David Savastano, Editor10.28.09
The fast-growing inkjet field is an excellent opportunity for engineers to develop new technologies to help customers get the most out of their systems. While that has definitely been the case for the graphic arts, inkjet is also finding a sizable role in the area of printed electronics (PE), and there is much potential for further growth.
Located literally right across the street from Hewlett Packard’s Corvallis, OR headquarters, ImTech was founded 10 years ago by Bill Buskirk and Charlie Gilson, two longtime HP engineers who had led the release of many HP products, including inkjet printers, ink cartridges, calculators, portable computers and peripherals. They decided to strike out on their own as an engineering firm, doing contract work with HP and branching out with other OEMs.
With their background, it should come as little surprise, then, that ImTech quickly began working on inkjet. The company has more than 150 patent authorships for HP, and has developed equipment for Fuji Dimatix, among other companies.
ImTech’s path has clearly been successful. ImTech was acknowledged as one of the Fastest Growing Private Companies in Oregon in 2003 and 2004. In 2006, ImTech was named the Development Stage Company of the Year by the Oregon Entrepreneurs Forum. In 2008, ImTech came in 27th in Portland Business Journal’s 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies, and in 2009, ImTech was ranked 48th.
Today, ImTech provides specialty inks, printing systems and related consulting and engineering services for inkjet applications. Its products range from piezo and thermal inkjet development and characterization tools to HP industrial coders to bulk systems and inks. In the PE market, ImTech is working on dispensing conductive inks, masks, optical filters and materials deposition systems.
ImTech thrives on looking at new projects and developing innovative solutions, and the printed electronics provides an opportunity for engineers to apply their talents at a new technology.
“Printed electronics is an emerging area that we have been working on with OEMs for five years,” Buskirk said. “We believe we are uniquely positioned to provide digital fabrication services and capabilities to the PE market. Our deep knowledge of materials and fluids is a unique resource.”
Buskirk said that inkjet has some major advantages, especially in markets where the cost of materials is very high.
“Jetting has advantages due to the small amount of material that is put down and the ability to print in precise locations,” Buskirk said. “We print picoliter drops, which are five orders of magnitude smaller than traditional processes. There is very little waste, making jetting a much greener technology. It is a more flexible and precise process, and just a better overall value.”
“The cost advantage of digitally applied patterns just works in our favor,” Buskirk added.
“Many of the markets we are working in use very high value fluids,” said Leston Faulds, ImTech’s director of sales and marketing. “For example, biologic fluids can cost up to $30,000 to $40,000 per cc. You want to be very frugal and precise.”
Digital also offers manufactures the combination of flexibility, as they can customize the patterns.
“Inkjet allows companies to develop flexible manufacturing systems,” Buskirk said. “A key advantage with digital printing is that it allows you to produce customized images and patterns on an image to image basis, although some customers also use inkjet to run multiples of one design. As manufacturers’ customers look for shorter runs and quicker turnaround, digital is the easy way to address those needs.”
“We have a deep knowledge of jetting technology,” Faulds added. “Our customers typically are exploring technology that can improve their processes, and they come to us to seek solutions to their needs.”
In an important move, ImTech just announced that it will be partnering with Korvis Automation, also located in Corvallis, a manufacturer specializing in high-precision automation and vision systems, to develop equipment for the material deposition market. Among the markets served by Korvis are semiconductors, disk drives, life sciences, flat panel displays, electronics, rapid prototyping and inkjet manufacturing. Through this partnership, ImTech and Korvis will be able to bring complete systems to precision materials deposition customers.
“We offer expertise in jetting, fluid and support, while they provide the iron and systems knowledge,” Buskirk said. “Our systems are ideal for front end applications, such as for proof of concept and lab work, and we are collaborating with Korvis on the design and manufacturing.”
All in all, Buskirk said that ImTech relishes the opportunity to develop solutions for new technologies.
“We like to be on the front edge of technology,” Buskirk concluded. “We have the kind of people who see these new opportunities and can’t be held back from working on them.”