ATLANTA – ECIA is pleased to announce the following new members of the Manufacturers’ Council:

• Russ Dzielak, Phoenix Contact
• Dawn Manhart, Knowles
• JN Corman, Renesas
• Josiah Haas, Bud Industries

ECIA has three councils reporting directly to the Board of Directors. The Distributor, Manufacturer and Independent Manufacturers’ Rep Councils are made up of up to 15 members and have oversight responsibility for their specific priorities and agenda items. The council meetings are a forum for the groups to discuss their individual constituent needs and issues. All members are invited guests to the appropriate council meetings. Tom Wichert, TDK-Lambda Americas Inc. Is currently chair of the Manufacturers’ Council.

These recently added new member will strengthen the council leadership team’s breadth of industry knowledge (semi vs passive vs electromechanical), as well as improve the diversity of the council,” noted Manufacturers Council Chair Tom Wichert, TDK-Lambda Americas Inc. “These changes will better enable the council to represent the constituents within our electronic component industry.”

PENANG, MALAYSIA – ViTrox, which aims to be the world’s most trusted technology company, is pleased to announce its participation as an exhibitor and Platinum sponsor at SEMICON Southeast Asia 2024! Join us from May 28th to 30th at Booth #1504 in Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), KL, to experience our advancement in technology and manufacturing.

ViTrox is gearing up for SEMICON SEA 2024, showcasing cutting-edge technologies designed to elevate manufacturing processes. Our interactive demos will feature the TH3000i Tray- based Vision Handler, VR20i G2 Post Seal Vision Handler, V510i Advanced 3D AOI for Advanced Packaging & Microelectronics, Integrated Industrial Embedded Solutions, and the all-new VisionXpert Smart Code Reader (XS Series), alongside other innovations.

What Visitors Will Experience at ViTrox's Booth #1504

1. Enhanced Inspection Solutions

• Explore the TH3000i Tray-based Vision Handler for precise inspection across diverse IC packages.
• Discover the VR20i G2 Post Seal Vision Handler with advanced vision technology for reel-to-reel inspection.
• Experience the AI-driven V510i Advanced 3D AOI for Advanced Packaging & Microelectronics for comprehensive quality control.

2. Industry 4.0 Manufacturing Intelligence Solutions

• Unleash peak production with V-ONE 4.0, our smart manufacturing solution offering real- time insights and intelligent control.
• Simplify data collection and analysis with V-ONE MARS, ensuring seamless connectivity and easy data management.
• Experience digital transformation with V-ONE DIMo, optimising processes and driving efficiency in manufacturing.
• Empower production with Manufacturing Execution System (MES), unlocking real- time insights and control for peak performance in smart manufacturing.
• Real-time data and analytics are the hallmarks of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, driving operational efficiency and informed decision-making by integrating key manufacturing functions.

3. Innovative Integrated Industrial Embedded Solutions

• Dive into the world of VisionXpert Smart Code Reader (XS Series) for superior accuracy and efficiency in code reading.
• Enhance the production line's automation foundation with the extensive capabilities of our solutions, including Stepper Motor Controller & Driver Solutions, Light Source Controllers, High-speed I/O Cards, Light Source Customizations, and many more.

Furthermore, we're thrilled to announce that our technical experts will be participating in the following Technical Sharing Sessions to unveil our cutting-edge innovations during the event:

• Smart Enterprise Forum on May 29th (Wednesday), presented by Mr. Gary Leong, discussing Manufacturing Intelligence Solutions (V-ONE)
• Advanced Product Testing Forum on May 30th (Thursday), presented by Mr. John Wong, focusing on Tray-based Vision Handler
• TechStage on May 30th (Thursday) featuring Mr. Ooi Jia Yik presenting VisionXpert Smart Code Reader

Never allow manufacturing hurdles to hinder your progress! Our ViTrox experts will be available to assist with enquiries and provide live product demonstrations. Book an appointment using this LINK or scan the QR code above to experience our solutions firsthand. Feel free to reach out via email at enquiry@vitrox.com to join in the excitement.

We look forward to meeting you there!

CAMBRIDGE, UK – Electrification, autonomy, and vehicle ownership saturation are causing a technological revolution in the automotive sector. These automotive meta-trends are driving drastic changes in electronic component requirements and present a high-volume opportunity for printed electronics to capitalize on.

Historically, printed electronics technologies have nurtured a close relationship with the automotive sector, with printed force sensors pioneering passenger safety through seat occupancy and seatbelt detection. As such, the automotive sector continues to represent the lion's share of the global printed and flexible sensor market, which IDTechEx’s report on the topic evaluates as worth US$421M in 2024. However, if the automotive sector is to continue to be a reliable revenue stream, printed electronics technology providers must adapt to address the emerging technical challenges facing future mobility.

Augmenting autonomous vehicles with printed electronics

As vehicle autonomy levels advance, the increasing number and distribution of spatial mapping sensors required will need continuous performance improvements to ensure passenger safety. Emerging printed electronics technologies can augment these sensors, extending detection bandwidth and maximizing reliability during operation.

Transparent conductive films (TCFs) are being developed to heat and defog LiDAR sensor panels, ensuring the function is unperturbed by external environmental conditions. Properties such as high transparency and low haze are important for defogging. These properties can be easily tuned using the wide variety of material options available for TCFs, including carbon nanotubes and silver nanowires.

