David Savastano, Editor10.15.13
There is a lot of interest in printed electronics (PE), as the possibilities for growth seem strong. As printed electronics makes further inroads into commercialization, more companies are looking at ways to leverage their own capabilities into the PE field.
MGI Group’s August 2013 acquisition of Ceradrop is an ideal example of a company looking to bring its expertise to the PE market. With its leadership position in digital printing and finishing equipment, MGI Digital Graphic Technology provides an excellent fit for Ceradrop, a Limoges, France-based specialist in high end inkjet equipment for printed electronics and new energy technologies.
With headquarters in France and subsidiaries in the U.S. (MGI USA) and Singapore (MGI Asia), MGI is well placed to bring Ceradrop’s technology to the global market. Edmond Abergel, MGI’s CEO, said that the Ceradrop acquisition marks a true expansion in MGI’s vision towards a new high growth technology market.
“We at the MGI Group are very happy to welcome Ceradrop to our family,” Abergel said. “The integration of Ceradrop into our group will be a mutually beneficial strategic move where both stand to gain. The MGI Group gains access to a high level of applied R&D around inkjet technology that can immensely benefit our current and future product lines, while Ceradrop gains access to the MGI Group’s global sales, marketing and manufacturing firepower.”
MGI’s primary market focus centers on the commercial printing and packaging segment of the graphic arts industry, which has its similarities and differences from PE. Meanwhile, Ceradrop’s CeraPrinter Series models presents new opportunities in fields such as flexible solar cells (OPV), OLED displays, smart cards, antennas, smart systems and passive components.
“The MGI Group’s direction with the integration of Ceradrop is centered around the industrialization of inkjet technology in the printed electronics industry, an industry that is both very similar and very, very different than that of graphic arts,” Abergel said. “The common ground between our two companies lies around inkjet technology, but what Ceradrop is able to do with inkjet and what MGI is able to do with inkjet is a completely different thing.”
From technical, sales and marketing standpoints, MGI has the infrastructure in place to take Ceradrop’s promise to the next level.
“First and foremost, our plan is to help develop Ceradrop on a global scale,” Abergel noted. “We have the network, infrastructure and the people to aid in the acceleration of their growth. We know that the printed electronics industry has some very bright days ahead, so we are dedicated to helping Ceradrop position themselves strategically for the future.
“Secondly, Ceradrop and MGI are very complimentary from a technological standpoint,” Abergel added. “There will be cross-pollination between our two R&D laboratories where we both stand to learn and gain a lot. Ceradrop will remain an independent company in the measure that they will continue to trade under the name Ceradrop, they will stay in their current location and continue to develop their own personnel teams while under a common management structure. The MGI group is here in a support role to help Ceradrop achieve their growth as well as to develop various different projects together.”
Abergel said that MGI has high expectations for the printed electronics market for the coming years, and that the acquisition of Ceradrop allows MGI to enter the market immediately.
“We have seen and researched what experts have been forecasting in this industry,” Abergel concluded. “According to IDTechEx market research, the market for printed electronics was estimated at $9.4 billion in 2012, and is forecasted to grow to more than $40 billion in 2020 and $300 billion by 2030. Our wish is to be a part of that high growth market by getting into it earlier rather than later with our latest acquisition.”
With headquarters in France and subsidiaries in the U.S. (MGI USA) and Singapore (MGI Asia), MGI is well placed to bring Ceradrop’s technology to the global market. Edmond Abergel, MGI’s CEO, said that the Ceradrop acquisition marks a true expansion in MGI’s vision towards a new high growth technology market.
“We at the MGI Group are very happy to welcome Ceradrop to our family,” Abergel said. “The integration of Ceradrop into our group will be a mutually beneficial strategic move where both stand to gain. The MGI Group gains access to a high level of applied R&D around inkjet technology that can immensely benefit our current and future product lines, while Ceradrop gains access to the MGI Group’s global sales, marketing and manufacturing firepower.”
MGI’s primary market focus centers on the commercial printing and packaging segment of the graphic arts industry, which has its similarities and differences from PE. Meanwhile, Ceradrop’s CeraPrinter Series models presents new opportunities in fields such as flexible solar cells (OPV), OLED displays, smart cards, antennas, smart systems and passive components.
“The MGI Group’s direction with the integration of Ceradrop is centered around the industrialization of inkjet technology in the printed electronics industry, an industry that is both very similar and very, very different than that of graphic arts,” Abergel said. “The common ground between our two companies lies around inkjet technology, but what Ceradrop is able to do with inkjet and what MGI is able to do with inkjet is a completely different thing.”
From technical, sales and marketing standpoints, MGI has the infrastructure in place to take Ceradrop’s promise to the next level.
“First and foremost, our plan is to help develop Ceradrop on a global scale,” Abergel noted. “We have the network, infrastructure and the people to aid in the acceleration of their growth. We know that the printed electronics industry has some very bright days ahead, so we are dedicated to helping Ceradrop position themselves strategically for the future.
“Secondly, Ceradrop and MGI are very complimentary from a technological standpoint,” Abergel added. “There will be cross-pollination between our two R&D laboratories where we both stand to learn and gain a lot. Ceradrop will remain an independent company in the measure that they will continue to trade under the name Ceradrop, they will stay in their current location and continue to develop their own personnel teams while under a common management structure. The MGI group is here in a support role to help Ceradrop achieve their growth as well as to develop various different projects together.”
Abergel said that MGI has high expectations for the printed electronics market for the coming years, and that the acquisition of Ceradrop allows MGI to enter the market immediately.
“We have seen and researched what experts have been forecasting in this industry,” Abergel concluded. “According to IDTechEx market research, the market for printed electronics was estimated at $9.4 billion in 2012, and is forecasted to grow to more than $40 billion in 2020 and $300 billion by 2030. Our wish is to be a part of that high growth market by getting into it earlier rather than later with our latest acquisition.”