Würth Elektronik Launches Research Project HyPerStripes

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HyPerStripes project partners will create a technology platform including manufacturing techniques for roll-to-roll (R2R) processing as well as the integration of electronic components onto very long ("endless"), flexible and stretchable printed circuit boards. This will pave the way to higher-performance products and new applications, while reducing the cost and environmental impact of manufacturing. It will also strengthen Europe's global competitiveness in the production of flexible electronics and contribute significantly to sustainability in production and products. HyPerStripes is a European research project funded by Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

In healthcare, miniaturization and flexible electronics have already brought valuable benefits. Minimally invasive procedures allow the investigation and treatment of diseases without major surgery. However, many of these devices, like smart catheters, still rely on “old-fashioned” wiring connection. Wiring is done by hand and can account for up to 80% of the product cost. It also affects reliability, manufacturing yield, weight, and resource consumption. A flexible, thin strip on which the hybrid electronic components (e.g., flexible and rigid) are integrated could solve these interconnection problems. This also opens up new applications in healthcare, particularly in patient monitoring, where the strips can address today's shortage of long, stretchable, and robust PCBs and interconnects. Similarly, long, flexible strips could enable new applications in LED lighting. For example, large, flat light surfaces could be developed that can be fully integrated into the glazing of buildings and ultimately mimic natural light. One of the main goals of HyPerStripes is to transfer this know-how to industrial production. This is done through an open, sustainable technology platform that offers printing technologies, lithographically patterned copper wiring systems, and low-temperature assembly steps – all in a single-source consulting and manufacturing platform.

As the leading PCB manufacturer in Europe, Würth Elektronik will focus primarily on flexible and stretchable PCBs with roll-to-roll processing to enable virtually “endless” electronics with fine miniaturized structures. The aim of the project is to develop stretchable circuit carriers in lengths of more than one meter for cost-effective products and the corresponding manufacturing technologies.