CPI to Develop Printed Electronic Components as Part of the Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative

The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) is leading a consortium of major companies to create a UK supply chain to enable the widespread adoption of low cost, near field communication (NFC) devices using printable electronics. The project is a £10 million collaborative project involving businesses and the Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI).

The project will build manufacturing capacity, develop manufacturing skills and demonstrate application deployment. The project brings together the UK’s world-class strength in print, electronics and design in a collaborative consortium to open-up a globally competitive UK supply-chain in printed NFC components.

Many smartphones are enabled with NFC, allowing the user to interact with a diverse range of supported devices. This capability is already used widely in applications such as contactless payment. This project will extend NFC’s use so that smartphones can interact with printed items such as labels, posters, documents and product packaging. It will also allow retailers and manufacturers to manage their supply chains more efficiently.

CPI is the process element of the UK government’s national manufacturing strategy, dubbed the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. The initiative is tasked with stimulating growth within manufacturing sectors throughout the UK. CPI is focused on the development, scale-up and commercialization of a number of key enabling technologies, including printable electronics. CPI’s National Printable Electronics Centre, based at NETPark in Co. Durham, is equipped with an extensive range of assets specifically chosen and developed to allow clients to understand how their products and processes perform under industrial scale manufacturing conditions.

“CPI is delighted to lead the project, which is in line with our role in supporting the development and commercialization of advanced manufacturing processes,” Nigel Perry, CEO of CPI said. “The project will enable the UK to be competitive in this high growth global industry.”

The program will develop and integrate materials, printing, electronics, design, and manufacturing technology to create a UK supply chain that can make printed NFC devices at an industrial scale for market testing.

“This program will support the development of a complete manufacturing supply chain able to deliver our printed NFC solutions at a scale and cost suitable for widespread adoption,” Scott White, CEO of consortium partner PragmatIC Printing Ltd, said.