TNO spinoff starts printed-electronics production facility

Tracxon is opening a site for the mass production of hybrid printed electronics. A spinoff from TNO and Holst Centre, the company targets automotive, healthcare and consumer applications, leveraging the specific characteristics of printed electronics (such as flexibility or stretchability) and its cost advantages. Examples of applications include large-surface LED lighting and flexible sensors than can be incorporated into clothing.

Tracxon also touts a more favorable environmental impact of printed electronics. “The electronic circuits aren’t etched circuit boards but printed with special ink on ultra-thin foil. The advantage is that virtually all the foils, inks and pastes used are recyclable at the end of their useful life. This produces less waste,” says Tracxon co-founder and CEO Ashok Sridhar. “By printing only the required material, there’s no waste of raw materials. The production is also energy efficient and has a low carbon footprint,” co-founder CTO Corné Rentrop adds.