David Savastano, Editor04.23.14
T+ink is one of the most intriguing companies in the printed electronics (PE) field. Products designed by T+ink, or “Thinking Ink,” have appeared in markets ranging from toys and automotive parts to packaging and apparel and more. Its designers have partnered with major companies – including Ford, General Motors, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Wal-Mart, among others – to commercialize products.
In March 2014, Sun Chemical, the world’s largest ink manufacturer, and T+ink announced their partnership on T+Sun, in which the companies will work together to develop conductive ink solutions. The combination of Sun Chemical’s global resources and T+ink’s technology has the potential to bring PE further into the mainstream.
Sun Chemical offers R&D, technical support, manufacturing infrastructure, supply chain, marketing and sales expertise, and has contacts throughout the global packaging supply chain, from brand owners and designers to printers. Sun Chemical has developed industry-leading positions in packaging and brand security, two areas where the T+Sun partnership can play pivotal roles.
Roy Bjorlin, commercial director, Electronic Materials, Sun Chemical, noted that the two companies have worked together for some time, leading to the formation of T+Sun. He anticipates that the T+sun will be a close collaboration, with a strategic focus on customers of electronic packaging solutions, including process requirements and materials that are tailor made.
“The motivation is the market drive towards electronic packaging, which requires an interaction between electronic design and materials development,” Bjorlin added. “T+ink has developed a strong foundation of creating working devices that enable functionality and enhance the consumer experience at the package level, and Sun Chemical has world class materials and capability in R&D and global support in electronic materials. The combination was a natural fit.”
“This partnership will be on the frontlines of making objects smart and interactive,” said Terry Kaiserman, chief technology officer, T+ink. “T+Sun will provide a fundamentally new way for brands to communicate, engage consumers, manage inventory and more. Conductive ink replaces RFID codes at a fraction of the cost and offers more security than QR codes.”
T+ink has developed more than 2,000 ink formulations for PE projects, including formulations for flexo, screen, inkjet, gravure and offset as well as coatings. T+ink has developed UV/EB-, water- and solvent-based systems, along with catalyzed and oxidized systems.
Kaiserman noted that T+ink has delivered highly conductive quickset inks that runs 18,000 sheets per hour on a standard offset press, adding that one project T+ink worked on with McDonald’s required 100 million items printed around the world with the company’s conductive carbon-based quickset ink.
Sun Chemical has its own position in PE, having successfully designed and marketed conductive inks and pastes. “Sun Chemical will bring its own set of materials development into T+Sun,” Bjorlin said. “Alternatively, the T+Sun portfolio will include materials already developed by T+ink, as well as materials developed collaboratively.”
Bjorlin said that Sun Chemical’s connections with brand owners are already opening doors for T+Sun ‘sproducts.
“Sun Chemical’s commitment and global connection with brand owners is already proving to be of tremendous value,” Bjorlin said. “The T+Sun alliance will offer far more in terms of enhanced functionality, security and user experience to brand owners.
“The T+Sun alliance is a significant step towards bringing together device design and materials and process expertise,” Bjorlin added. “We expect the industries we serve, particularly packaging, will be able to finally take advantage of technology that will not only add functionality to the package, but also enhance the user experience.”
Sun Chemical offers R&D, technical support, manufacturing infrastructure, supply chain, marketing and sales expertise, and has contacts throughout the global packaging supply chain, from brand owners and designers to printers. Sun Chemical has developed industry-leading positions in packaging and brand security, two areas where the T+Sun partnership can play pivotal roles.
“The motivation is the market drive towards electronic packaging, which requires an interaction between electronic design and materials development,” Bjorlin added. “T+ink has developed a strong foundation of creating working devices that enable functionality and enhance the consumer experience at the package level, and Sun Chemical has world class materials and capability in R&D and global support in electronic materials. The combination was a natural fit.”
“This partnership will be on the frontlines of making objects smart and interactive,” said Terry Kaiserman, chief technology officer, T+ink. “T+Sun will provide a fundamentally new way for brands to communicate, engage consumers, manage inventory and more. Conductive ink replaces RFID codes at a fraction of the cost and offers more security than QR codes.”
T+ink has developed more than 2,000 ink formulations for PE projects, including formulations for flexo, screen, inkjet, gravure and offset as well as coatings. T+ink has developed UV/EB-, water- and solvent-based systems, along with catalyzed and oxidized systems.
Kaiserman noted that T+ink has delivered highly conductive quickset inks that runs 18,000 sheets per hour on a standard offset press, adding that one project T+ink worked on with McDonald’s required 100 million items printed around the world with the company’s conductive carbon-based quickset ink.
Sun Chemical has its own position in PE, having successfully designed and marketed conductive inks and pastes. “Sun Chemical will bring its own set of materials development into T+Sun,” Bjorlin said. “Alternatively, the T+Sun portfolio will include materials already developed by T+ink, as well as materials developed collaboratively.”
Bjorlin said that Sun Chemical’s connections with brand owners are already opening doors for T+Sun ‘sproducts.
“Sun Chemical’s commitment and global connection with brand owners is already proving to be of tremendous value,” Bjorlin said. “The T+Sun alliance will offer far more in terms of enhanced functionality, security and user experience to brand owners.
“The T+Sun alliance is a significant step towards bringing together device design and materials and process expertise,” Bjorlin added. “We expect the industries we serve, particularly packaging, will be able to finally take advantage of technology that will not only add functionality to the package, but also enhance the user experience.”