AIFMP conducts webinar on Printed Electronics on 24th June 2021
15 July 2021: Taking stock of the situation as India struggled to manage the second wave of COVID-19 and its myriad variants, Prof. Kamal Chopra, who recently took charge as President of the All India Federation of Master Printers for the second time; decided it was time to take decisive steps. A series of informative online sessions, envisaged by him, were held during June 2021, with an objective to enhance awareness among printers about opportunities that have opened up for them.
The webinar held on June 24, 2021, highlighted the widened scope for incorporating Printed Electronics in printed products. Explaining the rationale behind this particular topic in the invitation, the AIFMP President emphasised that while Printed Electronics (PE) may sound distant to a printer, but it is as easily done as a newspaper, with a high throughput but at low cost. Printers are known for exquisite value-additions in their print jobs for a long time since letterpress era – fonts, graphics, colour, texture, layout, pop-ups, and audio too. Now is the time to incorporate ‘thin flexible electronics’ into printed products, he pointed out, while inviting printers to attend the webinar and find out how printed sensors can boost their business.
The Chief Guest & Keynote Speaker was Prof. K. N. Raja Rao, Director, School of Engineering, Avinashilingam Institute for Women, Coimbatore. Three speakers enlightened those who attended the webinar – Sivanandhan Muthukumar, Prop., Sudan Graphics, Coimbatore; Rajesh Kulkarni, Managing Director, Keetronics, Pune and Dr. Sudhir Kumar, COO, National Centre for Flexible Electronics, IIT, Kanpur. G. N. Visvakumar, Hon. General Secretary, AIFMP, gave the vote of thanks.
Prof. K. N. Raja Rao, gave an extensive overview of Printed Electronics (PE), delivering it in a way that could be understood by even a layperson. He said the Printed Electronics market is predicted to grow to USD20.7billion by 2025. He gave an insight of the technologies used for PE, infrastructure and clean rooms, choice of substrate and inks and challenges, sighting sample scenarios from print industry. He concluded recommending the need to build a PE ecosystem with the academia, industry and research centres.
Sivanandhan Muthukumar spoke about the ‘Scope of PE for MSMEs.’ Being an MSME printer doing PE jobs for keypad stickers, he said that a mere screen printing unit is sufficient for doing a certain category of PE products.
Rajesh Kulkarni elaborated on how his firm manufactures membrane keyboards devices for their customers, specifically in health care industries, railways, Light combat aircrafts, etc., where human interface is required. They also manufacture touch electrical switches (touchmatic) for over 11 years for Anchor, Lagrande, on stone, wood glass, etc. They produce these switches for clients abroad also. Then he gave a detailed description about a business in in-mould electronics (IME) which is an advanced technology of PE, the type of inks required, expertise required, applications of IME. He concluded with success and award winning stories of their company.
Dr. Sudhir Kumar spoke about the facilities and services at NcFlexe. He gave a detailed description of the services offered, their training services, facilities and equipment, etc. He also suggested that through proper channel it is possible to offer training for printers as well.
Over 250 persons had registered and over 100 participants attended the webinar with 50+ attendees intermittently participating in the sessions. There were international participants from Indonesia and Sri Lanka as well.
The recording of this webinar is available at https://youtu.be/-9QoEefU7ec
