2014FLEX Set for Feb. 3-6 in Phoenix

FlexTech Alliance announced that the 2014 Flexible and Printed Electronics Conference & Exhibition (2014FLEX) returns to the Phoenix Convention Center Feb. 3-6, 2014 with the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, as the headquarters for several of the networking functions. This conference and exhibit is the most comprehensive North American event exploring technology and markets in flexible and printed devices and its supply chain. Industry analysts contend that this sector is steadily approaching an inflection point moving from technology push into market pull.

Organized by FlexTech Alliance, a membership-driven industry association which represents companies in the flexible and printed electronics sector, 2014FLEX leverages the association’s educational programs, worldwide connections, and management of R&D projects.

Three industry leaders have committed to chair the conference and share their experience in this emerging field of electronics: Ross Bringans, vice president at PARC, A Xerox Company (Palo Alto Research Center), Michael Idacavage, vice president of business development at Esstech, Inc., and Robert Miller, senior business manager at EMD Chemicals.

“The Flex Conference has built a well-deserved reputation for excellent technical content and as a very effective place to meet partners, discover new approaches, and to be inspired in our research and development of new offerings,” said Bringans.

“As an 8-plus year veteran of this event, I look forward to helping 2014FLEX maintain its position as the most innovative and most rewarding event of its kind,” added Idacavage.

“Advancements made in equipment, materials and processes that have been introduced at the Flex Conference have helped to enable the touch revolution, large scale conformable displays, flexible power generation, just to name a few,” Miller said. “As presenters, exhibitors or attendees, we know our time and effort has excellent return on our investment at this, the original conference in the field of flexible electronics.”

“Insightful business perspectives and top technical presentations are the hallmarks of the Flex Conference,” noted Michael Ciesinski, FlexTech Alliance’s chief executive officer. “We draw subject matter experts from the global industry and provide a platform for the technical and business development community to accomplish all of their professional and corporate objectives.”

One of the first activities for the leaders was to identify a theme for the conference, this year tagged as “Approaching the Tipping Point,” conveying the industry’s perception that wide-scale adoption of flexible and printed electronics is imminent. Growth in the sector has been steady and technological advances continue to enhance existing products.

The conference chairs are supported by 28 distinguished members of the program committee who will identify and invite leading business professionals and researchers around the world to present a paper or give a short course at 2014FLEX. Their first activity was to create a list of topics for the newly-released Call for Papers. This list and details on presenting at the conference has been carefully created to attract those working on the cutting edge and ready to present their work to an audience of peers, potential customers and potential suppliers.