Plastic Logic said it had raised $100 million to build the first factory to manufacture plastic electronics on a commercial scale. Theplant will produce flexible active-matrix display modules for electronic reader products. Thetechnology is based on a process to fabricate active-matrix displays that are thin and light andwhich allows a reading experience closer to paper than any other technology, the company claimed.
The technology has the potential to be used as food labelling carrying displays with eye-catchingvideos or changing information. The displays could show information about products directly on thepackaging. A food package label could display instructions for preparing the product, or itsremaining shelf life.
Siemens last year announced it was developing a similar product. Plastic Logic said its newfunders include Oak Investment Partners, Tudor Investment Corp. Existing investors include Amadeus, Intel Capital, Bank of America, BASF Venture Capital, Quest for Growth and Merifin Capital.
The facility will initially produce display modules for portable electronic reader devices. Thebasic plastic substrate will be polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The plant, to be based in Dresden,Germany, will have an initial capacity of about one million display modules per year. Production will start in 2008.
The use of plastic rather than silicon will bring down the cost of such electronic labelling tolevels where it can be put on each product, according the to company.