Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/239245
printed electronics update continues Figure 1: A slide from GSI's presentation on printed electronics. PE for PCB I ran into John Andresakis from Oak-Mitsui who, like me, has a keen interest in printed electronics. As we discussed some of the technologies and presentations we saw at the show, I suggested that we need an annual technical benchmark to show the progress of the PE materials and capabilities as they relate to PCB technology. It would be important for the industry to know how rapidly the PE capabilities are advancing. Certainly, the most obvious target for PE is the flex circuit industry. Flex PCB suppliers are already selling their latest materials at PE shows. Lots of companies are selling materials into this market. Conductive inks are everywhere and they're getting better and better every year. It won't be long before they perform like copper; then, watch out! Figure 1 is a slide from GSI Technologies touting their "printed thru-hole vias." GSI was 10 The PCB Magazine • January 2014 a printing company that has made the jump into printed electronics. In a presentation from PragmatIC, the CEO caught my attention. Basically, he said that the closer they get to free (referring to the cost of their product, which is printed memory), the larger the market gets. I've heard these kinds of statements before, but the way he put it made a lot of sense to me. At a higher price point, the market is limited. The higher you go, the smaller the market. If you go high enough, you reach the costs of traditional electronics, which is the market we're all very familiar with. I get all this. It's logical and makes sense. Very few of our manufacturers are looking for ways to reduce the cost of their boards for their customers. Typically, we fight every price change and try to not leave any money on the table. The problem with that thinking is that it closes the door on a ton of potential that the