Chesapeake’s R&D team has been involved in the development of printed electronics for some years but what does this technology offer?

• A cigarette pack that is plain until it is touched, when the graphics then appear.

• Food packs that interact with your smart phone to form a live shopping list of essentials, recipe suggestions etc.   

• A normal piece of A4 paper printed with a full size QWERTY keyboard acting as a slave keyboard for your smart phone.  

• A pharmaceutical pack that registers pills being removed, and is able to interact with smart phones to provide reminders, warnings, advice etc. as programmed.  

• A switchable permanent display powered only by the action of opening the pack.

Andrew Degnan of the R&D team explains: “These futuristic possibilities all exist today and are just the start of a revolution in electronics manufacturing which will drive major innovations in the way packaging is used and perceived. The possibilities are endless - how many of today’s iPhone apps were imagined when the iPhone 1 was being designed?” 

Carol Hammond, Head of R&D, provides further background: “The collaborative approach taken by the team is imperative to allow Chesapeake to optimise the application of such new technologies into packaging applications. The team has worked with collaboration partners to understand production routes, options, costs, reliability and functionality. We’re looking to ultimately reduce production costs and improve reliability. The prime focus is in the area of conductive litho and flexo inks for printed tracks as well as the application of electro-luminescent displays. These developments, and other collaborations, provide Chesapeake with a valuable insight into the latest developments and trends in this fast changing area.” 

The adoption of this technology is expected to grow exponentially and will reshape the perception that packaging is a disposable commodity. “The pack will become part of the product offering and a primary link with the consumer. We’re well placed to support our customers in understanding and exploiting the potential of this exciting technology. We have developed a number of exciting prototypes and now have the right partners to produce them. We’ve shown several ideas to key customers and we plan to brief more potential customers at next month’s Packaging Innovations exhibition,” concludes Carol