The first applications to use Carclo’s conductive inkjet technology (CIT) have started production at the company’s plant in Slough. CIT, developed by a Carclo subsidiary over the past four years, involves printing of conductive metal tracks in plastic parts for various electronic devices.
Martin Day, European sales and marketing director at Carclo Technical Plastics, told PRW the first commercial line has been installed and is producing circuits for a security application. The second product to come off the CIT line in Slough is a medical sensor device.
The machine at Slough has a 1 square metre bed for printing onto flat plastic sheet.
In addition to metal deposition, Carclo is widening the scope of CIT to consider other substances that could be laid down through the inkjet heads. It is now carrying out trials on a lacquer hardcoat for a clear lens on an automotive application.
Carclo’s facilities at Slough and Mitcham specialise in medical and optical/opthalmic applications, two areas which fit together in Carclo’s strategy. Last week BSI said the Mitcham factory had passed its audit for accreditation to EN13485, the international standard for manufacturers of medical devices.
