Armin Wittmann, LOPEC: "Simpler, smarter, more sustainable"
LOPEC 2025 will feature some remarkable innovations. In an exclusive interview with OPE journal, Armin Wittmann, Exhibition Director LOPEC, highlights the most important changes.
Mr Wittmann, what lessons did you learn during LOPEC 2024, and how will you apply them at LOPEC 2025?
Armin Wittmann: For example, we learned that it wasn’t easy for exhibition visitors to attend the conference on the same day. Therefore, at the next LOPEC, we will simplify access to the conference. For the first time, there will be application sessions focused on a single industry sector. These two-hour sessions will deliver all conference content on a specific topic, such as mobility, in a single block. Additionally, we will introduce a half-day conference ticket, so visitors can benefit from both the exhibition and the lecture programme in one day.
Why has the trade fair once again chosen to focus on the topics of smart living and mobility?
A trade fair dedicated to a specialised, lesser-known technology with applications across many industries needs a clear focus to capture attention. On the one hand, mobility and smart living are the areas that attract the largest groups of visitors. More importantly, printed electronics applications in these areas are already present in everyday life. These applications, in turn, have the potential to inspire professionals from various industries that have not yet engaged with printed electronics.
Overall, how has the field of printed electronics developed in terms of the market maturity of applications? How would you describe the evolution of the industry in this regard?
Our long-standing exhibitors tell us that visitor interests have shifted. Ten years ago, most visitors attended the trade fair to learn about the new technology and its benefits. Now they come with specific questions about implementing projects and products. In general, my impression is that the increase in market-ready applications is the main driver for further growth.
A lot of innovations are based on high-tech materials. What can we expect to see at LOPEC 2025 in this respect?
Leading manufacturers will be presenting the latest trends in materials sciences. Heraeus, for example, will be showcasing a new coating process with particle-free silver inks, referred to as MOD inks. MOD stands for metal organic decomposition. They can be applied precisely without any masking steps, thus reducing waste. The technology meets the standards of the semiconductor industry and is suitable for mass production. Another example: At LOPEC the plastics manufacturer Covestro will be presenting thermoplastic polyurethane films (TPU films) for the healthcare sector that can be printed with electronics and worn close to the skin. They are breathable and stretchable, can tolerate humid environments, and are also made from around 50% bio-based materials.
Companies in the printed electronics industry hope to connect with potential customers from industries such as automotive, healthcare, FMCG and the food sector at exhibitions like LOPEC. How does LOPEC achieve this?
We see it as one of our most important tasks to communicate the benefits of printed electronics to industries that do not yet have this technology on their radar. It helps that, in addition to LOPEC, Messe München organises numerous other technology trade fairs, many of which are world-leading events. We leverage these connections for LOPEC as well. In addition, LOPEC is represented at many major trade fairs together with the Organic and Printed Electronics Association (OE-A), often with joint stands or as part of the conference programme. The growing demand for sustainability, which is driving all sectors to explore new methods, also supports us in this mission. Social media communication plays a key role in this, allowing us to reach potential users across all industries.
What is the proportion of visitors from user industries, and what is LOPEC doing to attract decision-makers from these sectors?
Just under a quarter of visitors come from academia, with the remainder from industry and industry-related services. To attract the attention of decision-makers from the user industries to LOPEC, we can target relevant visitors at other suitable events at Messe München. We also participate in these events, such as the Printed Electronics Forum at electronica in November 2024. In our communication, we highlight specific printed electronics solutions that are already available, thereby generating interest in the technology and its applications. Our decision-maker programme at the LOPEC Conference is particularly important. The short courses provide a compact yet in-depth introduction to a specialist area, while the new application sessions engage decision-makers at a higher level and demonstrate how printed electronics can make our everyday lives simpler, smarter and more sustainable. Focusing on a specific, lesser-known technology that can be applied across a wide range of industries is essential to attract attention.
Interview: Bettina Maurer, C2 Coating & Converting
Caption: "We demonstrate how printed electronics can make our everyday lives simpler, smarter and more sustainable," says Armin Wittmann, Exhibition Director LOPEC.