The printed electronics market continues to gain prominence and increased adoption as a viable replacement for standard rigid and flexible copper circuit substrates. Molex Incorporated, a major global PCB and electronic component manufacturer, has taken an even larger position in the emerging PE segment with its recent acquisition of Soligie.
 
Established in 1938, Molex is headquartered in Lisle, IL. The company operates 50 manufacturing locations in 17 countries, and as a leading provider of electronic components and solutions, Molex views innovation as a tool for solving complex design and manufacturing challenges.
 
“We are dedicated to putting innovation to work for customers,” said Todd Hester, global VP and GM, Printed Circuit Products at Molex. “This philosophy has helped Molex create many pioneering electronic solutions and build a globally trusted brand known for quality and high performance.”
 
Molex prides itself on providing more than connectors. The company delivers complete interconnect solutions for a number of markets, including data communications, telecommunications, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, commercial vehicle, aerospace and defense, medical and lighting.
 
Hester said that the addition of Soligie fits nicely with the company’s expertise in the PCB and membrane switch fields.
 
“For more than three decades, Molex has manufactured membrane switches, silver printed circuits and copper flex circuits,” Hester said. “Additionally, we manufacture traditional printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies leveraging numerous surface-mount technologies (SMT) to bond electronic components to additive flex circuits. Through product innovation and acquisition, the Molex printed electronics portfolio has grown steadily in all key markets.
 
“Minnesota-based Soligie, Inc. was an excellent match with the Molex culture,” he added. “From prototype to high-volume roll-to-roll (R2R) printing of electronic circuits and sensor systems, Soligie’s custom flexible printed electronics inspire form and function. Their talented team has earned a solid reputation for pioneering manufacturing processes using polymer thick film inks on flexible substrates to provide cost effective sensor and circuit solutions.”
 
Hester sees numerous benefits for customers in the merging of Molex’s and Soligie’s skills, particularly the ability to utilize high volume roll-to-roll flexo and screen printing.
 
“Operating under stringent quality management and control systems, the Molex global footprint drives efficient manufacturing processes and provides an expansive customer support infrastructure,” he noted. “We provide early stage technology development with a path to high volume R2R manufacturing of flexible printed electronics, including selection of the right materials and manufacturing processes for faster time-to-market and better flexible sensor performance.
 
“Molex and Soligie provide a broad range of global services, including circuit design, process development, prototype fabrication, product development, qualification testing, commercialization and cost-effective manufacturing,” Hester added. “Molex R2R printing processes are then leveraged to include R2R copper plating processes and R2R electronic device bonding. Among many printing process options available, the nine-station printing system combines flexographic and rotary screen capability and the ability to print multiple layers for more efficient manufacturing.
 
“Our Soligie prototyping lab uses equivalent methods as high-volume manufacturing processes to validate designs and facilitate production qualification,” Hester said. “A framework of stringent quality systems ensures regulatory compliance, including ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 13485:2003 certified, and maintain compliance with FDA Current Good Manufacturing Processes.”
 
Hester said that Molex is well positioned in the flexible printed electronics market for the near and mid-term, with opportunities that include sensor systems, thin film batteries, RFID and flexible displays in medical, industrial, military, energy, transportation, defense, and technologies that enable the Internet of Things.
 
“Soligie printed electronic solutions are especially ideal for manufacturing low cost equivalents to printed circuit boards and copper flex circuits as well as disposable electronic products, such as physiological monitoring and environmental/biochemical sensors and circuits,” he said.
 
“Industry analysts project continued growth as even more markets migrate to flexible printed electronics technologies,” Hester added. “Increasingly, design engineers are discovering that an additive silver circuitry on polyester can perform as well as conventional technologies in most applications. Our latest technologies are ideal for replacing more costly PCBs and copper flex circuitry in a wide range of applications. Equally exciting is the boost in demand we see for full system-level sensor functionality integrated into flex circuits.
 
“Technological advances in conductive ink technology make it possible to fully leverage printing functionality vs. having to attach electromechanical devices,” Hester concluded. “Whether the goal is to make a product lighter, thinner, disposable, more flexible or to develop a novel new device, flexible printed electronics can deliver the right technologies for a cost-effective and robust solution.”