USDC Awards Optomec Contract to Develop Novel Printing Technology for Printable Electronics
March 2008
ALBUQUERQUE, NM—March 20, 2008—Optomec today announced that the company has received a one-year development contract from the U.S. Display Consortium (USDC) to further develop its M3D Aerosol Jet System, enabling finer resolution line widths and faster, more efficient production capabilities for printed electronics. The $750,000 cost-shared award will provide Optomec the opportunity to extend its proprietary additive manufacturing technology to a level that has not been possible before through more traditional printing techniques. The USDC, headquartered in San Jose California, is a public/private partnership chartered with developing the flexible electronics and displays industry supply chain.
Under the USDC agreement, Optomec will focus on developing a printing platform for next generation devices, such as high-density circuitry for printable electronics, displays, and photovoltaic cells. The new printing system will use a multi-nozzle aerosol jet deposition that eliminates the need for screens or stencils required by traditional contact deposition processes, while enabling much finer resolution, down to 4µm fine line-widths. The new Optomec system will have many advantages over ink jet printing, which is currently the preferred process for printed electronics. In addition the additive process employed by M3D reduces environmental impact by minimizing the waste and chemicals that are part of more traditional manufacturing processes.
“The USDC project will build on Optomec’s existing printed electronics solution, which is already gaining traction in the production of more efficient solar cells, embedded sensors, and life science devices.” offered David Ramahi, President of Optomec, further adding: “We are particularly pleased that the USDC provides Optomec a unique opportunity to collaborate with industry as we extend our solution to applications in flexible electronics. This allows us to be fully sensitive to the needs of users and will serve to speed the adoption of our technology in this market.”
“The USDC Technical Council members are a diverse group of companies, with a wide range of products under development. They are very enthusiastic about Optomec’s technology and the opportunity it represents to provide the best solutions for industry,” noted Mark Hartney, USDC’s CTO. “Nanomas Technologies of Vestal, New York, will be a subcontractor to Optomec, supplying custom ink formulations to optimize printer performance, plus assisting in materials characterization. USDC strongly encourages partnerships between vendors that often enable breakthrough solutions to help meet requirements for greater efficiencies.”
“I congratulate Optomec for receiving this competitive award from USDC,” stated Senator Jeff Bingaman, (D-NM). “I am excited about New Mexico’s role in developing the breakthrough technology that will pave the way for success in large area electronics, including displays and photovoltaics. Optomec’s role in developing this technology will greatly accelerate progress in this emerging field.”
Under the USDC agreement, Optomec will focus on developing a printing platform for next generation devices, such as high-density circuitry for printable electronics, displays, and photovoltaic cells. The new printing system will use a multi-nozzle aerosol jet deposition that eliminates the need for screens or stencils required by traditional contact deposition processes, while enabling much finer resolution, down to 4µm fine line-widths. The new Optomec system will have many advantages over ink jet printing, which is currently the preferred process for printed electronics. In addition the additive process employed by M3D reduces environmental impact by minimizing the waste and chemicals that are part of more traditional manufacturing processes.
“The USDC project will build on Optomec’s existing printed electronics solution, which is already gaining traction in the production of more efficient solar cells, embedded sensors, and life science devices.” offered David Ramahi, President of Optomec, further adding: “We are particularly pleased that the USDC provides Optomec a unique opportunity to collaborate with industry as we extend our solution to applications in flexible electronics. This allows us to be fully sensitive to the needs of users and will serve to speed the adoption of our technology in this market.”
“The USDC Technical Council members are a diverse group of companies, with a wide range of products under development. They are very enthusiastic about Optomec’s technology and the opportunity it represents to provide the best solutions for industry,” noted Mark Hartney, USDC’s CTO. “Nanomas Technologies of Vestal, New York, will be a subcontractor to Optomec, supplying custom ink formulations to optimize printer performance, plus assisting in materials characterization. USDC strongly encourages partnerships between vendors that often enable breakthrough solutions to help meet requirements for greater efficiencies.”
“I congratulate Optomec for receiving this competitive award from USDC,” stated Senator Jeff Bingaman, (D-NM). “I am excited about New Mexico’s role in developing the breakthrough technology that will pave the way for success in large area electronics, including displays and photovoltaics. Optomec’s role in developing this technology will greatly accelerate progress in this emerging field.”



