Successful LOPEC shows growing importance of printed electronics

LOPEC (Large-area, Organic & Printed Electronics Convention) covers the entire value chain in printed electronics. The exhibition showcased everything, from research, material manufacturers and production techniques to actual products. Besides the automotive industry, smart packaging and wearables were also important topics. The exhibition also featured actual applications such as smart blister packaging and a T-shirt that measures the wearer's heart rate.

More than 50% of the attendees hailed from abroad. After Germany, the top five countries were Great Britain, Japan, the United States, the Netherlands and France, followed by South Korea. Two-thirds of all participants felt that LOPEC's importance is likely to increase even more during the next twelve months.

According to an independent survey by forschungplus research institute, 95% of participants gave the international character of the exhibitors a rating of good to excellent. For the first time ever, companies from Israel, Canada and Lithuania were also represented. National pavilions from France and Japan and a large contingent of exhibitors from the United States confirmed LOPEC's significance to the global industry for printed electronics.

A total of 199 presentations were made at the conference. In his presentation, Kai Hohmann, Principal Technical Expert, Automotive Displays, Continental Automotive, made one thing clear. “Continental has already integrated printed electronics into automobiles in the form of touch sensors. Thanks to OLED display films, curved display applications in motor vehicles will also be possible in the future. At that point, the use of transparent touch screens is merely a matter of time.”

Besides first-rate presentations, above all it is the lively exchange that is essential for the transfer of know-how. Close collaboration at the international level is the only way to ensure that experiences in different markets and with different technologies can lead to the development of increasingly concrete applications. Topics of discussion included everything from material innovations to potential applications in consumer electronics, lighting and healthcare as well as strategies for product marketability.

At the Demo Line, electroluminescent films the size of a credit card were produced on a complete assembly line. A total of 16 companies demonstrated the entire manufacturing process for printed electronics on machines in actual operation.

The event was rounded out by an extensive program of related events. Besides introductory events, for the first time ever sector-specific guided tours were held on the topics of smart packaging and automotive. The Innovation Showcase featured a number of exhibits including curved displays from Continental, a flexible OLED smartphone from LG, OLED taillights for cars from OSRAM, a luminescent book box and an interactive leather jacket. The first roundtable discussion, titled Possibilities, challenges and market potential for organic and printed electronics in Europe, also met with a great deal of interest.

“These constant increases in attendance are a clear indication of how dynamic this industry actually is,” said Falk Senger, Managing Director, Messe München. “(...) a clear indication that LOPEC's exhibition concept is exactly where it needs to be.”

The next LOPEC takes place at the ICM – Internationales Congress Center München from April 5 to 7, 2016