David Savastano, Editor03.02.10
There have been a number of companies coming into the printed electronics field with intriguing products that look like game-changers. One such company is Pelikon, a specialist in flexible display technology used to create reconfigurable, or "morphing," keypads.
In 2008, Pelikon Limited was acquired by Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc. (MFLEX), a leader in flexible printed circuit and value-added component assembly solutions to the electronics industry. By combining MFLEX’s manufacturing capabilities with Pelikon’s technology, the company has made some important advances. Most recently, Toshiba announced that Pelikon’s MorphPad™ technology has been integrated into the Toshiba Biblio ebook reader mobile phone.
It is understandable that Matt Wolk, vice president of corporate development and chief strategy officer at MFLEX, said, “We are highly encouraged and optimistic” about Pelikon’s opportunities in the market.
MFLEX brings a host of capabilities to the PE space. Founded in 1984 as a manufacturer of flexible printed circuits (FPC) for specialty markets, the company moved into the flexible printed circuit assemblies (FPCA) business in 1990.
“We can produce the entire assembly soup to nuts, and knowing how to integrate into a complex assembly that can be placed by the OEM right into the device and not worry about handling it is a major differentiator,” Wolk said. “For example, we are developing greater flexibility for hinges, sliders on mobile phones and ultra-thin packaging. The primary driver is for smaller, smarter products, smaller form factors, multi-faceted capabilities.”
The ability to manufacture the entire assembly has been key for MFLEX. The second-largest flexible printed circuit company in the world, MFLEX had sales of $764 million in 2009, and an average annual growth rate of 35 percent since 2003. MFLEX ranked 66th in Business Week’s Global Infotech 100 this past year.
The company has 15,000 employees globally, with its headquarters and Global Center of Excellence in Anaheim, CA, and production in Suzhou, China, and Pontian, Malaysia. MFLEX is adding an additional 900,000 square feet in China, where it has been producing its circuits since 1994, in the next two years.
Wolk said that the 2008 decision to acquire Pelikon came after MFLEX looked at how it could participate in interface technologies. It also came at the same time MFLEX expanded its operations into Malaysia and opened its Global Center of Excellence in Anaheim.
“We started to look to expand our capabilities and technology,” Wolk said. “We elected to start to focus on human interface design, which requires a high level of complexity. Devices like the iPhone have created a huge splash, but now they are all looking similar.
“The question was how a company involved in technology and hardware inside can help companies further differentiate the user experience themselves? That question brought us to Pelikon,” Wolk said. “Pelikon MorphPad and MorphTouch™ revolutionize the user experience. From rapid text entry to game control, multiple features and complex tasks are made easier and intuitive. Keyboards and keypads automatically reconfigure (“morph”) to reveal only the controls relevant to the task in which the user is engaged. Pelikon MorphPads integrate tactile dome switches and optional touch sensing with a low-power, programmable, flexible backlit display into an ultra-thin keyboard/keypad module that is visible under all lighting conditions and from wide viewing angles.
“The integration with MFEX was ideal,” Wolk said. ” Our focus is on consumer electronics and telecommunication devices. Pelikon brought the patents and development know-how, while Pelikon benefited from our financial muscle, application and design engineering expertise, and manufacturing strength, as well as the channels we already served.”
“In addition to the innovative new technology with Pelikon, our value proposition is two-fold,” Wolk said. “We can produce virtually the entire assembly from flex fabrication to the final module assembly. We also offer the ability for rapid response for production capability, which is especially important for consumer applications, where the profit is highest after the product introduction. We can ramp up production the fastest.”
Toshiba’s Biblio ebook reader mobile phone features a touch screen with a slide-out keyboard using the MorphPad display as a numeric keypad in the portrait orientation that automatically morphs into a full QWERTY keypad in landscape mode. MorphPad displays can use various colors, set on a black background, providing high contrast and visual impact using SmartInk™ technology.
“Pelikon’s earlier technology is found on Universal Electronics’ remote controls – animated backlighting technology, which was a precursor of our SmartInk,” Wolk said. “The next generation is a series of very special ink formulations that efficiently create lighting, colors and morphing capabilities for keypads. We successfully demonstrated to industry how these could be used. The concept went to market in July 2009, with Toshiba’s product, which will only be sold in Japan.”
MFLEX celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2009, and it is well positioned to continue its success in both its core FPCA market as well as its new flexible displays technology.
“We look at Pelikon as the center of our activity in flexible displays,” Wolk said. “We are seeing a lot of interest in our solution, including a high turnout at the GSM World Congress.”
