Mergers and acquisitions and alliances are facts of business life. As some companies grow, they look to add new technologies; one approach is to acquire other companies. The printed electronics (PE) industry is in the midst of these changes.

In the past month, there have been a few notable announcements to touch upon, all on the conductive ink side. One key example occurred when Sun Chemical, the world’s largest ink manufacturer, and T+ink, one of the innovators to commercialize printed electronics across a wide range of industries, combined to form T+sun.

Sun Chemical has developed a strong position in conductive inks, and offers expertise in R&D, manufacturing, purchasing, marketing, and sales.

“T+ink’s technology creates a dynamic opportunity for our customers,” Felipe Mellado, chief marketing officer, Sun Chemical, said of the acquisition. “The innovation we provide through our own research and development, and through strategic partnerships with T+ink and others, can give our customers a complete solution that enables best-in-class packaging designs worldwide now and in the future.”

In March, NovaCentrix acquired PChem Associates’ nano silver ink technology, IP and other key assets. NovaCentrix will manufacture PChem’s products, including flexo, screen printable and spray inks.

“The ability to offer the high-performance PChem products and technologies allows NovaCentrix to better meet the needs of our customers, and to address growing and emerging opportunities in the printed electronics space,“ said Charles Munson, NovaCentrix CEO and president. “Combined with our existing and soon-to-be-released Metalon-brand ink products, as well as the state-of-the-art PulseForge photonic curing tools, we are better positioned than ever before to serve our customers as a leader in the printed electronics community.”

Solvay’s completion of its acquisition of Plextronics is another such move. By acquiring Plextronics, Solvay added to its OLED display and lighting portfolio. The acquisition was finalized after the U.S. bankruptcy court in Delaware approved Solvay’s offer for Plextronics

“The acquisition of Plextronics is an important milestone in growing our OLED capabilities,” said Bill Chen, general manager of Solvay OLED incubator.

NanoHolding Inc., the parent company of Nanofilm, Ltd., completed its acquisition of Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc. in March. The combined companies have formed PEN Inc., with Nanofilm’s owners receiving approximately 62% of PEN’s outstanding common stock. Nanofilm CEO Dr. Scott Rickert will become PEN’s chairman and CEO; the combined company totaled more than $13 million in sales in 2013. Nanofilm’s specialty is commercializing products, and the company will turn its focus on Applied Nanotech’s IP.

“PEN offers an exciting opportunity for Applied Nanotech and Nanofilm shareholders to share in the growth of the combined company,” said Dr. Rickert. “Customers and consumers will be served by new products that incorporate nanotechnology. I am ready to show how a disciplined business approach can transform scientific innovation and bring next-generation products to the worldwide marketplace.”

The merger agreement is subject to various conditions, and is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of 2014.

These moves strengthen each of the respective companies, and may have a significant impact on the industry in the future.