IDTechEx identifies printed heating as a leading application of transparent conductive films. This is attributed to diminishing growth prospects in capacitive touch sensing applications. Innovations in thin film coating techniques have enabled indium tin oxide (ITO) to dominate touch sensing applications, all but displacing TCFs completely.

Looking towards the future, printed electronics technologies could play a more active role in advanced autonomous driving. Emerging semiconductive materials, such as quantum dots, printed directly onto conventional silicon image sensor arrays can extend detection range and sensitivity deeper into the infrared region. Augmenting existing image sensor technology with enhanced spectral range could facilitate the competition of hybrid silicon sensors with established InGaAs detectors.

Printed sensors promise granularized battery health monitoring

Vehicle electrification is driving the sustained development and evolution of electronic management systems, particularly in the battery and electric drivetrain. A strong market pull exists for technologies that increase vehicle efficiency, range, and lifetime while reducing recharge times.

Printed pressure and temperature sensors measure battery cell swelling and thermal profiles, providing granularized physical data that can be used to optimize battery deployment and recharging. Moreover, hybrid printed sensors that combine integrated printed heating elements promise a solution to actively address battery temperature. IDTechEx estimates that printed sensor-enabled battery deployment and charging optimizations could be worth up to US$3000 in savings per vehicle.

There remains uncertainty about whether electrification trends will correspond to increased demand for physical sensors in electric vehicle batteries, owing to the utility of existing electronic readouts for managing deployment. Virtual sensors also pose a threat, where AI-enabled software models interpret data to predict and emulate physical sensor functions without the need for discreet components. However, emerging regulations regarding safety and sensor redundancy will likely favor measurable metrics and see automotive makers continue to adopt physical sensors. IDTechEx predicts that virtual sensors are unlikely to displace their physical counterparts – so long as low-cost sensors remain widely available.

Embedding printed electronics in the car of the future

IDTechEx predicts that global car sales will saturate over the next decade, with automakers increasingly looking for premium features and technical innovations to differentiate themselves from the competition. In-cabin technologies will be highly desirable – as the location where passengers reside and interact with the vehicle the most.

Lighting elements are emerging as a prominent differentiator, described as “the new chrome” by Volkswagen’s chief designer. The use of in-mold structural electronics (IMSE) enables the integration of embedded lighting elements using existing manufacturing processes. 3D electronics technologies are intrinsically attractive for automotive integration, as functional layers are conformable and lightweight while easily embedded within existing aesthetic elements.

Despite strong tailwinds, the adoption of in-mold electronics within automotive interiors has been sluggish. This is attributed to the challenges of meeting automotive qualification requirements, as well as stiff competition with less sophisticated alternatives such as applying functional films to thermoformed parts. Nevertheless, momentum is building, with technology providers like Tactotek partnering with Mercedes-Benz and Stallantis to progress the automotive validation of IMSE to TRL5.

Outlook for printed electronics in automotive applications

Just as printed force sensors heralded early passenger safety systems, printed electronics technology is poised to underpin next-generation innovations for the car of the future. But this time, the competition will be stiff. Critical cost requirements must be met, while desirable new functionality must address existing challenges faced by manufacturers. Printed electronics can play a role in supporting emerging electrified and autonomous mobility, such as augmenting LiDAR sensors or optimizing electric battery deployment. Demand for technologies that enhance passenger experience and vehicle aesthetics will continue to grow, and printed electronics can supply low-power, lightweight lighting solutions for these.

Sustained engagement from tier suppliers and manufacturers continues to make the automotive sector key to printed sensor market growth opportunities – a total market IDTechEx predicts will reach US$960M by 2034. Strong partnerships between material providers and printed electronics technology providers are complementary to those of the highly vertically integrated automotive value chains between tier suppliers and OEMs. Leveraging printing techniques to provide solutions that slot into existing manufacturing processes and designs will be crucial. In the medium term, the printed electronics technologies most likely to realize revenue potential are those that can adapt to service emerging challenges already known to the automotive industry.

For more information on IDTechEx's research on this topic, please see their report, "Printed and Flexible Sensors 2024-2034: Technologies, Players, Markets."

CHICAGO, IL – Bimos, a leading provider of ergonomic ESD seating solutions, proudly announces the appointment of Proactive Process Solutions Group, LLC as its exclusive manufacturers' representative in the states of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and parts of Mexico. Proactive Process Solutions Group, LLC brings a wealth of experience and expertise to represent Bimos' acclaimed Neon, Nexxit, and Labsit series across various territories.

Proactive Process Solutions Group, LLC offers a range of solutions, including flooring systems, workbenches, material handling, solutions for lean manufacturing, 5S initiatives, and Static Control Solutions. Their dedication to process improvement and efficiency aligns seamlessly with Bimos' mission to deliver high- quality, ergonomic seating solutions that enhance workplace productivity and safety.

David Seay, Owner/President of Proactive Process Solutions Group, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "We are excited to represent Bimos, a renowned leader in ESD seating solutions. With our extensive industry knowledge and dedication to customer service, we look forward to introducing Bimos' innovative products to new markets and helping businesses invest in the health and productivity of their employees."

With more than 40 years of experience in the industry, Seay leads the team at Proactive Process Solutions Group, LLC. His extensive background in distribution, materials management, and sales management positions him as a valuable asset in providing expert guidance and support to customers.

For inquiries and sales support, please contact: David Seay - 512-348-5548; David.Seay@ProActivePSG.com; www.proactivepsg.com

For more information about Bimos and its range of ergonomic seating solutions, visit www.bimos.com