LOPEC 2025: "We will come close to the pre-pandemic record"

From 25 to 27 February 2025, around 180 exhibitors from all over the world will present innovations and trends in flexible, organic and printed electronics at LOPEC in Munich. Armin Wittmann, Exhibition Director of LOPEC, provides an update on the latest developments at the event and its promising outlook.

Mr Wittmann, what is the current status of LOPEC 2025 in terms of exhibitor numbers and expected visitor turnout?

Armin Wittmann: We are very pleased with the level of exhibitor bookings, which seamlessly continues last year's excellent results. In total, we expect around 180 companies from all over the world to showcase their new products at the exhibition, including several start-ups. The congress will feature around 100 high-calibre presentations by international experts from industry and research. As for visitor numbers, we are optimistic that we will come close to the pre-pandemic record, as there are currently no signs of a strike.

At the moment, there is a lot of discussion in Germany about weak economic growth and companies' reluctance to invest. How would you describe the current market situation for printed electronics?

I believe that awareness of the benefits of printed electronics has become so widespread across various industries that the resulting growth opportunities far outweigh the general hesitancy to invest.

Let's talk about LOPEC 2025: What are your personal highlights?

My highlight every year is the Innovation Showcase. This exhibition area brings technology to life and makes it easy to understand how it will shape our future. Experts present exciting prototypes and the latest product innovations. This year, for example, we will see an Audi car featuring a new lighting concept based on printed electronics that is already in production, as well as a vest with printed magnetic resonance imaging coils that simplify MRI scans. And, of course, we are very eager to see how the new user sessions at the congress will be received this year.

And how has the new congress structure been received?

So far, we have received only positive feedback on the new structure, which makes it easier for visitors to navigate the congress. The new half-day sessions, each focusing on a specific application area, along with the subsequent themed tour of the exhibition, will make LOPEC even more practical. And with the new half-day congress ticket, visitors can explore both the exhibition and the lecture programme in a single day.

Are there any plans for future events? What will LOPEC look like next year and beyond?

Our mission is to support the printed electronics industry in promoting printed electronics as a sustainable, environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and cost-effective technology across various industries, while also helping to reduce time to market. Our focus extends beyond LOPEC itself. Under the LOPEC brand, we offer joint participations and printed electronics forums at our sister trade fairs, electronica and productronica in Munich.
We are also strengthening our presence in the Chinese market. Shortly after LOPEC in Munich, the "Flexible and Printed Electronics Industry Foresight Summit" will take place on 27 March as part of productronica China in Shanghai. In this way, we are well prepared for the future and can respond flexibly to market developments.

Caption: "Awareness of the benefits of printed electronics has become so widespread across various industries that the resulting growth opportunities far outweigh the general hesitancy to invest," says Armin Wittmann, Exhibition Director of LOPEC.

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