Printed electronic technologies have a wide variety of uses in many different industries. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, however, or if you’ve never purchased them before, you might be wondering where to start. Consider this a basic guide to printed electronics and the companies that sell them.
1. Know what you need
Are you looking for a printed heater? If so, does it need to have positive temperature coefficient (PTC) ink so that it can self-regulate its internal heat? Or maybe you’re in the market for a custom-made keypad. Should it be created with glass, metal, polyester or polycarbonate? What sizes are you considering? How durable does it need to be? Keep these details in mind as you go shopping for printed electronic materials; having a game plan can keep you focused and on-budget, and it will also prevent you from getting overexcited and buying upgrades that you don’t need.
2. Mind your finances
Speaking of budgets, it’s vitally important that you pay attention to your bank account while looking at printed electronic technologies. Not only can they be a big investment on their own, but their delivery fees and installation charges can really add up, too. To give an example, if you’re shopping for Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) technology to block RF signals in your building, you’re going to need it installed in your walls. That’s more money out of your pocket.
3. Look for a seller
Maybe you’re looking for products that have already been printed and are ready to ship. Maybe you want to start a printing division within your own company, so you’re looking at potential printing equipment for sale. No matter what you seek in the world of printed electronics, just make sure that you’ve double-checked the seller. Verify that they’ve been accredited by groups like the Canadian Printable Electronics Industry Association.
4. Get a guarantee
Last but certainly not least, don’t ever purchase printed electronics without extracting some kind of guarantee from the manufacturer. It might be as simple as a product insurance policy; it might be as extensive as a 20-page warranty that covers all potential breakage scenarios. The most important thing is that you’re protected in some way. You don’t want to be left holding the bill if something gets damaged during delivery or wears out after just a few weeks of use.
These are just four things to keep in mind if you’re in the market for printed electronic technologies. For additional information, try contacting a company like GGI Solutions. They can answer any questions that you might have about printed electronics, and they can help you determine the specifics of what you need for your business.
