Scientists from South Korea have made ultra-thin photovoltaics flexible enough to wrap around the average pencil. The bendy solar cells could power wearable electronics like fitness trackers and smart glasses. Thin materials flex more easily than thick ones – think a piece of paper versus a cardboard shipping box. The reason for the difference: The stress in a material while it is being bent increases farther out from the central plane. Because thick sheets have more material farther out, they are harder to bend.

The German company Saueressig GmbH  + Co. KG, a renowned expert in premium rotogravure and special machinery solutions, is exploring the printing properties of inks and coatings for all manners of applications. The interaction between the printing plate and the functional ink is critical to achieving optimum results. Complex inks in particular demand a great deal from the printing plate. The knowledge acquired in this area is now being used for printing on electronically functional materials.