Printed and Disposable Electronics News

EL makes backpacks lighter

Oryon, a leading safety clothing brand in the US will make its jackets and backpacks more visible by integrating flexible EL lights.
Lightweight high-visibility jackets for cyclists and backpacks for campers will be launched across Asia, the US and Europe by Q4 2007.
Orgacon, a printed electronics spin-off from Agfa is producing the EL lights with its own line of inks and materials. Tradtionally, EL has been avoided by the clothing industry because of its inability to withstand water. Louis Bollens, business manager at Orgacon claims the EL lights are more durable than others on the market and are rugged enough to be laminated into apparel.
Orgacon is also developing its business in the automotive industry. The company has formed joint development partnerships with European EL manufacturers Elumic and Schreiner Variolight to produce lights for number plates and interior lighting. In Q3 2006 the German government passed legislation for all drivers and motorcyclists to use EL lamps on their number plates to improve visibility in the dark.
Trucks and large freight lorry companies in Germany began using them in Q1 2007. He adds: 'This could have excellent
commercial opportunities for Orgacon. Over the next five years we expect most number plates on German roads to use
our technology.'
Interior car lighting is another new area for Orgacon as leading car designers are taking lighting design far more seriously.
Luxury car brand Jaguar is the first to use EL in this way. In 2006, Jaguar integrated thin strips of flexible blue light into its CXF concept car.
Orgacon is also launching new EL materials with higher transparency, meaning the lamps will be able to emit more light. Bollens says the screen printable materials can also be used to produce other flexible displays apart from EL. 'We
are moving into more optical applications such as flexible displays and more advanced signage modules,' he says.