The technology of printed electronics has the capacity to boost efficiency, and create fresh opportunities for innovation in many markets such as automotive and medical. This session will prioritize the exploration of goto-market experiences over the technology itself, offering valuable insights into the obstacles and challenges that may arise when introducing a new technology.
Attendees can expect to gain a deeper understanding of the hurdles and barriers that come with introducing printed electronics to the automotive market through discussions on industry standards, customer-specific norms, quality management, product requirements, regulatory compliance, and potential contractual or safety issues.
This session will also offer a sneak preview of potential go-to-market scenarios in the medical industry, showcasing how printed electronics can be utilized and which entry barriers might apply.

With rising prevalence of chronic diseases, healthcare organizations are dealing with resourcing issues, enormous pressure on personnel, long patient waiting lists, and missed health screening appointments, further pressurized by the consequences of the recent coronavirus pandemic.

This more than ever highlights a need in a sustainable healthcare from economic, social, and environmental perspective.

Wearable skin sensors or ‘the smart skin’ offer new ways for remote monitoring to support the accessibility to and sustainability of healthcare systems along the entire care cycle: from healthy lifestyle to screening, diagnosis and post treatment surveillance.

Recent advances in technology printed electronics, in miniaturization of sensors and in photonics, have significantly contributed to the wearable technology. All of these sensors can be integrated into stretchable, flexible and breathable wearables which can be worn during weeks.

In this Masterclass you will learn about the Vital Signs wearable patch – an open platform for measurements of biophysical read-outs as well as about its potential applications for remote monitoring for well-being and heath. What is more, we will share how next generation wearable technology platform can address healthcare needs. We will also address challenges on the road ahead concerning manufacturing, durability of wear and signal reliability.

In-Mold Electronics (IME) is a proven technology for bringing functionality into mechanical structures, making formerly dead spaces alive and functional. Basic IME in its simplest form - flat or mildly curved surfaces augmented with printed wiring - offers straightforward solutions for eg. for touch sensing, antennas, and heating elements.

More complex functionality requires basic IME to be augmented with existing components, such as LEDs and control systems in case of complex lighting. Design wise, IME with thermoplastic electronics substrates and plastic wirings offers a platform for thermoplastic electronics: A contemporary cost-effective solution for mass produced 3D electronics and true smart surfaces.

Integration of electronic functionalities, mechanical support, and decorative materials into a single monolithic structure instead of multiple distinct parts leads directly to drastic reduction of materials and logistics needed. Further, the additive process of printing electronics directly onto thin substrate diminishes the environmental load implied in using traditional PCBs and wet etching methods.
In the masterclass, we discuss the overall 3D structural IME solution with real-life applications and demonstrators concerning the main manufacturing and design aspects. Special emphasis is given to the changes in design rules going from traditional PCB electronics with separate mechanical parts to formable structural electronics.

The use of printing techniques to manufacture flexible electronics is now commonplace for a range of products – from consumer electronics to medical tests to automotive components. Product requirements drive choices in manufacturing techniques. This talk will review features that can be delivered by different print methos for comparison against a diverse set of end-use requirements.

There are multiple, readily available printing technologies that offer a range of addressable resolutions and obtainable throughputs (i.e. print speed). There is a further distinction between print technologies for the range of inks that can be printed, as well as the volume of ink that can be deposited in a single-pass.

We will review a high-level comparison between print technologies – mapping the technical capabilities of each to the features required for end products. Advantages of these additive R2R technologies will be covered - looking beyond the “obvious” potential materials savings over subtractive technologies for potential benefits to both the manufacturer and the end-product stakeholders.

The discussion will extend to ways to achieve the best performance from various print systems. Working examples will be primarily taken from Kodak’s high-resolution flexographic functional printing system, however broader insights will be shared. We will explore how best to take full advantage of “addressable resolution” and print speed in print systems, with attention to various process elements that must be considered and controlled.