Polytronics centre promotes mass production of organic electronics

Centre Suisse d'electronique et de Microtechnique (CSEM) has opened the new centre in Muttenz, Switzerland. According to the organisation, the centre will develop and industrialise micro and nanotechnologies for polymer surfaces. By combining new materials and structures with large scale production processes involving thin layers, CSEM says that low cost, complex products can be manufactured for a wide range of products. These, it adds, will be thin, light, flexible and environmentally friendly. Polytronics is a disruptive technology which many believe has huge growth potential and could create new markets, replacing many established products. Some examples of this technology which are already known include oled displays for cell phones, large displays with organic thin film resistors or organic cells. The markets for polytronic products are growing rapidly at the moment, with new areas of application opening up that can benefit from low cost, green, disposable products on thin, flexible films. Such applications include displays, lighting technology, photovoltaic systems, energy saving through the use of batteries and sensor technology. The new polytronics development centre will primarily focus on photovoltaics and the protection of high value items such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology products and the development of new sensor platforms for biotechnology. CSEM adds that local industry will benefit from improved access to the existing CSEM network operating in the fields of system engineering, micro and nanotechnology, robotics and medicine.