End User Case Studies at Printed Electronics Europe

On 5 April, the annual IDTechEx Printed Electronics Europe event in Dusseldorf, Germany will open to a range of end users discussing their needs and experiences with printed electronics—providing that vital "reality check" for those involved in the industry or for those wishing to explore their opportunities in this sector.

Printed electronics will have a major impact on most business activities from publishing and security printing to healthcare, automotive, military and consumer packaged goods sectors. Commercialisation can and should take place in very disparate applications, contrasting with the rather narrow view of possibilities in the past, creating a huge new opportunity for those in chemicals, equipment, electronics, packaging, converting and integration.

Opening the keynote presentations will be Mars, the famous 100 year-old confectionary company. Mars, with annual sales of $30 billion, will cover how they see printed electronics increasing their sales by making dull retail displays much more appealing—"Being seen is being sold." Metro AG, Germany's largest retailer at 66 billion Euros in sales, and Europe's second largest retailer, will discuss "Next Level Retailing" enabled by printed electronics and allied technologies. Those in consumer goods, retailing and those wishing to supply to these industries can hear first-hand the future visions of these giants.

Consumer electronics company Nokia has been steadily progressing printed electronics at its research centers in Finland and in the UK. Its work ranges widely from assessing new energy harvesters to display technologies, and in this presentation they will discuss progress with stretchable electronics for mobile applications. JC Decaux, the $3 billion large area signage company will discuss needs from printed electronics to enable digital advertising displays and the U.S. Army will talk of their requirements. Session titles for groups of speakers include "Interactive Printed Media" and "Textiles and Wearable Electronics."

There is huge potential in printed electronics for new products and increasingly IDTechEx see packaging, security printing and design companies take the lead. Exclusive new announcements will come from De La Rue "Power into Paper - a New Paradigm" and Stora Enso, "Wireless Healthcare Solution using Printed and Conventional Electronics," for example.