Swansea unveiled as UK Centre of Excellence for Plastic Electronics

The important role of Swansea University's Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating, as a UK Centre of Excellence for Plastic Electronics, is highlighted by The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) at the launch of its' UK strategy in December 2009.

Plastic Electronics is one of the UK government's priority areas in the policy statement: 'Building Britain's Future - New Industry, New Jobs', because of its potential to create a new, innovative and competitive industry; generate high-value jobs; and deliver significant local and global economic benefits.

Launching the strategy at the QE2 Conference Centre in London, Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson said: "The UK is already a global leader in the Plastic Electronics sector thanks to our world-class science-base and our strengths in research, creativity and innovation. We now need a roadmap for the industry that takes it from cutting edge to mass market while keeping Britain firmly in front."

The new industry-led strategy, entitled 'Plastic Electronics Strategy For Success: Realising the UK Potential', sets out the forward looking investment plan for government, industry and academia to work together to cross fertilise cost-effective ideas and differing experiences in order to fully exploit this disruptive technology.

To ensure that the UK remains a Global leader in the multi-billion pound industry of the future, the Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating (WCPC) will continue to work with the printing community to enable the industry to use plastic electronics, together with existing skills and capital investment, to develop innovative new product lines - such as sensors for the automotive, aerospace and medical sectors - that will add value, create new markets and underpin the continued success of the industry in the UK.

Professor Tim Claypole, Director, Swansea University's School of Engineering, explained: "While you would normally associate the fundamental science of printing with the production of newspapers, packaging and books, The Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating, based in Swansea, has focused its' research on the application of traditional printing methods to the manufacture of new and novel products.

"It is a credit to our strategic vision, coupled with our awareness of incoming technologies and a strong tradition of partnership and collaboration with industry, which has led to Swansea University being recognised as a UK Centre of Excellence for Plastic Electronics. 

"We welcome this opportunity to build on our strengths and to apply our knowledge and skills to help create an innovative and competitive economy."

Printing is already one of the major manufacturing industries in Wales, with over 30,000 people employed in 1,000 companies, but the sector needs to be innovative to thrive in the global market. With the creation of a new multi-billion pound industry, around plastics electronics, there is an opportunity for Wales to build a significant, successful and contemporary manufacturing base that addresses the fast changing and diverse needs of both large and small to medium sized businesses.

Through the work of Swansea University, as a UK Centre of Excellence for Plastic Electronics, Welsh businesses will have open access to world leading research, facilities and expertise to support them through each stage of new product development - from proof-of-concept through to production. And, in partnership with four other UK Centres of Excellence, Swansea University's WCPC will provide access to world-class academic expertise and an environment in which start-up companies are expected to emerge and be incubated.

By way of example,  WPPC will be responsible for the creation of 'demonstrators' that show how Printed Electronics can be integrated into products - such as 'self illuminating' and 'interactive' poster displays (which include a series of printed lamps and intelligent sensors) that can be integrated into cost-effective and interactive books, magazine covers, smart packaging or point-of-sale advertising materials. A recently announced Welsh Assembly Government A4B grant is, in parallel, enabling WCPC to become a Knowledge Transfer Centre for Printing these functional materials.

Pictures show, (top): Dr, Davide Deganello, Research Officer at Swansea University's Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating uses the rollscope to characterise the engraved cells in a gravure cylinder .

Researchers at Swansea University's Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating working on ink development for functional material,  (centre).

Researcher at Swansea University's Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating seen screen printing next-generation photonics interfaces, (bottom).

While the effectiveness of the technology has been proven conceptually, improvements to the manufacturing process are required to encourage new and established printing companies to routinely incorporate the technologies into their product lines. Overtime, the A4B funding will ensure that individual businesses profit from the transfer of knowledge and best practice in the emerging Plastic Electronics sector.

Professor Ian Cluckie, Pro Vice Chancellor of Science and Engineering at Swansea University concluded: "By carrying out world class research, offering industry sponsored studentships, and applying the acquired knowledge and skills to the benefit of industry partners, The Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating is not only an 'exemplar' for the Plastics Electronics sector but also one of many 'hidden gems' within Swansea University's School of Engineering.

"This is an exciting time for everyone who has contributed to the development of the UK strategy and for the many businesses set to benefit from greater participation in the global supply-chain for Plastic Electronics."

