Several technology suppliers, technology users and research institutes have already confirmed their presentation titles for the Advanced Functional and Industrial Printing conference which returns on the 27-28th March 2019 to Radisson Blu Scandinavia in Düsseldorf. The event offers a particularly broad approach to printing methods which serve the production processes of today and near future. Until end of 2018 delegates can register at early bird rates.

As demand grows for products that increasingly incorporate print, there is a consistent growth across the functional printing landscape. Printed electronics alone are one of the world’s fastest growing technologies, present in such application fields as consumer goods, Internet of Things, healthcare, aerospace or transport. Organised for the fourth time in its current guise, the AFIP conference is already an established brand on the industrial printing market and a platform to discuss both market scenarios and a full spectrum of technical issues, such as e.g. chemical resistance, mechanical strain, abrasion and weather resistance, glossiness or fluid deposition on challenging substrates and components.

By many considered as the key contribution to their technology roadmap, the conference continues to unite representatives of various market sectors. Next to major hardware, software and ink providers from the screen printing and digital inkjet world, AFIP welcomes input from technology users, emerging start-ups and academic institutions who want to highlight the latest available solutions and the future direction their research is leading them.

The first confirmed keynote speakers include Prof. Timothy Claypole from the Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating at the Swansea University and Jesper Hassel, the CEO of the Swedish company Mevia. Prof. Claypole will talk about the recent research in fine line printing of functional inks for automotive applications and Jesper Hassel will present Mevia’s “smart pill” technology which employs printing for pharmaceutical packaging. Jérôme Mouly will present the dynamic of the inkjet functional printing with market metrics for the next five years, following the findings of the latest Yole Développement study. “Goodbye, membrane keyboard?” is a question addressed by Martin Gehrig from the membrane switch manufacturer Hoffmann+Krippner and Dr Paul Jahnke will explain “Radiopaque 3D printing of patient specific phantoms: An inkjet application for patient safety in radiology.” Among other submitted titles are:

• “High resolution silk screen print form imaging for exacting applications” by Dr Gérard Rich, Lüscher Technologies,
• “aNIR-enabler for advanced functional printing applications” by Dr Kai K.O. Bär, Adphos,
• “Advancements in inkjet technology for material deposition for research and manufacturing” by Scott Liniger, Matthews Automation,
• “Make printhead jettability wider” by Yoshinori Domae, Seiko Instruments,
• “Advanced screen printing mesh in an industrial environment” by Patrick Brunner, Sefar,
• “How is printed electronics serving your everyday life?” by Vincent Carniato, VFP Inks,
• “From 2D to 3D printed electronics: Two industrial approaches for integrating electronics in 3D objects” by Claudia Delgado Simao, Eurecat,
• “Automotive 2.0: From analogue dial to display and from plastic to cooltouch” by Claudia Bauer and Markus Rodrigo, Marabu,
• “Simplify screen printing: The importance of a perfect screen” by Andreas Ferndriger, Grünig/SignTronic,
• “IMD/FIM screen printing inks, adhesion promoters and protective lacquers for film insert molding technology” by Dr Hans-Peter Erfurt, Proell,
• “Inkjet in coatings and complex shapes: Technologies and processes” by Debbie Thorp, Global Inkjet Systems,
• “Advanced finishing solutions: A new era for market interaction” by Germano Primi, Eptainks,
• “Inks for smart surfaces and in-mould electronics” by Dr Fabian Gyger, Elantas Europe,
• “Digital fabrication of flexible electronics” by Peter Willaert, Agfa,
• “The screen imaging process with different technologies for different applications” by Oliver Leven, CST,
• “Mesh beyond the state-of-the-art” by Peter Fleischer, PVF.

Over 20 presentations with abstracts will be soon published in the detailed conference agenda at https://afip2019.org/programme. Organised in parallel to the educational sessions, a networking area featuring 25 tabletop stands welcomes visitors for more in-depth conversations and commercial information exchange. Among the exhibitors are Adphos, Agfa, CST, Elantas, Eptainks, Global Inkjet Systems, Grünig-SignTronic, Industrial Print Solutions, Lüscher Technologies, Marabu, Matthews Automation, Proell, RKS, Sefar, Seiko Instruments, Sun Chemical, VFP and there are still slots available for booking.

Until the 31st of December 2018 visitors of AFIP can benefit from the early bird discount. Online registration is available at https://afip2019.org/registrations.