Printed electronics (PE) holds a lot of promise for major corporations

and entrepreneurs alike. The ability to mass produce,

through printing, low cost yet robust electronic systems

may very well revolutionize the way some products are manufactured,

and create entirely new devices. In short, printed electronics

have the potential to be a truly disruptive technology.

Of course, there have been challenges in making PE work.

Researchers have worked diligently to develop the functional materials

needed to make PE applications a reality. Equipment manufacturers

have developed the machinery to run these products.

Designers are creating applications that consumers will want, and

some enterprising printers have brought these products to reality.

However, many companies have found out the hard way that

what works in the lab does not necessarily translate to success in a

production environment. As a result, early estimates of the size of

the PE market have proved to be inflated, which then makes the

actual PE market look much smaller.

The reality, though, is that PE is making strong headway into the

marketplace. For example, in my article, “Printed Electronics Finds

Commercial Success,” which begins on page 9, leading PE manufacturers

discuss products that are reaching commercial success.

Printers are playing a key role in the manufacturing of these

PE systems. Starting on page 13, leading printers discuss the challenges

they faced and the successes they have achieved in my article,

“Printers Find Opportunities in Printed Electronics.”

Equipment manufacturers are key to the ultimate success of PE,

and some industry leaders offer their perspective in the market in

“Equipment Advances Help Drive Growth of Printed Electronics,”

which begins on page 22. Among the major raw materials, conductive

inks are critical components, and leading ink suppliers offer

their insights in “The Conductive Ink Market,” starting on page 16.

For the past five years, Printed Electronics Now has been at the

forefront of the PE movement, offering our independent perspective

on the industry at our website, www.printedeectronicsnow.com, as

well as our weekly breaking news emails. As part of Rodman Media,

an award winning media group whose global reach spans to markets

as diverse as household and personal products, pharmaceuticals,

medical products, paint and coatings, printing inks, printing, nonwovens

and more, we at Printed Electronics Now offer a printed

issue to help established companies learn about this market and the

key players that can help them thrive in it.

I hope you enjoy our inaugural issue, and look forward to hearing

your thoughts on the field of printed electronics.