New concepts trigger market demands!
In 2008, ESMA started with the European Membrane Switch Symposium which was a single day conference and showing the immediate interest in technical printing applications. Three years later, the concept was expanded with Functional printing and became a two-day conference. The programme set a high standard for technical presentations on different applications. The recent event on 6 and 7 March was further expanded with industrial printing and showed even more how this new concept was triggering current market demands. The results of the success can be seen on the website at www.AFIP2013.org.
Advanced Functional and Industrial Printing provides a wide variety of printed applications using screen- or digital printing. Typical subjects were conductive tracks, IMD/FIM (In Mould Decoration/Film in Mould), PSA (pressure-sensitive adhesives) and also the potential applications in different market segments for automotive, consumer goods and packaging. This included advanced printing solution of the decorative masks for smartphones and tablets and also the high demands and requirements for these type of applications.
The conference also presented solutions for ink-jet printing and potential industrial solutions plus the need for different printing equipment and requirements for fitting the work-flow into an industrial production process. There were the latest capabilities for screen-printing showing printing solutions of 30 microns with special mesh solutions and advanced CtS (computer-to-screen) solutions for fitting the new required standards.
New conductive polymers and inks are pushing market needs and bringing solutions for all kind of printing processes. The CLIP (Conductive Low-cost Ink Project) showed the potential of copper-based inks for all kinds of different solutions from sensors, antennas, RFID and EL using ink-jet, AJP and screen-printing. The need of good sintering (post-treatment of conductive tracks to improve conductivity) is a critical issue and is already receiving attention.
Industrial printing is currently getting a lot of attention because of the need for further innovations, the search for new printing applications and more lucrative niche markets. Screen-printing has developed many different solutions which found a use in the industrial environment as adaptive disruptive technology. Today, some applications are already possible with digital ink-jet printing but the conference has shown that both printing technologies will continue to exist next to each other or even support one another in new production solutions.
Organised by ESMA, and supported by key industry bodies such as FESPA and PEPSO, AFIP 2013 offered 20 presentations from industry experts and keynote speakers covering applications such as automotive, film insert moulding, nameplate, fascia, printed electronics, circuit, label and solar cell technologies. Presented in dual English/German language, papers included:
- Conductive polymer and metallic new inks for functional printing – Agfa
- Conductive inks – Conductive Compounds/PrintColor
- Revolution in Component Decoration: Direct-to-Product Inkjet Printing is Now a Reality – Cyan Tec
- Inkjet for Industrial applications; scope and limitations – Durst
- Inks for touch panel decoration – Encres Dubuit
- Functional printing using screen or digital printing – HDM Stuttgart
- Clevios conductive polymers for printed electronic applications – Heraeus
- Computer to screen latest generation: much more than replacing films – G4 Automation
- Sintering and applications of copper conductive inks – Intrinsiq
- Functional pressure sensitive adhesives – KIWO, Kissel + Wolf
- Material developments in film insert moulding (FIM / IMD) – MacDermid Autotype
- Printing and high-pressure-forming with UV-curable inks for the IMD process – Marabu and Niebling
- Printed Electronics Products and Solutions – PEPSO
- Printed EL circuits and antennas – PEL and ACREO
- Dual-cure lacquers as protective coating for film insert moulding applications – Pröll
- Screen-printing mesh for industrial precision fundamentals for success – Sefar
- Computer to screen technology: the future in screen production – SignTronic
- Printed humidity sensor circuit with ink-jet and aerosol jet printing – Sirris and KTH
- Volume printing of multilayer products – Swansea University
- Photonic sintering of printed conductive structures for OLED and OPV applications – TNO Holst
- High speed flat-bed violet and UV imaging technologies, and its applications – Xeikon
Once again, Sun Chemical's Robin McMillan moderated the conference in his role as ESMA's Chairman of the TEC (Technical Exchange Commitee). He comments: "It was an honour to moderate AFIP2013 again. This conference features topics at the leading edge of industrial and functional printing and remains unique in addressing these rapidly growing business sectors".
Accompanying exhibition
The conference programme was supported by regular intervals dedicated to the accompanying table-top exhibition. Leading manufacturers of machinery and consumables participated, including Agfa, Asada Mesh, CLIP (Conductive Low-cost Ink Project)/Intrinsiq/PEL, Durst, Encres Dubuit, FESPA, Fimor, G4 Automation, Grünig-
Interscreen, Heraeus, Dr Hönle, Hy.tech Forming Systems, IdtechEx, KIWO/Kissel + Wolf, MacDermid Autotype, Marabu, MP+L Produktions, Natgraph, Nor-Cote, PEPSO (Printed Electronics Products and Solutions), Printcolor, Pröll, Saati, SEFAR, SignTronic, Specialist Printing Worldwide, SPS Technoscreen, Sun Chemical and Xeikon.
The organisers
AFIP 2013 was organised by ESMA, an association of European manufacturers of machinery and consumables for the specialist printing industry, in co-operation with Chameleon Business Media, publishers of Specialist Printing Worldwide and Glass Worldwide magazines.
Following highly positive feedback from AFIP 2013, ESMA already has early plans for AFIP to return in 2015. To be staged in Düsseldorf in November 2013, ESMA and Chameleon will also co-operate again to stage the fifth edition of GlassPrint – Europe's only conference and exhibition for the decoration of all types of glass.
Attendee feedback indicated that:
97% said the standard of the conference programme was 'good to very good'.
93% said the conference presentations and meetings in the table-top exhibition area would be useful to their business.
A selection of comments from attendees includes:
"Excellent conference which provides useful information"
"Very informative presentations over a broad range of industry trends, combined with excellent networking possibilities"
"AFIP is an excellent platform for contacts"
"The conference programme was really interesting"
"A very well organised and attended conference"
Further information:
ESMA, Sint-Joris-Winge, Belgium
tel: + 32 16 894 353
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
web: www.AFIP2013.org
