WHAT IS PRINT ELECTRONICS?

Printed Electronics is the manufacture of electronic components through the use of printing techniques that utilize functional, rather than decorative inks. It is a means to efficiently manufacture electronic components in high volume and on flexible substrates. Contrary to subtractive processes that are used in traditional electronics (such as photolithography and chemical etching), materials are deposited only where necessary resulting in a much more efficient process. Printed Electronics may also be called "Plastic Electronics" or "Polymer Electronics" due to the organic materials used in some components.

Many products today already utilize Printed Electronics. The membrane switches in most touch panels are printed. EKG and EEG electrodes, many diagnostic test-strips, EL lamps and RFID antennas are additional examples of products which use Printed Electronics in the market today. These products contain primarily conductive inks made of silver or carbon particles, dielectric inks for crossovers and multi-layers, and phosphors for light emissive properties. Some transparent conductive materials are also printed which are made of polymers, indium tin oxide or other nanoparticles.

The world of Printed Electronics is changing fast. In addition to the technologies listed above, it is today possible to print passive devices such as resistors and capacitors. Printed batteries are being used in products where a flexible form factor is necessary, such as powered cards and some cosmetic patches.

Furthermore, thin-film transistors are being printed on a lab-scale with both organic and inorganic semiconductive materials. Memory cells are also being printed in prototype volumes. When the processes for printing transistors and memory cells mature, products such as fully-printed RFID tags, smart-labels and flexible displays become possible. A whole new class of products will emerge when electronic functionality becomes available in a form factor that has never before been possible, all through the use of Printed Electronics.

A PORTFOLIO OF PROCESSES
Soligie has developed a portfolio of printing processes using a variety of materials and substrates. We have production processes qualified for many of the products listed above which utilize today's technologies. Furthermore, Soligie is heavily invested in printing the active components which are necessary for the products of the future.