Materials for Printable Electronics to Reach $1.9 Billion, Says New Report18 December 2005
The market for inks, substrates and other materials used in printable electronics is expected to reach $1.9 billion by 2010 rising to $8.9 billion in 2013, according to a new report from NanoMarkets, LC, a market research firm based here. Information about the report including its first chapter, which is available for download, can be found at http://www.nanomarkets.net.
Why the Fuss About Materials?
NanoMarkets' report notes that the next few years represent a key period for the Printable Electronics (PE) business as a whole. Crucial development work has to take place at the materials level in order for future revenue opportunities to be realized for all segments of the value chain. Materials and production issues in many ways are the limiting factor for what PE will ultimately enable, namely, electronics anywhere they are needed. PE will generate numerous opportunities for materials and specialty chemicals firms and will also help bring new business revenues to the printing industry. And, while the industry remains focused on applications such as displays and RFID, PE also provides the means for innovative companies to create the next break- out application that generates tens of millions of dollars in revenue in the blink of an eye.
Other Findings:
* Applications make the materials. Some of the highest potential
applications for printable electronics have very demanding requirements
for materials. For example, flexible displays obviously require flexible
substrates, but they also need inks that do not easily crack when dry.
Printed RFIDs will be created on high-speed printing machinery that
places strict requirements on ink viscosity. NanoMarkets believes that
such needs will help drive both the demand and R&D dollars in the novel
inks sector.
* New directions for inks. Printable electronics inks already exhibit good
stability and performance. Nanoparticle inks have shown good
conductivity and curing properties in actual products. However,
NanoMarkets expects that the rapidly growing PE business will lead to an
arrival on the market of new inks with even better performance and
suitability to specific applications. These will include inks based on
oligomers, small molecules, and a variety of traditional metals and
semiconductors. By 2010, the ink segment of the PE materials market
alone will be worth over $700 million.
* Plastic substrates to dominate. NanoMarkets' report states that the
lion's share of the opportunities for printable electronics substrates
will be found in plastic substrates, revenues from which are expected to
reach $735 million by 2010. This is an area where NanoMarkets sees
business flowing to those who can show the best performance in a number
of areas, especially flexibility, smoothness and antistatic properties.
* Electronics on paper. Over the next eight years, NanoMarkets expects
paper and card to become an increasingly important substrate for
printable electronics. This will be required as printable electronics
quickly finds its way into smart packaging, greeting cards and other
novelties. Printable electronics on a paper substrate may even be the
ultimate in electronic paper. To make this happen, however, paper
manufacturers will have to come up with special coated papers suitable
for taking electronic inks.
* Printable electronics for actual printers. At present, interest in
printable electronics is mainly confined to specialists, who feel
comfortable with the complex chemistries involved. However, NanoMarkets
believes that the rise of "user friendly" inks and substrates will be
one of the most important catalysts that will propel printable
electronics into the mainstream printing industry and garner more
attention from both printers and printing equipment. This will enable
conventional printers to generate new revenues from prototyping and
build printable electronics inline with their graphics facilities.
About the Report:
NanoMarkets' new report, "Materials and Substrates for Printable Electronics: Opportunities and Markets," provides a thorough analysis of market opportunities available in printable electronics for a wide range of materials including nano-metallic silver and polymer inks, as well as other inks made from metals, organic materials and standard semiconductors. It also provides in-depth coverage of evolving substrates for printable electronics including glass, plastic, paper and even niche substrates such as wood, metal and wearable fabrics. Finally, the report covers other materials that are used in printable electronics including solvents, adhesives, etc. In order to cover the broadest range of opinion, the report is based on in-depth interviews of firms throughout the entire value chain including materials, manufacturing equipment, printable electronic device and finished products companies.
The report includes an analysis of how materials for printable electronics technology are likely to evolve over the coming decade, forecasts through 2013 of all the major material types used in printed electronics, including breakouts by application and chemistry, and a guide to which companies are active in this space now and what they are doing.
Among the materials firms currently pursuing opportunities in this space are 3M, Advanced Nano Products, BASF, Cabot, Dow, DuPont, Merck, Plextronics, Sun Chemical and others, with many more eyeing the market. However, while this report will be essential reading for firms in the specialty chemicals and materials business, it will also be invaluable for device manufacturers and OEMs seeking to understand how new developments in printable materials will impact their product strategies, as well as traditional printers and printing equipment firms looking for profitable new diversifications for their business. VCs and others that are investing in the printable electronics space will also find this an important resource.
Please visit http://www.nanomarkets.net for additional information or contact Robert Nolan at (804) 360-2967. Members of the press may receive an executive summary upon request or schedule an interview with the report's author by emailing press@nanomarkets.net.
Source: prnewswire
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