ITRI and Komori Jointly Unveil Next Generation Touch Panel Equipment

ITRI and Komori Jointly Unveil Next Generation Touch Panel Equipment
Non-Lithography Roll-to-Roll Fine-Line Printing Technology to be Featured at 2013 Touch Taiwan Exhibit
　
Light and slim bezels have become the mainstream of smart portable devices.
ITRI and Japan Komori today (August 27) announce their jointly developed non-lithography roll-to-roll fine-line printing technology. This leading technology of less than 20μm direct printing can be used to fabricate touch panels with very slim bezels. This breakthrough will replace the expensive manufacturing processes that need deposition, photolithography, and etching. It is poised to become a critical process equipment technology for next generation touch panels, and is expected to be introduced for a mass production next year, paving the way for major changes in the touch panel industry.

Output of the global touch panel industry in 2012 grew 48% to NT$494 billion, with Taiwan continuing to hold the world's largest share of the market at over 50%. Thanks to the support of the Department of Industrial Technology under the Ministry of Economic Affairs over the years, ITRI has accumulated considerable capability in roll-to-roll technology and completed a comprehensive roll-to-roll pilot line. ITRI's opportunity to cooperate with Komori has helped forge even a higher level of technology, with the two parties’ jointly developing roll-to-roll printing machinery featuring ultra-thin frame wires of under 20μm. This new breakthrough in the printing process of flexible electronics will be phased in touch panel production lines and further impacts on other applications.
At present, most touch panel makers still rely on the photolithography manufacturing process, which is both complicated and costly. ITRI has developed innovative roll-to-roll equipment and conveyance technology, introducing high precision, fine-line printing technology into the touch panel manufacturing process, and thereby enabling direct printing on ultra-thin substrates. This can replace the photolithography process, and one machine can replace the seven used traditionally for patterned sputtering, coating, printing and etching. The material utilization of conductive ink consequently rises to 95% from 5%, enabling 4-to-5-layer manufacturing process of touch panels to become more efficient, environmentally friendly, and economical.
Dr. C.T. Liu, General Director of Electronics and Optoelectronics Research Laboratories, ITRI, stated that products with all different types of slim bezels can be found on the market, with the width of the bezel dependent on the wire width and distance of the wire in the production process. He noted that presently most printing technologies in mass production feature line-width of 60-80μm, while advanced gravure printing can reach line-width of 30-50μm. The newly announced technology by ITRI and Komori can reach 20-30μm, the same level as photolithography process. It also further reduces time and costs in the manufacturing process. This printing technology, he said, could be applied to touch panels immediately, and also to OLED lighting, high-speed circuit boards, displays, and solar panels in the near future.

This technological breakthrough will be displayed at ITRI's booth (#M1234) for three days starting on August 28 at the “2013 Touch Taiwan” to be held at the Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition Hall.
The exhibition will also feature the latest human-interface technologies including Air Touch head-mount displays, foldable touch panels, and ultra-thin touch sensors. Welcome to visit our booth.
Press Contact
Office of Marketing Communications of ITRI
Jenny Yeh
+886-3-591-8417 / jenny.yeh@itri.org.tw
About Komori
Tokyo-based Komori Corporation, a premier manufacturer of sheet-fed / web offset printing and security printing presses, provides world-class technology especially suited for today’s highly competitive printing marketplace. Delivering the highest level in print quality coupled with impressively fast make-ready and JDF connectivity through open systems architecture, Komori presses help printers achieve higher productivity levels essential for increased margins and business growth. Web site: http://www.komori.com/
About ITRI
Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is one of the world’s leading technology R
D institutions aiming to innovate a better future for society. Founded in 1973, ITRI has played a vital role in transforming Taiwan's economy from labor-intensive industry to a leader in high technology. Over the years, ITRI has accumulated about 19,366 patents, cultivated more than 70 CEOs, and incubated 225 spinoffs and startups companies, including numerous well-known global semiconductor leaders such as TSMC and UMC. For more information, please visit: www.itri.org.tw/eng.
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