PETEC, the Printable Electronics Technology Centre, officially opens its doors today.
Based in Country Durham, the government-initiated commercially-funded centre is a division of the Centre for Process Innovation(CPI).
Part of its aim is to connect innovators in research with commercial activity using proof of concept devices and pilot scale manufacture. It also helps clients identify the materials, industrial steps and investments required to bring products to market.
Its initial focus is in displays, “where there is already commercial pressure to produce larger area displays that are more efficient and at lower cost. With the emergence of new formats such as E-paper, OLED displays and LCD on flexible substrates, the potential for printable electronics to make an impact is vast”, said PETEC.
Other near term markets include solid-state lighting and organic photovoltaics.
“The UK has a well established competence in research in printable electronics whereas PETEC’s focus is in accelerating the commercialisation of these products through developing production processes and solving technology issues that companies face in developing products,” said PETEC director Tom Taylor.
OLED lighting company PolyPhotonix is already building its first production line in PETEC’s clean room.
“PETEC has been pivotal to creation of PolyPhotonix,” said Richard Kirk, CEO of PolyPhotonix. “Without access to the facilities, management expertise and experience, it would have been prohibitively expensive.”
Other un-named UK and international organisations have already signed up for development work with PETEC.