from being more ubiquitous.”
Ultimately, Dr. Chilton sees the value that PE will bring to the market, and believes that the functionality that PE brings to higher-value goods initially will be the key to its breakthrough to mainstream products.
“The biggest challenge for PE is that it was initially pitched as low cost, just like RFID was originally, and it needs to break away from that low-cost label,” Dr. Chilton concluded. “The added functionality that PE brings will add value that the end-user will want to pay for, and I think that it will be the high value goods that will come out first.”
“We came from the printed circuit board (PCB) and semiconductor side of the business,” said Dr. Chilton, PEL’s technical director. “We realized that digital is the future, and looked to combine PCB and digital. We quickly diversified our business into printed electronics, as we found that the interest in PE is ubiquitous. I think we got in at the right time.
“We are a process development company. We work with customers, and take their ideas and facilitate how it can be done using printed electronics,” Dr. Chilton added. “We have a realistic view of what can be achieved. While I can’t say PE is as reliable as conventional electronics, it is ideal in areas such as smart packaging, smart fabrics and security applications. If you talk with electronics people, they ask how reliable printed electronics will be, and the obvious answer is that PE will not be as reliable as a traditional electronics system. However, if you talk with a manufacturer of greeting cards or textiles, PE is a step up from what is available in the market.”
PEL was formed in Cambridge in 2006, and recently opened a manufacturing facility in Tamworth in 2009. The company has close relationships with many of the leading companies involved in digital printing.
PEL offers ink development services using its state-of-the art fluid analysis tools. PEL recognizes that the fundamentals of successful ink jet printing of functional materials are the ink, the printhead and the substrate, and the company brings expertise in all three areas.
“The first two years were all about getting the inks and printheads to work together,” Dr. Chilton said. “Once that was accomplished, we focused on design and creating demonstrators that allow us to show what PE can bring to customers. When they see what can be done, it sets off their train of thought.”
PEL has enjoyed success in bringing inkjet and PE together. In one example, the company designed a seven-layer PCB, alternating dielectric and silver ink layers. PEL is also developing technology for displays and textiles.
One area where PEL has excelled is developing strategic partnerships with technology leaders in a wide range of disciplines. One of PEL’s key partners is Integrity Industrial Ink Jet Integration, a full-service industrial ink jet integration company located in the U.S.; PEL is also allied with Invotec, a printed circuit company.
“Once our customers bring their ideas to us, we can provide all of the parts they will need, such as the process, the equipment and the know-how, using the best bits out there,” Dr. Chilton said. “We don’t look to reinvent the wheel; we work closely with excellent equipment and software providers.”
PEL is working closely with customers and partners on projects that will showcase the capabilities of printed electronics.
Ultimately, Dr. Chilton sees the value that PE will bring to the market, and believes that the functionality that PE brings to higher-value goods initially will be the key to its breakthrough to mainstream products.
“The biggest challenge for PE is that it was initially pitched as low cost, just like RFID was originally, and it needs to break away from that low-cost label,” Dr. Chilton concluded. “The added functionality that PE brings will add value that the end-user will want to pay for, and I think that it will be the high value goods that will come out first.”