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38 SMT Magazine • August 2014 the inorganic layers. Thin-films are formed us- ing deposition techniques that include physical vapor deposition, sputtering, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, surface plasma treatment and atomic layer deposition. ALD enables atomic scale precision, which makes it highly attractive for high performance barrier films. Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposi- tion (PECVD) is another promising manufactur- ing process as it requires low deposition tem- peratures and is normally used medium barrier films. the Road ahead Printed electronics signals a new era of elec- tronics as the choicest material silicon takes a back step after dominating the electronics indus- try for decades. The promise of mass scale low- cost manufacturing without the need of strin- gent requirements of clean rooms and complex multi-step processes makes printed electronics a very lucrative industry segment. Printed elec- tronics is a very good example of convergence, in which traditional printing technology merg- es with material technology and electronics to enable new product development and new mar- kets. Printed sensors, RFID tags, flexible OLED displays and lighting, and organic photovolta- ics are expected to be lucrative markets in the future. But in order to realize the true poten- tial of printed electronics, concerted efforts are required to develop end-to-end manufacturing processes and a strong value chain. sMt FEaTuRE PE: tRaDItIONaL PROCEssEs ENaBLINg NEXt-gENERatION ELECtRONICs continues Sumit Kumar pal is Technical in- sights' senior research analyst for the global growth consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. He focuses on market and technology analysis within the automation and electronics domain. For more information on this research, please contact Jeannette garcia by clicking here. CliCk To View I-Connect007 Panel Discussion Video This panel, moderated by Ray Rasmussen, covers the current state of printed electronics, and offers a look at what the future holds for this new technology. Panelists include John andresa- kis, vP of strategic technology for oak-Mitsui; Scott gordon, business development manager at Dupont Teijen Films; and Josh goldberg, marketing specialist for Taiyo america. Printed Electronics Sponsored by: Taiyo America