Plextronics

Plextronics, Inc. is an international technology company that specializes in printed solar, lighting and other electronics. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, the company's focus is on organic solar cell and OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) lighting, specifically the conductive inks and process technologies that enable those and other similar applications. Particularly relevant as the worldwide search for renewable energy becomes more urgent, the company's technology will enable the mass production of printed devices, such as low-cost organic solar cells and high-efficiency lighting. To recognize the potential impact of Plextronics' technology, it's important to first understand the fundamentals of both printed electronics and the marketplace. Printed electronics comprises next-generation light, power and circuitry products, including flexible displays, plastic solar cells and organic RFID tags. The market for printed electronics was approximately $1 billion in 2006 and is expected to exceed $300 billion within 20 years. With a company vision of enabling 15 billion printed electronic devices by 2015, Plextronics is creating technology capable of commercial-scale manufacturability and performance. The company's device design, process technology and Plexcore® branded inks enable the formation of active electrical layers — the key drivers of printed electronics.