PyzoFlex® is a fully printed sensor technology based on a printable polymer ink. The transducer is manufactured using a screen printing process, which enables printing of customized sensors of specific shape and size on a variety of substrates including plastic film, paper, glass and metal. Our ferroelectric sensor ink allows a system to detect changes in temperature (∆T; pyroelectric), pressure (∆P; piezoelectric) as well as structure born sound (Hz; vibration). Due to the sensing principle of PyzoFlex®, the transducers themselves do not require a power supply and in fact can also be used for energy harvesting. The talk gives an overview of the Pyzoflex technology and many application examples.

Innovative Sensor Technology iST AG, a leading manufacturer of a diverse portfolio of predominantly physical sensors, has established a strong reputation for its core competence in thin film platinum resistance temperature detectors (RTDs). Over time, the company has expanded its expertise to encompass various other sensor principles. Along with other microfabrication techniques, such as sputtering and micro welding, screen printing is one of iST’s central processes for sensor fabrication. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how printing technologies are integrated into the production of temperature sensors, conductivity sensors and heaters, among others. Potential for printing as an enabling technology is discussed. Moreover, the presentation will address the obstacles encountered in the printing process and shed light on how iST AG overcomes these challenges.

As printed electronics continue to push the boundaries of flexible, lightweight, and cost-effective electronic systems, the role of surface engineering becomes increasingly critical. Atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) technology—operated in open air without vacuum systems—offers a versatile and scalable solution to meet these evolving demands. This presentation explores how APP can enhance key process steps in printed electronics manufacturing. Plasma-based surface treatment significantly improves ink adhesion by increasing surface energy on low-energy substrates such as PET and polyolefins, enabling reliable and high-resolution printing. In addition, plasma cleaning and activation support the removal of organic contaminants and the functionalization of surfaces, crucial for achieving robust interlayer bonding in multilayer and hybrid devices. Finally, APP shows promise in enabling or modifying encapsulation and barrier layers, protecting moisture-sensitive components like OLEDs and biosensors. While these applications are already part of the printed electronics landscape, the full potential of atmospheric plasma remains far from fully realized. This presentation invites a broader discussion on where and how APP can further optimize existing processes, overcome current limitations, and open new paths in the design and performance of printed electronic systems.

The demand for smart, connected solutions is rising rapidly – and with it, the market potential for RFID applications in industrial manufacturing. In particular, the field of printed electronics is opening new avenues for cost-efficient, large-scale, and flexible production of intelligent components. However, these opportunities also bring growing demands for process reliability and product quality.   Ensuring functionality is a key challenge, especially in the demanding and dynamic printing process broken or incompletely printed conductive tracks, as well as geometric deviations, can significantly impair the performance of RFID tags – while being barely visible to the naked eye. High-resolution, optical 100% inspection systems offer a solution here: operating in a roll-to-roll (R2R) rewinder, they detect defects on already printed RFIDs in real time, document them digitally, and classify them with pinpoint accuracy. This enables the targeted identification of defective units – a vital step towards reliable and reproducible quality assurance. There is potential in the intelligent networking of relevant quality data: when optical inspection results are combined with other inline measurements – for instance, to verify the RFID encoding capability – a comprehensive defect profile emerges. This not only provides the basis for immediate process intervention but also enables data-driven optimization across the entire production chain. Solutions already implemented by technology providers such as BST demonstrate how digital quality assurance can become a strategic success factor in RFID production.