Plextronics marks the opening of its new development line

Plextronics, Inc. hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony recently at its headquarters in Pittsburgh to celebrate the opening of the company's first manufacturing development line (D-Line).

 

The D-Line is a small-scale manufacturing facility that will print solar demonstration modules for the purpose of developing its printable solar inks using commercially relevant manufacturing techniques. The modular design of the line will also permit the company to evaluate new processes that will maximize the performance of those inks.

 

"This line is focused on stimulating broad market commercialization of our innovative ink systems," said Andy Hannah, Plextronics' President and CEO. "Sometimes, especially in an emerging market like printed electronics, a company must be willing to take the initial steps to demonstrate to the marketplace what's possible with new technology. That's what the D-Line does. It allows customers and partners to witness what can be accomplished with the ink and process technology that's developed right here at Plextronics," Hannah said.

 

Approximately 150 guests and employees attended the event on Tuesday held at Plextronics' facility at UPARC in Hamarville. In addition to Hannah, speakers at the ribbon-cutting also included Dennis Davin, Director, Allegheny County Department of Economic Development; Gregory Fajt, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell's Chief of Staff; John Benner, Manager of PV Industry Partnerships at the National Renewable Energy Lab, and John Lushetsky, Manager of Solar Energy Technologies Program at the Department of Energy's office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The master of ceremonies was Plextronics' CFO, Sean Rollman.

 

 

Plextronics, Inc. is an international technology company that specializes in printed solar, lighting and other organic electronics. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, the company's focus is on organic solar cell and organic light emitting diodes (OLED), specifically the conductive inks and process technologies that enable those and other similar applications.

 

With a company vision of enabling 15 billion printed electronic devices by 2015, Plextronics is creating technology capable of commercial-scale manufacturability and performance. The company's device design, process technology and Plexcore® branded inks enable the formation of active electrical layers - the key drivers of printed electronics.

 

The privately held company was founded in 2002 as a spinout from Carnegie Mellon University, based upon conductive polymer technology developed by Dr. Richard McCullough. Over the past six years, Plextronics scientists have refined and further developed this technology to deliver exceptional performance for printed electronics.