Upward mobility and forward motion
Do these two terms ever mean exactly the same thing?

I think so especially with regard to the Printed Electronics Industry. Last month SGIA held their annual Membrane Switch Symposium. For the record, its name has been changed to the Printed Electronics and Membrane Switch Symposium. What does this have to do with pork futures or specialty imaging? Sit back and think about a few things as you look around your office or immediate environment while you read this blog (please read this blog).

Out of all of the types of what we call specialty imaging (screen printing and digital imaging primarily), there are no forms of it that have more immediate impact on your life and lifestyle than those used to manufacture the electronic devices we use. Right now you are probably reading this blog on a computer or a mobile device. You may also be using the toaster, the TV or the microwave as well. You may be getting ready for work and clipping on that name tag that automatically lets you into the building at work. If you are still thinking about this when you get into the car and head for work, you may also have an electronic toll tag installed on your window. You will probably be listening to the stereo and hopefully occasionally watching the gauges on the dashboard while you drive.

What does any of this have to do with Screen printing and digital imaging? All of the electronic items, appliances and devices mentioned above are either primarily or partially created by PRINTING. From the screen and inkjet printed dashboard luminescent circuitry, to the silver traces and nomenclature of some of the rigid PCB’s in your power relays, the multi-layer membrane switches and graphics of your PDA or mobile device to the control panel fronts of virtually all of your appliances….you benefit from a combination of screen printing, digital imaging and some pad print and flexo. This industry segment is the fastest growing and most rapidly changing segment of all printing types. Its changing faster than digital printing alone (digital is a big part of it) and mutating with every new chemical or substrate innovation. Though there are individual print type segments within the industry (membrane switch, RFID, displays, sensors, medical, Photovoltaics etc.) they have collectively come to be known as Printed Electronics or PE.

So the Printed Electronics and Membrane Switch symposium is nothing new. We have it every year. However, with some worry we decided to start including some segments of industrial and electronic printing that frankly we were not 100% sure that we knew enough about two years ago. I was not sure if there was enough interest. All I was sure of is that every day I see new types of consumer and industrial electronic devices and someone somewhere has either printed on them…..or literally created them by printing alone.

This year in Phoenix I saw a range of presentations that actually surprised me and taught me something new. The Printed Electronics industry I was sure was at least healthier than the graphics and garment printing segments (if not actually as big) in this recovering economy. It turns out that this “health” is even broader than anyone expected. I spoke to a medical device manufacturer who makes disposable blood oxygen sensors for the fingertip…….by printing a controlled deposition of conductive material with both screen and inkjet. I spoke to a company making silver conductive inks that are simultaneously used commonly on the front side of solar electric cells and in a great many cell-phones and keypad control devices. I spoke to printers using inkjet, screen and flexography to produce touch screen displays that are used in everything from smart phones to aircraft displays. I also cannot forget the electronic products that are pure commodities and purely for fun. These include electroluminescent cloth for furniture with moving advertising to touch and temperature sensitive printed sensors used in toys.

Many of these applications I already knew about…..sure. However the level of business success that is evident in this industry….I was not at all sure about. It was surprising to find that many of these companies are frantically hiring right now. This was pointed out to me by one small printer to be a sure sign of positive forward motion in this economic environment. By the last day of the symposium I also began to think of it upward mobility because of the sheer scale and variation of the types and numbers of products that the manufacturers were even contemplating printing on. It was this new and endless rush to new application that is driving expansion and hiring….not simply the continuation of printing the same product.

Next time you use anything electronic no matter how trivial or whether it has graphics or not.…it most probably uses at least one form of printing somewhere in its construction. Think about that. Marvel at that!

Submitted by Ray Greenwood/SGIA