Plastic Electronics technology
Plastic Electronics technology allows circuits to be printed on to any surface and over large areas. This low-cost alternative to conventional silicon-based electronics will lead to the creation of new generations of products, including smart systems which integrate components such as sensors, batteries and displays. The disruptive technology makes it possible to produce a wide range of innovative products more cheaply and in a more environmentally-friendly way than previously viable.

UK Government's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
According to the UK Government's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the global market for Plastics Electronics is under $200 billion today but is forecast to grow at an astonishing rate over the next decade, exceeding $120billion by 2020 and as much as $330 billion by 2027. The largest growth in the sector is predicted to take place in the markets for rollable electronic display screens, ultra-efficient lighting and low-cost, long-life solar cells. A copy of the UK Strategy can be downloaded from: http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file53890.pdf 

The UK Centres of Excellence for Plastic Electronics
The UK Centres of Excellence for Plastic Electronics are located at: Cambridge University, Imperial College London, Manchester University, Printable Electronics Centre (PETEC) Sedgefield, and Swansea University's Welsh Printing and Coating Centre (WCPC). 

Printing and coating is one of the largest industry sectors and the School of Engineering's Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating (WCPC) is a world leading research centre focusing on investigating printing and coating as a manufacturing process. It has purpose-built fully equipped air conditioned laboratories for measurement of printed and coated product. The Centre enjoys access to industrial printing facilities and also works closely with all components in the supply chain, including ink, substrate and machinery suppliers. The Centre has also attracted research funds from European Structural funds, EU Framework 7, EPSRC, The Technology Strategy Board and The Welsh Assembly Government. For further information, view website: www.swansea.ac.uk/printing

Swansea University's School of Engineering
Swansea University's School of Engineering has an international reputation for innovation and developing new technologies designed to make a real difference to people's lives. It is one of the leading Engineering Schools in the UK and, in the recent Research Assessment Exercise, the Multidisciplinary Nanotechnology Centre (MNC) was ranked 5th in the UK out of 52 institutions submitted to the General Engineering category. For further information, view website: www.swansea.ac.uk/engineering

Swansea University
Swansea University is a world-class, research-led university situated in stunning parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower peninsula, the UK's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Founded in 1920, the University now offers around 500 undergraduate courses and 150 postgraduate courses to around 14,000 students. For further information, view website: www.swansea.ac.uk

For further information, contact Beth Lauder, Swansea University Public Relations Office. Tel: 01792 513245 or e-mail: b.lauder@swansea.ac.uk.

New SICK Inspector I40 performance meets increased demands

The new Inspector I40 2D vision sensor from SICK UK inspects products faster, with better definition, higher reliability detection and wider fields of view while remaining outstanding value for money. Part of the robust Inspector range, the I40 now offers improved data and image logging  with class leading ease of use for a wide range of product, quality and labelling applications including packaging, small parts assembly and electronics production.

"Smart camera performance level inspection capability is achieved for the new Inspector I40 by building on the best features of the Inspector I10 and I20 models," comments David Hannaby, SICK Vision Systems Product Manager. "For example, the higher VGA resolution, image capture speeds up to 250 Hz, the additional pattern match tool, more detailed results information and image storage allow us to solve many applications where previously we would have needed a smart camera. 

"The benefit to the customer is lower cost solutions that are easy to maintain on the production line; the wider field of view can mean less sensors are required.  The I40 does not replace a 2D camera as many more applications require a greater degree of inspection and integration into the production process."

The powerful Inspector series is as easy-to-use as a standard photoelectric sensor.  Complete with a choice of integral lighting, in-situ interchange filters and lens, fast high-capacity processing, Ethernet comms and rugged industrial IP67-protected metal housing, its competitive price enables the engineer to make a decision for quality inspection within existing budgets.

"Robust small detail differentiation is available from the I40 even at high speeds with the integral pattern inspection tool," continues Hannaby. "The choice of clear, red, green or blue lens ensures optimum detection for different product / colour combinations and the unique dome light helps eliminate error-inducing glossy surface reflections.

"Product traceability and quality inspection are enhanced by the greater image handling and storage capacities. While the I40 can buffer up to 30 images, it also downloads images via FTP, for unlimited capacity. Use of EtherNet/IP also facilitates PLC control and SCADA network integration." For further information on the SICK Inspector 140 2D vision sensor, contact Ann Attridge, email: ann.attridge@sick.co.uk