EUROPE TAKES GLOBAL LEADERSHIP IN PRINTED ELECTRONICS
10/04/2007
Surprisingly, Europe has been pulling ahead of the rest of the world in many aspects of printed and potentially printed electronics just lately and this will be revealed by the following organisations and others at the forthcoming conference Printed Electronics Europe April 17-18 at Cambridge University UK, (www.idtechex.com/peEurope). Remarkable advances from Korea, Japan and the US will also be presented.
Printed electronics often involves simple things such as printed conductive patterns to counter the pollution, unreliability, bulk, weight and cost of wires, solder and etched patterns. The US Army plans to use printed electronics to reduce the weight of a warfighter’s pack by two thirds and give him smart clothing that generates electricity, heats him, cools him, monitors vital signs, acts as a long range antenna and so on. Printed electronics is mainly about reducing cost but it also involves printed lasers, photodiode arrays and many other sophisticated structures some of which perform better and are more fault tolerant than traditional alternatives. Most commonly, printed electronics will be used where traditional technology is simply not a feasible solution, such as wallpaper that generates power and doubles as a television and lighting or electronic anticounterfeiting on 100 billion cigarette packets yearly, giving traceability at a cost of only 0.1 cents per package. Only secondarily will it be used to create improvements to existing electronic products such as laptop computers, mobile phones and talking gift cards.
Globally the printing industry is in decline. Are the centuries of sophisticated development of the science and production technology for printing declining in a whimper? The answer is probably not. Certainly there is a fascinating escape route opening up for some. It is the printing of electronics.
The DSPA is offering a special 3 Month Trial Membership for just £50.00, giving you the opportunity to experience all the benefits of being a member of the DSPA.
As a member you will benefit from:
Your company details and specialities, with a link to your own website, will be displayed on the DSPA website, which currently receives around 500,000 page requests per month.
The DSPA receives many calls and e-mails asking for recommendations for work to be undertaken. The DSPA will always give priority to its members.
You will have access to some of the best knowledge in the industry. Michael Turner, the Association’s Director, has been in the printing industry for 20+ years and a wealth of other knowledge is available.
You will receive advice and information on Health & Safety, business matters, employment legislation, environmental issues, technical issues, sourcing service and pension provision to name but a few!
For a nominal fee, you can have telephone access to Croners, the employment legislation specialists.
You could have access to research and development into many aspects of Digital and Screen Printing at University of Wales.
You will be offered assistance with union approaches/issues if required.
You will have access to a first class combined insurance scheme, and probably save more than the cost of your subscription in the first year. *Available only to full members.
You will receive automatic membership to FESPA, the Federation of European Screen Printing Associations.
You may utilise our own DSPA Print Qualifications Centre that has fully qualified Assessors, Verifiers and Expert Trainers in Screen Printing. The team includes a City & Guilds External Verifier for Printing NVQ’s.
You will be advised regularly of regional programmes of technical and social activities plus Annual Awards, Dinners & Dances, Golf Societies etc.
PHONE 01737 240792 FOR FURTHER DETAILS
WORKPLACE HEALTH CONNECT
09/03/2006
Workplace Health Connect will comprise an Adviceline, which will give free, detailed and tailored practical advice to callers – both employers and workers – on workplace health, safety and return to work issues. It will seek to persuade callers to take up the offer of a free workplace visit if they are employers, or to talk to their employers about using the service if they are workers. Where a visit is agreed, employers will be referred to the regional problem-solving service, which will carry out a free visit to advise on any workplace health issues. During the site visit, the adviser will also provide a list of local approved specialists who could help the organisation solve any long term more complicated problems.
This is a cracking article by Mike Hardcastle of DCP Systems – well worth a read!
If your company has any form of Digital kit, as well as Screen, this piece includes very up-to-the minute information on available inks, substrates and machinery. It also includes some interesting facts and figures from Web Consulting not available elsewhere!
This article is available for Members only under ‘Articles’ on the Members page of the DSPA website.
HOW MUCH MONEY COULD YOUR COMPANY SAVE BY REDUCING WASTE?
21/02/2006
The best way to ensure compliance with legislation and make significant cost savings is to identify ways of minimising waste by means of a FREE FastTrack visit. Through these visits, Envirowise can help companies maximise their use of materials, leading to both improved levels of efficiency and, more importantly, reduced costs.
The best way to ensure compliance with legislation and make significant cost savings is to identify ways of minimising waste by means of a FREE FastTrack visit. Through these visits, Envirowise can help companies maximise their use of materials, leading to both improved levels of efficiency and, more importantly, reduced costs.
