UK electronics technology centre step closer to opening
Building work at the UK's Printable Electronics Technology Centre (PETEC) at the science, engineering and technology park, NETPark, in County Durham, has been completed. The national flagship centre will provide 3,000 sq m of cleanroom and laboratory space and make available access to capabilities around substrate preparation, materials formulation, device modelling, process development and process integration using advanced printing techniques such as inkjet, screen printing or web-based printing.
The centre, when it opens in 2009, will provide the printable electronics community with the physical, intellectual and commercial infrastructure required to take new ideas and concepts for products, that will have flexible functional materials at their heart, and accelerate the move from the lab to production.
Throughout the remainder of the year innovative equipment, including the roll to roll processing facilities will be installed ahead of the formal opening early in 2009.
The application of printable electronics include the next generation of thin flexible display monitors and televisions, the development of low energy organic lighting, low cost flexible solar cells and even disposable small-scale technology for children's toys and medical devices.
The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) manages PETEC at NETPark, partners include Durham County Council, County Durham Development Company, County Durham Economic Partnership, One NorthEast, The Northern Way, DBERR and the European Commission.