Printed and Organic Electronics in Germany

April 2013
Where Expanding Markets and Next Generation Technologies Meet
Organic and Printed Electronics Players in Germany (2012)
1
2

6
7
8
9
10
11

19
20
21
22
23
24
25

50

Applications

42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49

Device Manufacturer

26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41

Equipment Manufacturer

12
13
14
15
16
17
18

Material Supplier

3
4
5

Company
BASF Future Business
Bayer MaterialScience
Elantas Beck
Evonik Industries
Heraeus Clevios
Merck
Mitsubishi Polyester Film
Novaled
Ormecon

Expertise
Organic Chemicals
Functional Plastic Films
Insulating Polymers
Conductive Materials
Polymeric Semiconductors
LCD/OLED Materials
Polyester Films
OLED Technology
Organic Metals

Sensient Imaging
Soluxx
tesa scribos
3D-Micromac
AIXTRON
Applied Materials
Botest System
Coatema Coating Machinery
Creaphys
Dresden Thin Film Technology
DTF
EXAKT Advanced Technologies
GRT
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen
ISRA Surface Vision
Leonhard Kurz Stiftung
manroland

OLED Chemicals
Organic Semiconductors
Microgravure Technologies
Laser Micromachining Workstations
CVD Equipment
Inline Coating Systems
OLED Test & Inspection Systems
Roll-to-roll Coating Machines
Vacuum Thin Film Technology

Mhlbauer Group
Pepperl+Fuchs
Robert Brkle
SAP
Trumpf
von Ardenne Anlagentechnik
Heliatek
Konarka Technologies
KSG Leiterplatten
LEDON OLED Lighting
OSRAM Opto Semiconductors
Philips
Plastic Logic
PolyIC
Printechnologics
Robert Bosch

Smart Card Equipment/ RFID

Flexible Readers
Lamination Equipment
IT Infrastructure
Laser Systems
Vacuum Coating Technology
Organic Photovoltaics
Organic Photovoltaics
Printed Circuit Boards
Technical OLED Lighting Solutions
Organic Lighting
Organic Lighting
Flexible Displays
Printed RFID
Printed ID Tags & Batteries
Environmental Technologies, OPVs

Schreiner Group
VARTA Microbattery
Bundesdruckerei
COPACO
Giesecke & Devrient
Hella
METRO Group

Printed Electronics, E.-Luminescence

Mobile Battery Systems
Secure ID Solutions
Smart Packaging
Smart Cards
Automotive Interior Lighting
Wholesale & Retail

Roche
WrthSolar

Diagnostics Solutions
Organic PV

Thin Film Technology

Gravure Cylinders
Laser Gravure Technology
Printing Machines
High-speed Surface Inspection Systems
Hot Stamping Foils
Printing Machines

This list is not intended to be exhaustive.

Source: Germany Trade & Invest Research, April 2013

Printed Electronics in Germany

to companies where applications integrating printed

electronics are produced.
The broad industrial landscape allows companies to diversify the risks normally associated with new, high-tech
innovations, while industry know-how and partnerships
can also easily be achieved.

Strategic Alliances
Several associations, networks, clusters, and R&D institutes are dedicated to exploring and promoting the possibilities of printed electronics and their potential product
applications.

The products developed by the printed electronics industry represent

cutting edge technological developments, as they are rapidly moving
beyond an R&D phase and positioning themselves in a wide range of
product applications. According to IDTechEx, the total market volume
for printed electronics is expected to grow exponentially from USD
16.04 billion in 2013 to USD 76.79 billion by 2023.

Associations & Networks The Organic Electronics

Germany provides a unique opportunity for companies active in this

industry. The country has always been successful in harboring hightech industries because of its highly developed R&D landscape creating optimal conditions for the commercialization of first rate innovations.

organic semiconductor R&D and manufacturing. It of-

The above table gives an overview of some of the international and

local companies present in Germanys printed electronics industry,
ranging from material suppliers, equipment and device manufactures

Association (OE-A) in Frankfurt currently host a global

network with 200 players in printed and organic electronics.
Clusters Organic Electronics Saxony is based in Dresden and describes itself as Europes largest cluster for
fers many opportunities for collaborations between academia and industry due to the availability of a highly-

Printed and Organic Electronics in Germany

April 2013
Strong demand for product applications push industry growth and initiates new trends
skilled labor force, the strong regional

cheaper alternative to silicon cells and

Other advantages include:

focus on the sciences, and its proximity

since the high domestic demand for PV

strong material development focus

to Germanys largest micro-electronics

in Germany functions as an industry

availability of pioneering printing tech-

cluster.

catalyst, the OPV-market holds promis

nologies
proximity to world-leaders in machi-

Based in Heidelberg, Forum Organic

Electronics coordinates world-renowned

ing projections for this area of printed

electronics.

nery and equipment production

companies and research partners to

OLED-lighting This technology al-

develop leading-edge new technologies.

ready plays a vital role in consumer

R&D Institutes and Private Sector

Collaborations The internationally
renowned Fraunhofer Society Institutes
are at the frontier of research activities
in Germany and closely cooperate with
industry players along the value chain:
Austrian

lighting

manufacturer

Zumtobel, for example, formed the joint

venture LEDON with the Dresden-based
Fraunhofer IPMS and now benefits from
synergy effects due to the proximity to
the Organic Electronics Saxony cluster.
Another strategic alliance in this region
was formed between Heliatek, Fraunhofer IPMS, TU Dresden IAPP, and the
University of Ulm who collaborate in the
area of organic photovoltaics.

Trends in Product
Applications
Several prominent industry trends in
printed electronics have emerged in
Germany: Organic photovoltaics (OPV),
OLED-lighting and printed RFID tags.
OPV Germany hosts the worlds largest photovoltaic (PV) market with 33
percent of cumulated global installations
in 2012. Since organic solar cells offer a
thinner, more flexible, and potentially

For further information:

Germany Trade & Invest GmbH
Friedrichstrae 60
10117 Berlin
Germany
T. +49 30 200 099-0
F. +49 30 200 099-111
electronics@gtai.com
www.gtai.com/electronics

first

rate

electronic

device

manu-

facturers

electronics such as mobile phones as

rapidly expanding end user markets

well as lighting and signage. The trend

governmental investment incentives

and R&D support

towards flat screen displays is omnipotent. German chemical company Merck

opened its chemical research center in
Darmstadt, which provides the material
needed for the production of OLEDs.
RFID-tags
tronics

Based on printed elec-

technologies,

RFID-tags

are

ready for mass market production. The

highly developed logistics industry in
Germany is just one market that will
greatly benefit from this trend. A high
value is placed on product certification in
Germany, creating another natural market niche for RFID-tags. PolyIC serves as
an example of a German company at the
forefront of

RFID-tag mass production

by integrating material research, printing techniques and chip design.

About Us
Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign
trade and inward investment agency of
the Federal Republic of Germany. The
organization advises and supports foreign companies seeking to expand into
the German market and assists companies established in Germany looking to
enter foreign markets. All inquiries relating to Germany as a business and investment location are treated confidentially. Our investment services and related publications are free of charge.
Our project management services include:

Advantages

market research & competitor analyses

In sum, Germany holds the key to suc-

assistance with market entry strategies

cess for your printed electronics busi-

legal and tax information

ness because of its R&D strength and

support with the site selection

diverse industrial landscape providing

information on financing and incen-

perfect

opportunities

for

alliances and collaborations.

innovation,

tives
Germany Trade & Invest, April 2013
All information provided by Germany Trade & Invest is
for informational purposes only and not legally binding.
Germany Trade & Invest does not accept liability for
inaccuracies or errors in translation.