New York, NY —December 26, 2010— T-Ink, Inc., a leading developer and marketer of interactive conductive ink formulations and applications technologies, today announced that the company and its Ink-Logix division has won the IDTech 2010 Best Product Development Award for Printed Electronics for its Smart Plastic In-Mold technology . The award recognizes outstanding progress in the development and commercialization of printed electronics and part of the IDTechEx event Printed Electronics USA 2010 – which was attended by over 1200 people from 28 countries – the world’s largest event on the topic.
T-Ink/ Ink-Logix are introducing a unique and innovative approach to creating a three dimensional “Smart Plastics” product. “Smart Plastics” can be defined as a product that incorporates printed capacitive sensor/switch technology and film insert molding techniques to generate a highly styled and decorative plastic touch switch panel available for use in automotive, white goods, consumer electronics and other products.
Andy Ferber Cochairman of T-Ink accepted the award along with Jeff Engel CEO of Ink-Logix. “T-Ink has worked along with Ink-Logix on developing the Smart Plastic System. T-Ink’s ink formulations and application expertise along with the engineering and development talents of the Ink-Logix engineering team has taken printed electronics to the next level with the creation of Smart Plastics. Our application teams are already working on implementation in many different industries. This has been the foundation of T-Ink…applying technology and creating new products with capabilities that never before existed.”
Smart Plastic In Mold technology marks a major milestone in the Print Electronic revolution, said Andy Ferber, Co-Chairman of T-Ink “Working with major manufacturers and designers around the world T-Ink and Ink-Logix have the right technology, capability and know-how to respond to the next generation of printed electronics with real worlds applications.
“Smart Plastic technology has been licensed to a major automotive OEM with significant world wide presence,” said Will Boddie, CTO of T-Ink’s Ink-Logix group. “The first application of the technology is scheduled for car production beginning in 2012. The benefits of the technology in cost, weight, package and styling that are consistent with the needs of those automotive, white goods, and consumer electronics markets are expected to lead to many more applications in the near future”.
The process allows T-Ink’s Smart Plastic specially formulated “thermo-flex” inks to conform to any shape and size substrate and allows T-Ink’s unique formulations to print on the “B” side (opposite) of the substrate to create a uniquely interactive capacitor application. Utilizing T-Ink/Ink-Logix Smart Plastic formulations and processes produces printed 3D parts with reduced weight and dimension, reduced labor and manufacturing cost, increased realaibility/durability and design options leading to a better consumer experience.
Key features of Smart Plastic In Mold technology include-
- The only method to create a true 100% 3D smart plastic part in a thin format.
- The integration of ink chemistries, printing systems, films, resins and electronics to create smart plastics and innovative HMI environments within automotive, white goods and other consumer and industrial products.
- An enabler to new innovative design no longer constrained by the traditional mechanical devices, lighting and electronics.
- Superior engineering and Design flexibility and innovation
- Package space reductions
- Almost unlimited use of complex shapes/contours – no stale flat surfaces
- Mass customization w/o part proliferation and additional decorative features
- Exponential Quality improvements
- Uniform switch sensitivity
- Less parts = less failure points
- Elimination of fit and finish issues
- Improved reliability and durability
- New windows of opportunity to support Sustainability
- Mass reductions in areas where engineering has struggled
About T-Ink, Inc./ Ink-Logix, LLC . Founded in 2008 by T-INK, Inc. the leading formulation and application company for ‘Thinking Ink” consumer and industrial applications, Ink-Logix and T-Ink are the pioneers in printed Smart Plastic In-Mold electronic components. Ink-Logix follows T-Ink’s corporate mission to deliver revolutionary products and user experiences by providing advanced ink and print technology developments to create a range of low-cost, environmentally green interactive applications for worldwide industrial and consumer products and markets.
