Integrated R2R Platform for Development and Production of High-Tech Flexible Electronics

The need for high volume flexible, functional devices for sensor, energy, optical, biomedical, and aerospace applications requires the ability to integrate new product and process controls into roll-to-roll solutions for vacuum coating. Key factors in equipment selection include powerful automation, modular equipment design, deposition source technology, power supply selection, substrate handling e.g. transport, temperature, surface treatment and in-situ monitoring, are all critical for providing solutions for the production of flexible devices. Modern flexible electronic sensors can be manufactured from coated thin films using laser patterning of the vacuum deposited layers. This technique can also be used to control surface morphology of individual layers to provide functionalities catered to the end use. The ability to provide unique comprehensive solutions for all these requirements in a single R2R vacuum web coating system is driving production of the next generation of light-weight flexible devices with high yield and the best performance for high volume production.