This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Componentes electrónicos de plástico: el futuro del sector en la K 2010

Organic and printed electronics expands into new markets and new applications

Electronic components of plastic: the future of the sector at the K 2010

Drafting Interempresas15/09/2010

September 15, 2010

Light emitting or converters for energy intelligent and flexible: clients eagerly await the products of the future. Many of these prototypes are presented in this edition of the K, the fair for the plastics and rubber, which takes place this year between October 27 and November 3 in Düsselforf (Germany). The transformation of light into energy and electrical conductivity are part of the future of an industry of plastic that is undergoing great change thanks to the electronics. Flexible solar cells based on plastics, printed batteries, intelligent materials or bioanalysis in plastic chips will be products of high demand in the near future.

"Plastic electronic components offer new opportunities for technological progress, with intelligent processes and materials", explains Klaus Hecker, director-general of the base in Frankfurt of the Organic Electronics Association (OE-A), international working group belonging to the German Association of machinery manufacturers (VDMA).

Printed and organic electronics in tune with the plastic sector

Organic electronics and printed account backed by the plastics industry. "This combination of plastic and electronic, unimaginable a century ago, it has brought a new impetus and is opening up new markets", explains Thorsten Kühmann, general director of the VDMA. Without a doubt, polymer electronics can help the EU to achieve its ambitious climate objectives.

The market of polymer electronics

Polymer-based electronics transforms the plastic material of high-tech, in which many industries have placed their hopes. According to the findings of the market research conducted by both organizations, is expected to increase in the volume of business from the current 1,500 million euros to about 250 billion over the next 20 years, driven by organic photovoltaics, displays OLED (light emitting organic diodes), light and printed transistors and memories of data.

The investment, which amounted to € 2.2 billion last year, will double by the year 2015. Emerging new factories, and it is estimated that there are more than 2,000 companies around the world related to the various branches of organic and printed electronics with Germany and Europe as key players.

Material with a future

Polymers will become the material of the future in electronics. Chargers for batteries, umbrellas and bags of transport will transform light into energy and will reduce the current dependence on existing power grids. The need to have at hand a charger for mobile or search desperately for a socket in a train compartment will be things of the past.

"We are faced with a completely new process for the mass production of electronics," says Hecker. "The new components for electronic devices are flexible, thin and light, but at the same time, are strong and cheap", underlines the expert in organic and printed electronics.

Future products

Applications range from light containers and revolutionary forms of lighting up a universal power supply, which counterfeiters can not duplicate and codes that will ensure that the products are genuine and original; tags that will make sound an alarm when the product has passed its expiration date; electronic components that are autosuministrarán their own energy...

Experts are predicting a growth in demand for alternative lighting technologies. Markets seek to diffuse light, light sources flat can be integrated on large surfaces.

The layers of plastic are not the sufficiently durable to date, since the oxygen and the humidity attack the material. The solution seems to find in a SMELL flexible encapsulado in a thin layer of material, manufactured in a plant of coating to the empty of roll to roll. Desktop wallpapers emisores of light and roofs, as well as posters of interactive advertising and maps of streets already are today a reality.

In the field of medical technology, it is under investigation in the packaging of medicines if patients are them being or not be registered. Meanwhile, there are billions of disposable glucose test strips each year. Displays OLED are used increasingly in mobile phones and, quite possibly, screens will be developed in future OLED to establish new standards of image quality, energy consumption and need for space. As an example, mention that the Sony TV is just three millimeters thick.

"Polymer electronics will be increasingly common in the next five years," says Hecker with conviction. In this sense, Kühmann adds: "organic and printed electronics is finding new markets and new applications".

The latest report of the OE-A said that after having made great advances in the field of research and development, more and more branches of this young industry are being produced in series. "A young technology needs a strong partnership to ensure their interests," said Andrew Hannah, Vice President of OE-A and CEO of Plextronics.

For five years, this network highly dynamic international companies and research institutes provides "international visibility", a fact of "invaluable" technology and the companies that produce.