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Printed Electronics: Closer Than (But Not Where) You Think

Printed electronics have been hyped as a potential growth area for printers for years. Pete Basiliere offers a reality check on the current state of printed electronics, what some top applications are, and what printers need to know if they want to pursue them.

Monday, March 16, 2020

As a leader within your printing company, you constantly scan for new printing technologies and applications. Printed electronics is one to monitor, but not for the reasons you think.

Printed electronics are electronic devices produced with digital or analog printing technologies. Printed on a variety of substrates, the devices may be fully functional conductors, semiconductors, resistors, dielectrics and optical materials. Printed electronics that are available today include sensors that are either applied to or incorporated within an object as well as flexible displays and smart labels.

Digital and analog printing technologies are commonly used to produce the devices. Inks with materials including metallic conductors, nanoparticles and nanotubes that can be carried in a printable solution are printed one layer on top of another.


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About Pete Basiliere

Pete Basiliere provides research-based insights on 3D printing and digital-printing hardware, software and materials, best practices, go-to-market strategies and technology trends. Pete has more than four decades of engineering, operations management and thought-leadership experience in the printing industry. His expertise ranges from “2D” letterpress, offset and digital printing to 3D printing hardware, software, materials and services. https://monadnockinsights.com

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