AFIP 2016 announces programme details
“Printing as an integral part of the production process” will be the main theme of the technical presentations during the third Advanced Functional and Industrial Printing (AFIP) conference, organised by the European Association for Printing Manufacturers in screen and digital printing (ESMA) on 2-3 March 2016 at the Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel in Düsseldorf, Germany. The event welcomes printers, engineers, OEMs and material suppliers keen to learn about the latest advancements in printed and bioelectronics, conductive inks, in-mould decoration, the future of specialty screen and digital printing applications.
While highlighting the potential of different print technologies, the 2016 event will include the keynote speech by Smithers Pira’s Sean Smyth on “Adoption of Digital Printing in Functional Decoration”. Sean’s talk will focus on the rapidly emerging use of printing-for-profit in novel areas and on the key trends that are driving business opportunities in niche (e.g. electronic circuits) and more mainstream (e.g. architectural glass and home décor)applications. This will capitalise on Smithers Pira’s exclusive data for these segments, drawing on research used to produce their latest report “The Future of Functional and Industrial Print to 2020”. “Real-word experiences, and how the functional and industrial print sector is changing, are not widely known and understood. The sector offers enormous opportunities to a beleaguered commercial printing sector, and events like the AFIP 2016 conference provide a platform to promote and explore these”, says Sean Smyth.
Pit Teunissen from Holst Centre will demonstrate the advancements in flexible printed electronics devices –from concept, up to pilot production and industrial volumes. Prof. Arben Merkoçi from the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology will explain the application of printed nano biosensors in diagnostics and Fons Put from the Flemish Innovation Centre for Graphic Communication will present fluorescence engineering in print production. Other speakers and supporters of the conference represent Agfa, CST, Fimor, FujifilmDimatix, Global Inkjet Systems, Grünig/Signtronic, Intrinsiq Materials, Heraeus Noblelight, KIWO, MacDermidAutotype, Natgraph, Nor-Cote, Printcolor, Pröll, PVF, Sefar and Sun Chemical.