What is a PTC Heater?
PTC Heater stands for Positive Temperature Coefficient Heater. This is the technical wording for a flexibly printed wearable heater. Reid Print Technologies have mastered this technology on a large mass manufacturing scale. This has given Reid Print Technologies the ability to assist customers from prototyping, all the way through to product commercialisation in the wearables space.
PTC Heaters are a newer technology to hit the market utilising electronic print techniques. In short, the PTC Heaters screen printed onto a flexible substrate, which in turn enhances the piece of material to essentially become a paper-thin heater. These heaters are printed through using specialised inks that are resistive, conductive and a positive temperature coefficient. Flexible Printed PTC Heaters have overtaken the need for traditional heating methods. This new avenue of technology is on offer at Reid Print Technologies
Due to the lightweight characteristics, PTC heaters are the preferred technology amongst industry applications where space and weight are a limitation. The manufacturing of this technology is very comparable to printed circuitry. Therefore, Reid Print Technologies has the optimal production processes to manufacturing PTC heaters at a large scale. This is particularly beneficial for businesses who are ready for full commercialisation.
What are the Benefits of Flexible PTC Heating Technology?
The flexible heater market is expected to have an exponential increase in demand by 2027. This is due to the increase demand of a technology that is not restricted by weight and size. A variety of industry are undergoing massive technological advancements and are hence looking to adopt more robust technological solutions.
The added benefits of opting for flexible printed PTC heaters by Reid Print Technologies is the easy integration that our products offer for both, new and existing products. Other benefits of flexible printed PTC heaters characteristics include:
- Self-regulating
- Ultra-thin
- Durability in extreme environments
- Made to order offering full customisation on shapes, sizes, resistances, and configurations
- Battery operated so you are not restricted to a power point as the power source
What Industries can utilise this technology?
Flexible PTC heater can be used across a variety of industry, and many industries that have not yet been discovered. Some of the industries that currently use the flexible PTC heat technology include:
- Apparel: As seen in heated clothing items such as jackets, gloves, and boots. An example of this is motorcyclists using the heating technology to keep them warm when they are riding in the harshest elements.
- Defence: PTC heating has been utilised in soldier uniforms and boots to help combat harsh weather environments.
- Medical: Often used in bedding to help keep patient temperatures regulated in and out of surgery.
- Automotive and aerospace: The automotive industry has been reaping the benefits of this technology for several years. This heating technology is often incorporated in the heated seating, steering wheels, and defogging or de-icing function in mirrors and windscreens.
- Sports and recreation: PTC heating elements have also been historically used in the sporting industry for athlete muscle recovery.
- Consumer: A unique application of flexible PTC heating elements in the consumer product market is utilising the heaters as a defogging agent in camera lenses. This market demand has increased as the number of free-lance photographers has increased around the world.
The possibilities for flexible printed heaters are endless. As this technology becomes more widely known the demand for it has been forecasted to increase exponentially. For more information on Reid Print Technologies flexible PTC heating solutions contact us on 1300 765 533 or email us at sales@reidprinttechnologies.com.au
Membrane switches are the economical alternative to conventional mechanical switches. With the increased popularity of membrane switches in a wide range of industry and electronic applications, it is important to fully understand what you want your membrane switch to be able to achieve. Membrane switches can take the form of a complete graphic interface panel or the simplified flexible printed circuitry. Flexible printed circuitry is also well suited for silicone key mats, where traditional rigid PCBs are not well suited. When correctly engineered membrane switches are the hard-wearing and reliable form of switch technology.
The benefits of opting for membrane switch solutions include:
- Hard-wearing and durable in extreme environments
- Adhesive backed for easy installation.
- Capability to die or laser cut to any shape.
- Variety of surface finishes available
- Reliable and compact
- Ability to be die or laser cut into any shape
- Variety of surface finishes available
What is the process of manufacturing a membrane switch/keypad?
