Printed Electronics

What Printed Electronics does

Printed Electronics Limited (PEL) is a UK-based, privately held company founded in 2006 that develops processes, systems, and supporting tools for the commercial fabrication of electronic circuits, sensors, displays, and devices using inkjet, digital, aerosol, and screen printing methods. Its core proprietary technology is the PEL 3DSP 4-axis conformal printing system, which enables digital deposition of viscous conductive inks on flat and 3D surfaces; this is supplemented by in-house add-on modules including a UV cure system for Fujifilm Dimatix DMP printers, a Picopulse drop analysis system, a Bluetooth EL display controller, and specialty substrates such as PEL P60 paper. PEL also distributes and supports third-party platforms under exclusive or semi-exclusive regional rights — Fujifilm Dimatix DMP, SIJ Super Ink Jet (sub-micron femtolitre drop capability), IDS NanoJet aerosol printers, Neotech AMT 5-axis platforms, SUSS PixDro LP50, Microtec screen printers, and Asahi Kagaku conductive and dielectric inks — making it effectively a UK/EU gateway to a curated stack of functional printing technologies.

PEL's business model is a hybrid of equipment and consumables distribution, custom R&D and process development services, an open-access development facility with HEPA-filtered clean environments, industrial training courses delivered through IMI Europe, and licensed product technologies such as Enfucell printed batteries. Its two physical sites — the headquarters co-located inside the Amphenol Invotec PCB facility in Tamworth and an ink development laboratory at Cambridge's St John's Innovation Centre — enable hybrid printed-plus-conventional electronics manufacturing under one roof, a structural differentiator. Customers are primarily companies developing printed electronics products, universities and research organisations using the open-access facility, and a smaller cohort in wearables and smart textiles. Pricing is custom quote-based, with no public price list, and contracts range from short R&D engagements to multi-year supply arrangements.

Name

Printed Electronics

Legal name

Printed Electronics Limited

Website

https://printedelectronics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Printed Electronics Limited is a UK-based process development and equipment distribution firm, founded in 2006, specialising in inkjet, screen, aerosol and conformal printing of electronic circuits and devices. It serves universities, research institutes, and companies developing printed electronics, wearables, and smart-textile products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Printed Electronics Equipment and Services

NAICS

Printing and Related Support Activities (3231), Printing Ink Manufacturing (325910), Commercial Screen Printing (323113)

SIC

Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555), Service Industries For The Printing Trade (2790)

akta.pro primary industry

Inkjet Printers (HDACAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electronics/Additive Electronics Printers (Printed Circuit & Functional Materials) (IMAAAAAH), Printing Inks (IMAEAHAG), Production & High-Volume Printing Systems (HDACAEAJ)

Keywords

• Printed electronics systems
• Functional material deposition
• Inkjet printing equipment
• Conductive inks substrates
• Printed electronics services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tamworth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Equipment and System Sales: Sale and distribution of printing systems including Fujifilm Dimatix DMP, Super Inkjet, Neotech AMT, IDS NanoJet, Microtec screen printers, and PEL's own products like UV cure systems and 3D conformal printers
2. Services (Printing, Development, Training): Process and product development services, printing as a service, industrial training courses, open access facility usage, and technical support
3. Materials (Inks and Substrates): Supply of functional inks (conductive, dielectric, nanoparticle, graphene) and substrates for inkjet, screen and other printing techniques, including small quantities for R&D use

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Printed Electronics Ltd (PEL) develops and supplies processes, systems, and consumables for the commercial fabrication of electronic circuits and devices using inkjet, digital, and screen printing methods. The company manufactures its own 4-axis conformal printer and UV cure systems, distributes third-party printing platforms from Fujifilm Dimatix, SIJ Technology, IDS, Neotech AMT, Microtec, and Asahi Kagaku, and provides process development, open-access facility services, industrial training, and ink formulation for printed electronics applications.

Product overview

Printed Electronics Ltd (PEL) is a UK-based company founded in 2006 that develops processes and systems for commercial fabrication of electronic devices using inkjet, digital, and screen printing methods. The product portfolio centers on functional material deposition equipment and services: the core PEL 3DSP 3D Surface Printer enables conformal printing on complex surfaces using viscous conductive inks; this is complemented by the PEL UV Cure System and Picopulse Drop Analysis System as supporting add-on modules. PEL distributes and supports major third-party platforms including Fujifilm Dimatix DMP, SIJ Super Ink Jet (capable of 1-micron features), IDS NanoJet Aerosol Print Technology, Neotech AMT 5-axis platforms, SUSS PixDro LP50, and Microtec Screen Print Systems. The company also distributes Asahi Kagaku screen print inks across the UK and EU. Electronic products include the PEL Bluetooth EL Controller and custom display solutions (LED, Electroluminescent, and Smart Labels). PEL provides extensive services including an Open Access Development Facility with full equipment access, Industrial Training courses, and Ink Formulation and Rheology services. The portfolio includes licensed Printed Battery technology from Enfucell. PEL operates within the Amphenol Invotec facility in Tamworth with additional ink development capabilities at Cambridge's St John's Innovation Centre.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PEL 3DSP (3D Surface Printer) A 4-axis conformal printing system for functional material deposition of viscous conductive inks on flat and 3D objects. Allows digital deposition of high-viscosity inks using piezo jet heads on complex surfaces. Targets printed electronics R&D and production teams.
• PEL UV Cure System (DMP-UV-365, DMP-UV-395, Dual Head) Small, lightweight high-power LED-based UV curing systems specifically designed for Fujifilm Dimatix DMP printers, available in 365nm, 395nm, and dual-wavelength configurations. Targets DMP users requiring in-line curing.
• PEL Picopulse Drop Analysis System Drop analysis system developed for the Nordson Picopulse print head, enabling visualization of ejected drops in flight to measure shape, velocity, and print stability. Targets R&D teams developing inkjet processes.
• SIJ (Super Ink Jet) System World's only drop-on-demand printer capable of jetting femtolitre drops to create sub-micron features. A cutting-edge R&D system capable of 1-micron features, available in 2D and 2.5D configurations. Distributed in the UK by PEL.
• IDS NanoJet Aerosol Print Technology

