TracXon brings electronics printing from niche to mainstream

 

TracXon, a spin-off of TNO at Holst Centre in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, specialising in the production of hybrid printed electronics, has opened a location in Eindhoven on 16 February, which is specially equipped for the mass production of hybrid printed electronics.

TracXon b.v. prints electronic circuits that are mainly applied in automotive, healthcare and consumer electronics because the technology is easy to process and integrate into existing products. A major advantage of printing electronics is that it requires far less raw materials and energy than the traditional method. In addition, less waste is left over.

Ashok Sridhar, co-founder and CEO: "With us, the electronic circuits are not etched on circuit boards but printed with special ink on ultra-thin foil. The advantage is that almost all used foils, inks and pastes are recyclable at the end of their life. This results in less waste. The electronics are printed on light, thin and flexible material that can be produced and processed in any shape. Corné Rentrop, CTO and co-founder of TracXon b.v.: “By printing only the required material, there is therefore no waste of raw materials. The production is also energy efficient and has a low carbon footprint."

Examples of what is possible with this unique technology include: producing LED lighting on large surfaces with tens of thousands of diode or extremely thin and flexible sensors that can be incorporated into clothing and measure body posture in a variety of conditions to prevent complaints. In an advanced stage is a temperature sensor with which batteries in electric cars or laptops can be monitored very accurately.

The new location on the Hastelweg has been equipped with unique machines and is completely focused on TracXon b.v. Ashok: "For example, we have a printing line in the class 7 clean room, a roll-to-roll printer of 18 metres in length in which technology from TNO at Holst Centre is applied. In the electrical assembly room, electrical components are placed on the printed film (pick & place).”

In the production facilities of TracXon b.v. technology and processes of TNO at Holst Centre are applied on mass production scale. Ton van Mol, Managing Director of TNO at Holst Centre: "Cooperation in technological research is crucial for this Brainport region. Only then can we maintain and even increase our competitive position. A production facility like this therefore has great added value."

TracXon b.v. is currently going through TNO's TechTransfer programme which aims to bring innovations and technology to the market faster so that society and business can use them more quickly. Hans Boumans, Director Technology Transfer at TNO: "Collaboration alone is of course not enough, we also need to invest in these startups. TracXon is a spin-off of our TechTransfer programme and a good example of how TNO technology can be brought to the market via a startup.  The seed capital comes from TNO, the BOM (Brabant Development Agency), Innovation Industries and the Brabant Startup Fund. With this we are helping TracXon in the first phase of business development, as a stepping stone to a successful future."

Caption: A continuous roll with light film (photo: TracXon)