David Savastano, Editor02.19.14
As end users see what printed electronics (PE) can accomplish, new markets are being developed. The automotive market is one such opportunity, with areas ranging from consoles and printed heaters appearing on the market.
PolyIC GmbH & Co. KG, a PE specialist based in Fuerth, Germany, is in the forefront of the automotive field. Working in conjunction with its parent company, Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co. KG, an equipment and foils specialist, PolyIC has developed an automotive center console demonstrator with capacitive touch elements and a touch pad.
The demonstrator showcased capacitive control concepts such as keys, slides, a climate control wheel and a touch pad for controlling an entertainment system, integrated into a curved 3D console. It offers aesthetics as well as functionality, combining functional PolyTC touch sensor film and Kurz’s decorative film.
“The latest advance is definitely the combination of functional PolyTC films and IMD decoration film of PolyIC’s parent company, Kurz,” said Wolfgang Mildner, managing director of PolyIC. “Kurz and PolyIC show a possibility to combine functionality.”
Also at K 2013, PolyIC and Kurz displayed a 5” multi-touch demonstrator for smartphone displays and white goods. The demonstrator utilized functional PolyTC touch sensor film and IMD film by Kurz. By pooling their respective fields of expertise, PolyIC and Kurz’s collaboration helps lead to new products and benefits end users.
“Kurz films are leading in the area of high-end decoration of plastic parts,” said Mildner. “The combination with PolyIC functional films is unique and offers unique customer benefits, such as cost saving integration. The integration is complex and only possible if all components and integration processes are developed, integrated and processed within a competence and know-how network managed by the Kurz Group.”
PolyIC has much experience in the PE field, having successfully developed products for a number of applications, most recently for touch sensors as well as printed RFID and smart cards.
“Touch-enabled surfaces are a huge potential application field,” Mildner said. “In our latest developments, PolyIC contributed a lot with touch sensors for mobile phones, consumer electronics and also for human interface solutions for home appliances and automotive.”
Mldner said that the center console offers numerous advantages for automotive companies.
“The model of a center console for a possible automotive application demonstrates some of the key advantages of the PolyTC sensors and its integration,” Mildner said. “There is a single layer sensor for high precision multi-touch operation, flexible sensors for curved surfaces and integration process.”
PolyIC and Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co. KG presented the center console design at K 2013, the largest trade show for the plastics and rubber industry, which was held in Düsseldorf, Germany last fall. The show attracted 220,000 attendees, and Mildner said that automotive company reperesentatives took notice of the console.
“Several companies are testing and pursuing the advantages,” Mildner said. “Of course, integration in cars are longer term projects before the start of production.”
All in all, Mildner expresses optimism for the future of the printed electronics industry.
“Printed electronics shows its benefits in various market applications and it proves the advantages for its customers,” Mildner concluded. “Touch sensors were not a focus area for PolyIC at the foundation 10 years ago, but this topic contributes a lot now. Other applications like intelligent, interactive packaging will show their attractiveness in the coming years. Printed electronics will gain more and more visibility and show success in more markets in the coming years.”
The demonstrator showcased capacitive control concepts such as keys, slides, a climate control wheel and a touch pad for controlling an entertainment system, integrated into a curved 3D console. It offers aesthetics as well as functionality, combining functional PolyTC touch sensor film and Kurz’s decorative film.
“The latest advance is definitely the combination of functional PolyTC films and IMD decoration film of PolyIC’s parent company, Kurz,” said Wolfgang Mildner, managing director of PolyIC. “Kurz and PolyIC show a possibility to combine functionality.”
Also at K 2013, PolyIC and Kurz displayed a 5” multi-touch demonstrator for smartphone displays and white goods. The demonstrator utilized functional PolyTC touch sensor film and IMD film by Kurz. By pooling their respective fields of expertise, PolyIC and Kurz’s collaboration helps lead to new products and benefits end users.
“Kurz films are leading in the area of high-end decoration of plastic parts,” said Mildner. “The combination with PolyIC functional films is unique and offers unique customer benefits, such as cost saving integration. The integration is complex and only possible if all components and integration processes are developed, integrated and processed within a competence and know-how network managed by the Kurz Group.”
PolyIC has much experience in the PE field, having successfully developed products for a number of applications, most recently for touch sensors as well as printed RFID and smart cards.
“Touch-enabled surfaces are a huge potential application field,” Mildner said. “In our latest developments, PolyIC contributed a lot with touch sensors for mobile phones, consumer electronics and also for human interface solutions for home appliances and automotive.”
Mldner said that the center console offers numerous advantages for automotive companies.
“The model of a center console for a possible automotive application demonstrates some of the key advantages of the PolyTC sensors and its integration,” Mildner said. “There is a single layer sensor for high precision multi-touch operation, flexible sensors for curved surfaces and integration process.”
PolyIC and Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co. KG presented the center console design at K 2013, the largest trade show for the plastics and rubber industry, which was held in Düsseldorf, Germany last fall. The show attracted 220,000 attendees, and Mildner said that automotive company reperesentatives took notice of the console.
“Several companies are testing and pursuing the advantages,” Mildner said. “Of course, integration in cars are longer term projects before the start of production.”
All in all, Mildner expresses optimism for the future of the printed electronics industry.
“Printed electronics shows its benefits in various market applications and it proves the advantages for its customers,” Mildner concluded. “Touch sensors were not a focus area for PolyIC at the foundation 10 years ago, but this topic contributes a lot now. Other applications like intelligent, interactive packaging will show their attractiveness in the coming years. Printed electronics will gain more and more visibility and show success in more markets in the coming years.”