There is a lot of chatter about three interesting opportunities for printers: security printing, printed electronics and lenticular printing.

By Mark Smith

Offset lithography’s production potential is still largely theoretical. NanoMarkets, a research firm based in Glen Allen, Va., published a white paper: “The Future of Flexography and Lithography in Printed Electronics” (Download it at www.nanomarkets.net.) While the fine lines and high productivity achievable with offset have appeal in electronics printing, NanoMarkets says the ink formulation requirements of the process are a hindrance in this application. The firm says the high profile enjoyed by ink-jet printing is partly due to the promotion efforts of vendors. It believes “flexo will certainly have a leg up on the other processes,” particularly in RFID/label printing.