David Savastano, Editor08.20.14
When discussing the key materials needed for manufacturing printed electronics (PE) systems, substrates are often overlooked. However, the decision between types of substrates, whether it be paper, plastic film, metal or other, is critical.
Arjowiggins Creative Papers has made important inroads with its PowerCoat, a relatively new technology for the PE field. Essentially, PowerCoat is a sustainable substrate with exceptional smoothness (the company reports as low as 10 microns). It is naturally roll-to-roll, and its smoothness allows for fine patterning as low as 5 microns. This makes it ideal for integrating sensors, RFID tags, printed batteries and more.
PowerCoat HD was the initial product line, utilized for inkjet, screen, flexo, gravure and offset printing and vacuum deposition systems. PowerCoat XD, Arjowiggins’ newest offering, is designed for screen, flexo, gravure and offset printing. PowerCoat is thermally stable and is capable of supporting several manufacturing processes, including air drying, infrared or photonic flash sintering technologies up to 200°C to 220°C.
PowerCoat is earning recognition from the industry. In 2013, PowerCoat received four major awards: The World Technology Award; an award for Innovative Excellence from the InterTech Awards from the Printing Industries of America; Paper and Board Innovation of the Year from Packaging and Converting Intelligence; and the Product Development Award from IDTechEx at Printed Electronics Europe 2013.
Jose-Anne d’Auvergne, brand manager at Arjowiggins Creative Papers, noted that the company’s global reach and ability to create new technologies are key assets.
“Our products are available all over the world,” d’Auvergne said. “That is one of the strengths of our company – international reach of the company as well as the notoriety of our iconic brands.
“There are quite a few fine paper manufacturers on the market,” she added. “In order for us to be able to differentiate ourselves from our competition, we are constantly trying to innovate/think outside the box and find new and creative ways to create and use paper. We try to stay in tune with current trends and open and ready to respond to our customers’ needs/ requests.”
Responding to customers’ needs led to the development of the PowerCoat family.
“This paper has been in the making for year,” d’Auvergne noted. “We not only saw a gap in the market, but we also believe that there is major potential for this recyclable, biodegradable paper substrate in the PE market.”
Aside from its sustainable properties, PowerCoat offers a wide range of benefits for printed electronics systems, beginning with all of the advantages that paper offers.
“PowerCoat benefits from all the characteristics of being a paper,” said d’Auvergne. “It can be easily bended, folded, torn, burnt, etc., which are all unique characteristics versus other substrates currently on the market. This can then trigger other desired results (for example, a message sent when the paper is torn/ circuit is broken etc.) These characteristics make this substrate particularly interesting for packaging or labeling applications, for example.
“PowerCoat can be customized to heavier weights if required,” added d’Auvergne. “Its ultra-smooth surface, for which it has become known in the PE world, makes it ideal for printing even the most complex circuitry.”
d’Auvergne believes that the printed electronics field offers great opportunities for growth.
“We are still relatively new to the industry (PowerCoat was launched in late 2012), but we would not have entered this industry if we did not believe that it had tremendous growth potential,” d’Auvergne concluded. “In addition to our traditional uses of paper, we think that this innovation has been a great addition to our product portfolio, as it not only reflects our innovative capabilities, but also that paper is alive and that alternative uses can always be found for traditional products.”
Arjowiggins Creative Papers has made important inroads with its PowerCoat, a relatively new technology for the PE field. Essentially, PowerCoat is a sustainable substrate with exceptional smoothness (the company reports as low as 10 microns). It is naturally roll-to-roll, and its smoothness allows for fine patterning as low as 5 microns. This makes it ideal for integrating sensors, RFID tags, printed batteries and more.
PowerCoat is earning recognition from the industry. In 2013, PowerCoat received four major awards: The World Technology Award; an award for Innovative Excellence from the InterTech Awards from the Printing Industries of America; Paper and Board Innovation of the Year from Packaging and Converting Intelligence; and the Product Development Award from IDTechEx at Printed Electronics Europe 2013.
Jose-Anne d’Auvergne, brand manager at Arjowiggins Creative Papers, noted that the company’s global reach and ability to create new technologies are key assets.
“Our products are available all over the world,” d’Auvergne said. “That is one of the strengths of our company – international reach of the company as well as the notoriety of our iconic brands.
“There are quite a few fine paper manufacturers on the market,” she added. “In order for us to be able to differentiate ourselves from our competition, we are constantly trying to innovate/think outside the box and find new and creative ways to create and use paper. We try to stay in tune with current trends and open and ready to respond to our customers’ needs/ requests.”
Responding to customers’ needs led to the development of the PowerCoat family.
Aside from its sustainable properties, PowerCoat offers a wide range of benefits for printed electronics systems, beginning with all of the advantages that paper offers.
“PowerCoat benefits from all the characteristics of being a paper,” said d’Auvergne. “It can be easily bended, folded, torn, burnt, etc., which are all unique characteristics versus other substrates currently on the market. This can then trigger other desired results (for example, a message sent when the paper is torn/ circuit is broken etc.) These characteristics make this substrate particularly interesting for packaging or labeling applications, for example.
“PowerCoat can be customized to heavier weights if required,” added d’Auvergne. “Its ultra-smooth surface, for which it has become known in the PE world, makes it ideal for printing even the most complex circuitry.”
d’Auvergne believes that the printed electronics field offers great opportunities for growth.
“We are still relatively new to the industry (PowerCoat was launched in late 2012), but we would not have entered this industry if we did not believe that it had tremendous growth potential,” d’Auvergne concluded. “In addition to our traditional uses of paper, we think that this innovation has been a great addition to our product portfolio, as it not only reflects our innovative capabilities, but also that paper is alive and that alternative uses can always be found for traditional products.”