“From MFLEX’s standpoint, there have been a lot of good synergies with Pelikon. We have a body of knowledge, a unique and valuable new interface technology, and can integrate the technology into an assembly for OEMs,” Wolk concluded. “We are working with major OEMs on designs and development, and are optimistic about the future for this technology. We are where we expected to be.”
It is understandable that Matt Wolk, vice president of corporate development and chief strategy officer at MFLEX, said, “We are highly encouraged and optimistic” about Pelikon’s opportunities in the market.
MFLEX brings a host of capabilities to the PE space. Founded in 1984 as a manufacturer of flexible printed circuits (FPC) for specialty markets, the company moved into the flexible printed circuit assemblies (FPCA) business in 1990.
“We can produce the entire assembly soup to nuts, and knowing how to integrate into a complex assembly that can be placed by the OEM right into the device and not worry about handling it is a major differentiator,” Wolk said. “For example, we are developing greater flexibility for hinges, sliders on mobile phones and ultra-thin packaging. The primary driver is for smaller, smarter products, smaller form factors, multi-faceted capabilities.”
The ability to manufacture the entire assembly has been key for MFLEX. The second-largest flexible printed circuit company in the world, MFLEX had sales of $764 million in 2009, and an average annual growth rate of 35 percent since 2003. MFLEX ranked 66th in Business Week’s Global Infotech 100 this past year.
The company has 15,000 employees globally, with its headquarters and Global Center of Excellence in Anaheim, CA, and production in Suzhou, China, and Pontian, Malaysia. MFLEX is adding an additional 900,000 square feet in China, where it has been producing its circuits since 1994, in the next two years.
Wolk said that the 2008 decision to acquire Pelikon came after MFLEX looked at how it could participate in interface technologies. It also came at the same time MFLEX expanded its operations into Malaysia and opened its Global Center of Excellence in Anaheim.
“We started to look to expand our capabilities and technology,” Wolk said. “We elected to start to focus on human interface design, which requires a high level of complexity. Devices like the iPhone have created a huge splash, but now they are all looking similar.
“The question was how a company involved in technology and hardware inside can help companies further differentiate the user experience themselves? That question brought us to Pelikon,” Wolk said. “Pelikon MorphPad and MorphTouch™ revolutionize the user experience. From rapid text entry to game control, multiple features and complex tasks are made easier and intuitive. Keyboards and keypads automatically reconfigure (“morph”) to reveal only the controls relevant to the task in which the user is engaged. Pelikon MorphPads integrate tactile dome switches and optional touch sensing with a low-power, programmable, flexible backlit display into an ultra-thin keyboard/keypad module that is visible under all lighting conditions and from wide viewing angles.
“The integration with MFEX was ideal,” Wolk said. ” Our focus is on consumer electronics and telecommunication devices. Pelikon brought the patents and development know-how, while Pelikon benefited from our financial muscle, application and design engineering expertise, and manufacturing strength, as well as the channels we already served.”
“In addition to the innovative new technology with Pelikon, our value proposition is two-fold,” Wolk said. “We can produce virtually the entire assembly from flex fabrication to the final module assembly. We also offer the ability for rapid response for production capability, which is especially important for consumer applications, where the profit is highest after the product introduction. We can ramp up production the fastest.”
Toshiba’s Biblio ebook reader mobile phone features a touch screen with a slide-out keyboard using the MorphPad display as a numeric keypad in the portrait orientation that automatically morphs into a full QWERTY keypad in landscape mode. MorphPad displays can use various colors, set on a black background, providing high contrast and visual impact using SmartInk™ technology.
“Pelikon’s earlier technology is found on Universal Electronics’ remote controls – animated backlighting technology, which was a precursor of our SmartInk,” Wolk said. “The next generation is a series of very special ink formulations that efficiently create lighting, colors and morphing capabilities for keypads. We successfully demonstrated to industry how these could be used. The concept went to market in July 2009, with Toshiba’s product, which will only be sold in Japan.”
MFLEX celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2009, and it is well positioned to continue its success in both its core FPCA market as well as its new flexible displays technology.
“We look at Pelikon as the center of our activity in flexible displays,” Wolk said. “We are seeing a lot of interest in our solution, including a high turnout at the GSM World Congress.”
“From MFLEX’s standpoint, there have been a lot of good synergies with Pelikon. We have a body of knowledge, a unique and valuable new interface technology, and can integrate the technology into an assembly for OEMs,” Wolk concluded. “We are working with major OEMs on designs and development, and are optimistic about the future for this technology. We are where we expected to be.”