Member Article

Message in a bottle spells success for North East innovators

A North East firm is encouraging local thinkers to turn their attentions to printed electronics.

Mixicap Ltd, a packaging company based in Gateshead, is in talks with the UK’s leading researchers in printed electronics, with a view to providing their existing clients in the drinks industry with new labelling opportunities.

Amrik Pannu, Managing Director of Mixicap, said: “Whilst attending an innovation reception at the House of Commons in November, I became intrigued by the future printed electronics industry, which will be worth a potential $800 billion, and is being spearheaded by Printable Electronics Technology Centre (PETEC) at NETPark in Sedgefield. As a world leader in the industry, there is no doubt that they are the UK’s number 1 pioneer in printed electronics.

“This presents an unparalleled opportunity for North East entrepreneurs and engineers to work with PETEC in developing new applications for this technology, and to create a hot-bed in the region for this exciting industry over the coming years.”

Experts predict that printed electronics will be part of everyday life as soon as 2015. With wafer-thin display screens already in the market place, many corporations are currently planning to mass-produce on elastic material, so people will be able to carry around their own mobile screens with the option of using them to display virtually any kind of media.

Amrik said: “We have identified opportunities in providing labels, which utilise printed electronics, to our existing clients in the premium drinks industry and to potential clients within cosmetic industries.

“Our aim is now to develop a prototype drink label, which not only lights up but allows the consumer to interact, pressing sensor pads to access product information and moving graphics.”

Amrik added: “I would urge local entrepreneurs in all fields to examine ways in which they can implement this exciting and flexible new technology into their product ranges.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .