When the Printing and Consumer Electronics Worlds Collide

By Cory Francer

Printing and packaging may not be the first topics that come to mind among the latest gadgets at an event like CES, the annual consumer electronics mega-show in Las Vegas. But when print is behind the development of a “smart beer bottle,” there’s a good chance the tech-forward CES audience will pay attention.

The SpeedTap NFC tag from Thin Film Electronics will be among the printed electronics technology demonstrated at CES. Photo courtesy of Thin Film Electronics.

Thin Film Electronics ASA will be on hand at the show, which runs from Jan. 5-8, 2017, demonstrating how its SpeedTap and OpenSense NFC tags can be incorporated into packaging to make a product both more fun and functional. According to a press release, the versatility of NFC technology will be on display in two drastically different products – a beer bottle and an at-home medical device.

The release explains that the technology, when incorporated into the beer’s packaging, can send content such as videos from the brewer, pairing suggestions and more, directly to a consumer’s smartphone.

But Thinfilm’s presence at the show won’t just be about beer. The company will also be showcasing how its technology can benefit the medical field through its partnership with Ypsomed, a Switzerland-based manufacturer of self-care medical devices.

The YpsoMate Smart autoinjector pen will be on display, which according to Thinfilm, interacts with a mobile app via NFC technology. Access to the app is available to both the patient and a doctor as a method of ensuring the device is being properly used.

While the Thinfilm demonstrations are by appointment only, CES visitors can also learn more about the technology by attending a panel titled, “Printed Electronics: Key Enabling Technology for IoT.” The panel will be held on Friday, Jan. 6, from 1-2 p.m., and will feature five printed electronics experts.

According to the CES website, the panel will provide an overview of the technology and how it will contribute to the Internet of Things. Panelists will include representatives from Thinfilm, NovaCentrix, PragmatIC, EMD Performance Materials and Heliatek.

Packaging Perspective: It’s encouraging to see a print application gaining exposure to professionals in the electronics world. For innovative technologies such as printed electronics, digital printing and smart packaging to take off, it’s imperative to break out of the print bubble and interact with other industries.

While those outside the industry may not think about packaging as a high-tech endeavor, having these companies attend a show like CES will demonstrate how printed electronics will be a powerful tool in marketing, branding and the consumer experience.