Meet Andrzej. He used to paint houses, work in a flower shop, and fix tires. One day he said “enough” and followed his childhood dream—he became a train driver. It’s a serious job that takes years of training and full focus. A train is not like a car—you don’t turn it left. He has to monitor many things: voltage, pressure, load. The panel he uses to check these values was made in Warsaw, Poland—by the team at LC Elektronik, using printed electronics. Thanks to this tech, the device is thin, light, strong, and works even during a cold winter night with printed pressure sensors on a freight train.
What Is Printed Electronics?
Printed electronics (PE) is a way to create light, thin, and flexible electronic parts by printing functional layers onto surfaces. It uses screen printing, inkjet, or transfer printing with silver, copper, or carbon. This tech is now part of the product strategies of many companies looking for innovation, new markets, and product variety.
Why Add Printed Electronics to Products?
PE helps companies:
- Upgrade current devices with new features
- Create totally new products
- Save on space and cost by avoiding traditional PCBs
- Design lighter and more flexible products
Examples: smart packaging with freshness sensors, sportswear that tracks body metrics, or car seats with pressure sensors.
Printing Methods Are Ready for Mass Use :
- zrównoważony rozwój i circular economy,
- cyfryzacja produktów i ich komunikacja z otoczeniem,
- miniaturyzacja i estetyzacja form produktów.
Let’s Meet Karolina
She’s a nurse at a spa hotel. Every day, she sets up bubble baths, light therapy, and mud treatments. Each device has a printed touchpad—made in Warsaw by LC Elektronik. It helps Karolina set the perfect therapy, and guests leave happy, relaxed, and sometimes even in love. Printed electronics aren’t just tech—they’re part of a great story about well-being.
Challenges to Overcome
Companies need to:
- Learn how to use new materials
- Scale production
- Ensure quality and durability
- Find the right suppliers for inks and films
- Meet standards and regulations
Why Printed Electronics Are a Smart Move for Leaders
- Diversify Products – respond to major trends like:
- Sustainability and circular economy
- Product digitization and connectivity
- Miniaturization and stylish design
- Gain Competitive Edge – thanks to:
- New functions like smart sensors and touch surfaces
- Faster prototyping and MVP launches
- Easier collaboration with startups and tech firms
3. Speed Up Time to Market – by:
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- Designing quickly and testing fast
- Printing on many surfaces and shapes
- Simplifying assembly and cutting parts
Explore New Markets With PE
Many industries are looking for light, thin, flexible solutions:
- Medical (disposable biosensors, smart patches)
- Industrial/logistics (RFID tags, environmental sensors)
- Sportswear/lifestyle (clothes with smart sensors)
- Smart home/building (interactive surfaces, touch heating controls)
Back to Andrzej
Every day, he starts the train with a panel that’s thin but strong—thanks to printed electronics. He might not know it, but that tech makes his work safer and easier. And it exists because engineers believed a printed circuit could be as thin as paper and as strong as steel.
Sources:
Henkel Adhesives – Printed Electronics Solutions: https://www.henkel-adhesives.com/ma/en/services/industrial-services/printed-electronics-services.html
CMI – Flexible Printed Electronics: https://www.cmi.demmel-group.com/en/
Johnson Electric – Design Considerations: https://www.johnsonelectric.com/en/resources-for-engineers/printed-electronics/printed-electronics-design-considerations
Pannam – Engineer’s Guide to Printed Electronics: https://pannam.com/blog/engineers-guide-to-printed-electronics/