LOPEC 2016 will bring visitors and delegates right up to date

These include Smart thermometers from TempTraq designed to continuously monitor the body temperature of young children and sound an alarm if any abnormalities are detected as well as flexible OLED Lighting Panels from LG Display that feature a wide-area, uniform, and low-shadow lighting to offer unique application possibilities for designers and architects. Applications like these set the tone for the fascinating product innovations and prototypes from the printed electronics sector that visitors can expect to find in the Innovation Showcase in Hall B0 at LOPEC 2016.

“Previously unimaginable opportunities are opening up within the electronics sectors and user industries thanks to the rapid development of printing processes and materials,” says Thomas Kolbusch, LOPEC Exhibition Chair and Vice President of Coatema Coating Machinery GmbH. “LOPEC really shows the potential of printed electronics, and the Demo Line provides proof of the practical applicability of printing methods.” 17 members of the OE-A (Organic and Printed Electronics Association) will be taking part in the LOPEC Demo Line, which is set to take up an even larger space than in previous years, spanning 90 square meters. Samples of packaging featuring integrated electrolumiscent surfaces will be printed on the production line, which is to be run by the Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Nanosystems on April 6 and 7. The functional layers will be applied to paper and film by means of screen printing. The best part is that there will even be the option to customize the illuminated surfaces using inkjet printing, meaning exhibition visitors can take their personalized packaging with them.

This process was developed at the Technical University of Darmstadt and the technology can be used commercially to add illuminated or flashing parts to packaging and other products—promising huge potential for the advertising and packaging industries.

LOPEC will also be offering further inspiration at its Start-up Forum on April 6 between 11:00 and 13:00. During the forum young entrepreneurs each have ten minutes to try and convince investors to get on board and offer seed or follow-up funding. For example, Netherlands-based company Eurekite will be making an appearance, presenting their ceramics that are as thin and flexible as paper, while Molecular Glasses will be joining us from the USA, bringing with them new materials for OLEDs and more. The Bioelectronics team from the Jülich Research Center, Darmstadt-based start-ups GT+W and 7am, and otego from Karlsruhe will all be introducing themselves as well. otego prints thermoelectric generators on meter-long films that are folded down to the size of a sugar cube. 7am, on the other hand, is working on producing interactive communication interfaces using 3D printing, linking the virtual and real worlds. But how do companies take these ideas and launch them onto the market? And speaking more generally, where do the greatest commercial opportunities lie for printed electronics? Experts from the field of industry and research will be discussing market strategies and technical aspects on April 6 at 13:00 during our LOPEC Forum round-table discussion. Dan Rogers, Head of Publishing at the market consultancy Smithers Apex, will be hosting this podium discussion. At the Exhibitors' Forum, visitors will have the chance to find out more about the latest developments, products, and ideas from our exhibitors, and further their specialist knowledge on printed and organic electronics. There will also be introductory talks aimed at newcomers to the industry. These will last 30 minutes and provide basic information about this emerging technology. To round off the LOPEC events program, tours will follow that are based around this year's key industries—the automotive sector, consumer electronics, and wearable technology.