MUNICH, Germany — Austrian startup prelonic technologies OG is taking course to what it calls low-tech organic electronic products. In the medium term however, the product roadmap does not look low-tech at all.
The Linz-based company, headed by CEO Friedrich Eibensteiner, plans to launch the production of printed batteries by mid-2008. Before he joined prelonic, Eibensteiner oversaw the configuration of organic electronic manufacturer Nanoident's assembly line last year; now he will focus on high-volume, low-priced production technologies. "For the start-up phase, we will use screen printing; at a later point in time we will change over to rotogravure." The latter technique allows for up to four times higher printing speeds, Eibensteiner said.
Eibensteiner's idea is to go to market quickly and without time-consuming development processes, even if the products initially do not necessarily comply with advanced industrial electronics requirements. For instance, the first printed batteries from the Austrian newcomer will be targeted at gift cards and marketing gimmicks, Eibensteiner said. By mid-2009 however, prelonic plans to enter more challenging market segments. For instance the company heads to printed power supplies for RFID devices. Also smart card applications as well as novel applications for clothing and packaging are future markets for the new company. "These markets are characterized by the lack of standards. For every application, you see tailored [organic] power supplies," explained Eibensteiner. The company's focus on advanced printing techniques will offer the flexibility required for this kind of market environment, he affirmed.
The process of establishing the company is not yet completed. The negotiations with venture capitalists are in an advanced state, the company says, but Eibensteiner declined to name any of them in the present phase. However, EE Times Europe has reason to believe that at least one of the VCs is involved in the funding of near-by organic electronics manufacturer Nanoident as well. Both companies also share their roots at the Linz Institute for Organic Solar Cells (LIOS) and its managing director, Professor Serdar Sariciftci, Eibensteiner said.
