2016/06/02

Partnership for printed electronics with focus on automotive applications and smart packaging

Henkel and Continental Conclude Cooperation Agreement

Henkel Adhesive Technologies and ContiTech Elastomer Coatings will now be working more closely together in the fields of functional printing and printed electronics. The two companies made an announcement concerning the agreement in question at the printing trade show drupa in Düsseldorf.
The cooperation is aiming to develop products that can be produced using cost-effective roll-to-roll processing in flexographic and other printing processes. This includes industrial applications such as sensors, speakers, and functional films, as well as security applications for consumer goods (tracking and identification using RFID, radio-frequency identification, for example), or intelligent packaging with additional NFC (near field communication) functions.   

"We will bring our experience of the printing process, Henkel its material expertise in functional inks and substances," says Dr. Thomas Perković, head of the Printing Blanket segment at ContiTech, a division of technology company Continental. "Printed electronics are an important area not only for our customers, but also for Continental and its products for the automotive industry."   

"Together with ContiTech as leading provider of flexographic printing solutions we want to develop the up-and-coming functional printing and printed electronics markets and create an alternative to the existing manufacturing process," says Dr. Paolo Bavaj, Corporate Director New Business Development at Henkel Adhesive Technologies. "Our contribution to this is our wide-ranging, high-performance portfolio of conductive inks. We are excited to be working closely with Continental because we believe that meaningful innovation is only possible through strong partnerships and within innovation ecosystems."

For Henkel in particular, the future market of smart packaging solutions is of huge interest. Based on its product portfolio of functional inks the Adhesive Technologies business unit is already working to commercialize printed electronics such as NFC tags for consumer goods. The technology is offering great potentials for authentication and to provide additional information to consumers. On this year´s drupa Henkel Adhesive Technologies presents its broad adhesive portfolio for packaging solutions which especially is applied in the global food industry. 

Henkel operates worldwide with leading brands and technologies in three business units: 
Laundry & Home Care, Beauty Care and Adhesive Technologies. Founded in 1876, Henkel holds globally leading market positions, both in the consumer and in the industrial businesses, with well-known brands such as Persil, Schwarzkopf and Loctite. Henkel employs about 50,000 people and reported sales of 18.1 billion euros and adjusted operating profit of 2.9 billion euros in fiscal 2015. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX.
Continental develops intelligent technologies for transporting people and their goods. As a reliable partner, the international automotive supplier, tire manufacturer, and industrial partner provides sustainable, safe, comfortable, individual, and affordable solutions. In 2015, the corporation generated sales of €39.2 billion with its five divisions: Chassis & Safety, Interior, Powertrain, Tires, and ContiTech. Continental currently employs more than 212,000 people in 55 countries.
The ContiTech division is a global player in providing rubber products and a specialist in plastics technology. The company develops and produces functional parts, components, and systems for mechanical and plant engineering, mining, the automotive industry, and other important industries. In 2015, ContiTech generated sales of almost €5.4 billion, and currently employs around 43,000 people in 44 countries worldwide.

Photo material is available at http://www.henkel.com/press

Contact	Sebastian Hinz 	
Phone	+49 211 797-85 94	
Email           sebastian.hinz@henkel.com                	

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

The following material is available: 
Printed electronics cooperation agreement announced (from left): Dr. Paolo Bavaj, Corporate Director, New Business Development, Adhesive Technologies at Henkel, Armin Senne, Flexo Business Manager at ContiTech, and Dr. Thomas Perković, head of the Printing Blanket segment at ContiTech.