The first step in choosing your membrane switch panel is to design the overlay that will stay unique to each order, ensuring the Human Machine Interface (HMI) aligns with the brand of the business. Graphic Overlays enable full design capabilities. These overlays generally begin as a clear piece of polyester or polycarbonate material. Once the base material has been selected, it is then screen or digitally reverse printed on to the material. This protects the ink from wear, scratching, and tear, ensuring the longevity of the overlay panel. Selective textures are printed on the front side (top-surface printing) of the material to allow for LED and LCD windows if desired.
Where can you find a membrane switch?
Membrane switches have historically been utilised in a variety of industry. Reid Print Technologies manufactures across the industries of
- Medical
- Defence
- Aerospace
- Industrial
- Consumer
- Transport
- Electronic Vehicles
- Marine
- And many more
What are the different types of membrane switches?
Membrane switch assemblies can be divided in to two main groups, that being tactile and non-tactile. Each of these groups are more suited to different industries and each perform a different function on the circuit board.
Tactile: Tactile switches a designed to give feedback response when the switch has been pressed by a finger/ In order to provide this tactile feedback, stainless steel or polyester domes are used. The number of sizes shapes and actuation forces of domes are vast. Reid Print Technologies sales engineers can assist you in choosing the dome that is suitable for your application.
Non-tactile: Non-tactile switches are more reliable and have a longer life cycle but does however require separate feedback to the operator such as a beep, light or change in visual display. A PCB integrated construction offers an efficient design for most non-tactile keypad programs regardless of the key density. In addition to offering more trace routing capability the PCB can incorporate passive and active components as well as acting as a rigid backer.
For more information on membrane switches please contact Reid Print Technologies on 1300 765 533 or sales@reidprinttechnologies.com.au
With the recent technology boom, the demand for lightweight, smart and IoT enabled componentry has increased massively. These paper-thin sensors have saturated our everyday lives providing the simple innovative solutions that have been needed in a variety of industry. Product designers, engineers and innovators often opt for the flexibly printed force sense resistors due to their size and versatility. Reid Print Technologies manufactures force sensing resistors to order, with a multitude of resistances, sizes, shapes and configurations on offer.
What are they?
Simple, thin, and flexible. Force Sensing Resistors, also widely known as FSR’s for short, are a resistive sensor that responds to a force that is applied to the active sensing area. In simple terms, a FSR is a sensor that’s resistance changes when pressure is applied to it. FSR’s consist of multiple thin and flexible substrates that have been electronically printed into specific configurations with specialised inks. The force or pressure data that has been collected through the sensors are then measured to give valuable feedback, supplying critical data across a wide variety of industry. Electronically printed FSRs are low cost and versatile to manufacture in a range of sizes, shapes and configurations. This also provides the added advantages of allowing for full customisation where needed.
How are Force Sensing Resistors made?
Force sense resistors by Reid Print Technologies are screen printed onto a flexible substrate with specialised carbon inks. This specialised ink enhances the sensor’s ability to measure the pressure or forces that are applied the active area of the sensors.
What are Force Sensing Resistors used for?
FSRs were created 1977 for musical instruments. Since then, FSR applications have expanded exponentially. You can find FSR technology in a variety of industry including:
- Industrial
- Medical
- Aerospace
- Computing
- Internet of Things
- Robotics
- Wearable Technology
In simpler terms, if there is a need for pressure or force to be measured, force sense resistors can offer an economical, low cost and innovative solution.
What is the difference between Shunt Mode and Thru Mode?
It is important to understand that force sense resistors have two main types, shunt mode resistors and thru mode resistors.
Shunt Mode: Shunt Mode FSR’s are the most frequently used of the FSR family. These resistors are more receptive to a wider range force. The shunt mode FSR is made up of two layers of flexible substrate. Shunt Mode Force Sense Resistors are made by screen printing interdigitated track patterns on one film substrate and the force sensitive elemental ink is screen printed on the another. Each different FSR application requires different configurations and different design materials including the choice of silver, carbon, copper and other ink blends. However, silver conductive ink is the most common material for the shunt mode FSR.
Thru Mode: Thru Mode Force Sense Resistors are manufactured by screen printing a solid conductive pad on each substrate, layered with a force sensitive element faced towards each other. Thru Mode Resistors are more receptive to lighter forces. Although thru mode force sense resistors are less commonly used than the shunt mode, they are the preferable mode when aiming to detect the smaller forces. This is the due to more ink that is required to print the active area of a thru mode FSR. However, with the more ink required, the higher the price point of manufacturing the Thru Mode FSR.