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IDS (Integrated Deposition Solutions Inc)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2020PEL are the UK and Ireland representatives for IDS Nanojet systems. IDS offers patented direct write aerosol technology for printed electronics including electronic and microelectronic circuit fabrication. The addition of IDS aerosol printing technology expands PEL's portfolio of technology solutions. IDS products are proven mature, reliable and production ready at affordable cost categories.
• SIJ Technology Inc (Japan)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPEL has a longstanding and close relationship with SIJ Technology Inc, the inventors of the world's only drop-on-demand printer capable of jetting femtolitre drops to create sub micron features. PEL are exclusive distributors for SIJ in the UK and provide technical support to the growing SIJ customer base.
• Neotech AMT GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPEL represent Neotech AMT in the UK. Neotech offers advanced 5-axis printed electronic print platforms with various print head options, typically piezo-jet or IDS Nanojet heads.
• Asahi Kagaku Ltd (Japan)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPEL are the UK and EU distributors for Asahi Kagaku screen printing inks. Asahi Chemical Research Laboratory is a highly capable and extremely responsive screen-ink manufacturer focusing on conductive inks and dielectric materials for printable electronic applications. Products include stretchable and mouldable inks.
• Micro-tec (Japan)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPEL has used Microtec systems in their own facility for years and since 2018 has been technical support and distributor for Microtec in the UK and parts of mainland Europe. Can supply screen print platforms from single print platform to truly industrial scale production lines.
• Amphenol InvoteccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPEL are long-term partners with Amphenol Invotec, Europe's leading manufacturer of advanced technology and quick turn PCBs. PEL has its core facilities within the Amphenol Invotec building. Through this partnership, PEL can incorporate rigid, flex and flex-rigid PCBs and produce true hybrid products within one facility.
• Fujifilm DimatixcoreTechnology or IntegrationPEL has longstanding expertise with Fujifilm Dimatix DMP systems, having used them since the company started over a decade ago. PEL provides complete support and sales for the DMP including new machines, training, supplies, repairs and upgrades. PEL designed and builds the standard UV cure add-on system for DMP.
• CuteCircuitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPEL works with CuteCircuit, the leaders of wearable technology in the fashion industry. They collaborated on a TSB-funded project developing wearable electronics including a demonstrator suit with accelerometer nodes and wireless communication.
• NEL (Neltex)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPEL partners with NEL whose Neltex fabric circuitry is used in PEL's wearable innovations such as fabric display screens. Neltex is a true fabric circuit with every fibre fully coated with highly conducting metal.
• CPI (Centre for Process Innovation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPI is a UK Catapult centre that PEL partners with on large-area electronics and Internet of Things emerging electronics projects. CPI has specialist equipment and industrial expertise for integrating printed electronics with conventional electronics.
• UK Catapult Centres and AMSCIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPEL is heavily involved with UK Catapult Centres, AMSCI, Innovate UK, and similar projects in EU, US and Japan for publicly funded research and development in printed electronics.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Optomec: Supplier of Aerosol Jet printing systems for printed electronics and 3D-printed electronics. Directly competes with PEL's IDS NanoJet aerosol offering for fine-feature printed electronics on flat and 3D surfaces.
• Inktec: Korean manufacturer of conductive inks (silver nano-particle, silver chloride, dielectric) and materials for inkjet, screen, and gravure printing of electronics. Directly comparable to PEL-supplied Asahi Kagaku inks for printed electronics applications.
• SIJ Technology: Japanese maker of the Super InkJet (SIJ) femtolitre, sub-micron inkjet system that PEL exclusively distributes in the UK. Overlaps in equipment supply for high-resolution functional-material printing while also acting as a partner.
• Fujifilm Dimatix: The manufacturer of the Dimatix DMP inkjet printer series that is PEL's flagship distribution and support line. Directly comparable in functional-material inkjet deposition for printed electronics, electronics R&D, and small-volume printed circuit production.
• NovaCentrix: Manufacturer of conductive inks (Metalon), photonic curing equipment (PulseForge), and printed electronics process services. Overlaps with PEL's conductive ink supply, curing, and process-development offerings in the printed electronics market.

Broad incumbents

• PARC (Xerox Innovation Group): Long-standing research pioneer in printed electronics, flexible hybrid electronics, and additive manufacturing. Operates a much broader portfolio of PE-related IP and services than PEL but overlaps on printed-electronics process development.
• Heraeus Printed Electronics: Specialty materials arm of the Heraeus Group offering silver-based conductive pastes and inks for printed electronics and photovoltaics. A much larger incumbent that competes with PEL's ink/material supply business across multiple end markets.
• Agfa-Gevaert (Materials & Printed Electronics): Supplier of conductive inks, silver nanowires, and printable electronic materials via Agfa's Specialty Products division. Overlaps with PEL's conductive-ink distribution and process-development services across printed electronics and smart-device applications.
• DuPont (Electronics & Industrial): Major chemicals/materials supplier including conductive inks, stretchable electronic materials, and PCB chemistries used in printed electronics. Competes with PEL-distributed Asahi Kagaku inks at the materials layer.

Emerging players

• XTPL: A smaller, listed Polish specialist in ultra-precise deposition for printed electronics and semiconductors. Provides conductive inks, deposition heads, and process services comparable to PEL's niche functional-material deposition focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Printed Electronics