May 28 2010
Kodak today announced that it has entered into a new partnership with specialty films manufacturer MacDermid Autotype to meet the growing needs of the printed electronics marketplace.
This partnership will provide greater access to high quality, optical-grade polyester-based films to a broad range of customers in the North American and Mexico marketplace. The announcement was made at SID Display Week trade show in Seattle, WA (Booth #942).
“We’re really pleased to be working with MacDermid Autotype as a valued partner to support the market’s needs,” said Mark Juba, Director of Kodak’s Industrial Films Group. “They have a comprehensive understanding of specialty coating technology and the requirements of the printed electronics market through a broad and established customer base.”
Kodak’s polyester (PET) film base and MacDermid coated films can be used in a wide range of touch and vision electronic applications, including printed electronic circuits, sensors, membrane switch circuitry layers, and other applications requiring conductive flexible layers.
As Kodak’s business model continues to evolve, the company is finding new ways to utilize its asset base to the fullest, according to Juba. By combining new technology with its long-standing expertise in chemistry and materials science, Kodak is now offering film solutions to many new customers, outside of the traditional imaging market.
“This new partnership offers great value to the industry,” said Ken Southwell, General Manager of MacDermid Autotype. “We’re able to provide our valued partners the Kodak brand alongside the MacDermid Autotype brand both of which always stood for tremendous quality and reliability while expanding ours and Kodak’s presence in the printed electronics market. Those customers will ultimately benefit from an increased availability of high quality polyester-based products in a market of increasing requirements.”
“Kodak’s 100+ years of coating experience and materials science, as well as our unique manufacturing and stabilization process is now available to a whole new segment of customers,” said Juba. “In combination with MacDermid Autotype, we now offer a very broad-based platform at Eastman Business Park, and are excited to participate meaningfully in many of today’s growth industries. Our partnership with MacDermid Autotype is another exciting step in both our companies’ ability to support the market expansion.”