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"Printed Electronics Will Change our Future Lives Sustainably”
Armin Wittmann is Exhibition Director for LOPEC at Messe München. In a short interview, he provides a preview of what visitors can expect during the event and the role printed electronics will play in the future.
Armin Wittmann (58), a graduated industrial engineer (university of applied sciences), has many years of experience in trade fair organization. After more than ten years as exhibition director of automatica with topics such as robotics, smart vision and digital production, he is convinced that our prosperity can only be secured through the use of new technologies. Armin Wittmann's current focus is on the exhibition direction of LOPEC and the laboratory technology trade fair analytica, where he can help shape this future with his passion for innovative technologies.
OPE journal: How is the market for printed electronics developing?
Armin Wittmann: The development of LOPEC reflects the industry's progress. Printed electronics are becoming increasingly preva-lent in everyday life and gaining more significance, not least because they are a key technology for sustainable solutions. In parallel, LOPEC has evolved into the most impor-tant meeting point for the industry, bringing together the key players from both industry and science each year, shedding light on the entire spectrum of printed electronics.In 2024, we can once again surpass the previous year's record with about 180 exhibitors – a seven percent increase. To what extent is this reflected at the exhibition?
Many companies have decided to participate earlier this time and have booked larger booth spaces. This includes numerous new compa-nies. The LOPEC Conference has also consist-ently attracted interest over the years, and we look forward to around 180 carefully selected presentations.
What are, in your opinion, the most exciting innovations that will be presented at the exhibition?
As LOPEC covers the entire range of printed electronics, it becomes clear why this technol-ogy will profoundly change our future lives sustainably. The focus is on Smart Living and Mobility. Exhibitors demonstrate, for example, how printed electronics make the healthcare sector future-ready: Printed sensors for patient monitoring ease the workload of healthcare staff, smart labels for packaging and devices enhance brand protection and patient safety. Organ-on-chip systems, intended to replace animal testing, become more powerful and accelerate drug research and development, thanks to printed electronics.
In the mobility sector, printed electronics enables new safety features for autonomous driving, efficient heating concepts for vehicle interiors, windshields and headlights, as well as special components to improve battery performance and lifespan. To experience first-hand what printed electronics can achieve, a visit to the Innovation Showcase is worth-while, where prototypes and current product innovations are presented and explained.
Looking into the future: What innovations will we see at the exhibition in four to five years?
There are promising initial applications in many areas. What will be visible in a few years cannot be predicted now. Printed electronics have such enormous potential that looking further into the future is warranted. I envision printed electronics on every roof, facade and greenhouse, generating cost-effective, CO2-neutral electricity abundantly. I see wallpaper-like displays that not only illuminate every room extensively, but also act as part of a beautiful landscape, and mobile phones that, thanks to foldable, thin displays, can finally fit back into pockets.
Interview: Bettina Maurer, OPE journal