Komori Enters Printed Electronics Market

Komori Corp. announced the launch of the Pepio offset-gravure press line, designed for the manufacture of printed electronics (PE). With its long history in the design and development of web and sheetfed offset presses, as well as high precision intaglio printing technologies for the securities and currency markets, the design of specialty gravure presses for the PE market was the next logical addition to the Komori press line.

The new machines will be introduced at the Touch Taiwan exhibition to be held August 29-31, 2012, in Taipei, Taiwan. On display will be the Pepio F20 flatbed gravure offset press and the Pepio R20, roll-to-roll offset gravure press.

The Pepio F20 is a flatbed gravure offset press designed for the manufacture of touch panels, a market that is forecast to grow in the future. The target substrates are glass and film.

The F20 is a high-precision printing press that integrates Komori’s latest technologies, and can print on entirely new printing materials such as glass and film. The Pepio F20 produces, through gravure offset printing, a very fine line width of L/S=30/30 μm or less, which meets the narrow bezel requirement of projected capacitive touch panels. This achievement, which until now could not be produced through the printing process, will be a major contribution to the development of printed electronics.

The Pepio R20 is a continuous roll-to-roll gravure offset press aimed at next-generation high productivity in printing fine lines. The target substrate is roll film.

While the target market of this press is the same as that of the Pepio F20, it enables printing of fine lines with a line width of 50 μm or less with high productivity. Because the Pepio R20 is a roll-to-roll type machine that prints on film, it uses the Komori Smart Alignment System and a center position control system to ensure high-precision position alignment.

“First and foremost, Komori is an expert in precision manufacturing, and the entry into the printed electronics marketplace reinforces Komori’s message at drupa 2012 that we are expanding into new markets,” says Kosh Miyao, president and COO of Komori America. “We are very excited about this new product offering, not only for the opportunities for business growth it provides, but as further evidence of Komori’s commitment to the advancement of printing technology.”

About Komori
Tokyo-based Komori Corp., a premier manufacturer of 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 makeready and open systems architecture, Komori presses help printers achieve the higher productivity and efficiency levels essential for increased margins and business growth. Komori America is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, IL and manages a sales and service organization throughout North America.

Source: Komori.