VTT tests mass production of printed memory in practice
VTT has conducted practical testing of the mass production of printed memory technology using the roll-to-roll printing process. The printed memory technology, patented by VTT, was demonstrated at the Printed Electronics Europe conference, where the best exhibition booth was chosen using voting cards based on VTT’s memory technology.
The voting card demonstrator was developed in cooperation with Stora Enso, Enfucell and ANP. A total of one thousand cards were manufactured for the IdTechEx conference provider.
The work was based on the PriMeBits EU research project, the goal of which was to develop memory technologies suitable for printed roll-to-roll production. The goal was to come up with application solutions based on the simple combination of memory technology with readers and sensors, e.g. RFID chips. The core idea of the PriMeBits project was to use printing technology for products in which printed electronics would be most competitive compared with traditional approaches.
One of the main competitive advantages of printed electronics is cost-effectiveness. Printed intelligent products include printed memory, with numerous applications already coming into the market. Overall, printed electronics is estimated to reach a significant market share by the end of the current decade.
The first printed memory applications use write-once memory technologies, on which the voting cards were also based. The PriMeBits project also researched write-many memory applications, and charted memory technology applications for different uses, the future outlook and potential business models from the perspective of companies and consumers alike.
The PriMeBits research project started in January 2008 and ended on 31 December 2010. The participants of the project coordinated by VTT were INM Leibniz-Institut für Neue Materialien gGmbH, Evonik Degussa GmbH and Motorola fromGermany, Mittuniversitetet (Mid Sweden University) and Sensible Solutions Sweden AB fromSweden, the Swiss Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, the Slovakian Ardaco a.s. and UPC Consulting Ltd / UpCode Ltd and Stora Enso Oyj fromFinland.
The project was funded by the European Commission and the partners.
Additional information:
Ari Alastalo
Principal Scientist
Tel. +358 40 537 6198
ari.alastalo@vtt.fi
Further information on VTT:
Olli Ernvall, Senior Vice President, Communications
Tel. 358 20 722 6747
olli.ernvall@vtt.fi
www.vtt.fi
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is a leading multitechnological applied research organization in Northern Europe. VTT creates new technology and science-based innovations in co-operation with domestic and foreign partners. VTT’s turnover is EUR 290 million and its personnel totals 3,100.
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