What you need to know about IoT
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a commonly used term in the world of technology. Everyone is talking about it. But what is IoT and how do we keep up with this evolving technological landscape? According to Investopeidia Internet of Things is “a name for the aggregate collection of network enabled devices, excluding traditional computers”. This industry has been projected to grow to 35.2 billion US dollars in 2025. That is an increase of 15.2 Billion dollars since the 2020 estimate of 20.2 billion dollars. So how do businesses keep up with these technology advancements? What does this mean for your industry? These are the burning questions we all have about IoT.
How does IoT work?
Through connection platforms like Wi-Fi, 4G, 5G, Satellite, Bluetooth, IoT enabled devices or objects are interconnected and able to essentially talk to each other then talk to you. These devices will become your new eyes, ears, and brain. They see, hear, and analyse the data that has been captured and feed back to you. Sounds simple right? That is because it can be.
How does IoT fit in my industry?
Internet of Things is often divided into the four main sectors of consumer, commercial, industrial and infrastructure. To put in perspective the growth of the IoT in industry, it has been predicted by 2025 there will be 75.44 billion IoT devices installed worldwide. This is a wave that everybody should want to catch.
Consumer
You may recognise IoT in your everyday life already. Including Home Security systems, Wearable Technology, Smart Homes and many more. Google Home and Amazon Echo for example are some of the most popular IoT products to date.
Commercial
Commercial IoT is basically everywhere that is outside your home. Supermarkets, boutique stores, that coffee shop on the corner all use IoT devices. Whether it be asset tracking, building security or a wireless EFTPOS machine IoT is has become a fundamental requirement to optimise how a business functions.
Industrial
IoT aims to improve efficiency and productivity in the industrial industry. Some of the industrial sectors include manufacturing, mining, agriculture, smart cities, and many more that do not even exist yet. Industrial IoT is largely refers to the interconnected instruments, sensors, and equipment that all “talk” to each other to improve business processes.
How are printed electronics incorporated into IoT functions?
Reid Print Technologies are well versed in the production of IoT compatible devices. Reid Print Technologies has perfected the design and engineering of a variety of sensors that have full capabilities to be integrated into IoT applications. For example, the following sensors produced by Reid Print Technologies are IoT compatible:
- Temperature Sensors
- Printed Antennas
- Printed Heaters
- Force Sensing Resistors
Opting for an electronically printed solution for IoT can be a cost-effective and productive way to integrate IoT into a variety of functions.
Enquire about IoT Products with Reid Print Technologies today via sales@reidprinttechnologies.com.au or 1300 765 533.
It is no secret that the printed electronic industry has undergone exponential growth. As this industry has expanded, so has the capabilities and applications of the printed electronics. It has been reported by Markets And Markets that the wearable medical device market will reach $46.6 billion dollars by the end of 2025, which is an increase of $18.4 billion from 2020. With so much room to grow, there is no telling what the printed technology industry can achieve. One of the more recent developments of the industry is the use of printed wearable electronics for medical monitoring. These sensors have endless capabilities to assist any medical practitioner that needs to obtain accurate data for medical diagnosis.
An example of this technology in application includes monitoring patient data with wearable technologies. Through incorporating the wearable technology into material items including hospital robes, bed sheets, gloves, socks, and much more. The wearable technology is light-weight and undetectable, removing any patient discomfort. Patient discomfort, stress or anxiety has been medically proven to impact testing results. Printed electronics offers the remedy for this, allowing patients to be comfortable which in turn provides medical practitioners with the most accurate data that technology can provide.
Medical practitioners have been crying out for help, for a solution to their medical monitoring grievances. This is where printed electronics and smart wearable technology offers the benefit of cost effectiveness while incorporating sleek accessible designs.
These possibilities are truly endless. The potential to revolutionise any medical device can and should be done. If you are interested in what our printed electronics can do for you, do not hesitate to contact us, we are always eager to begin new exciting projects.
Queensland’s largest Innovation and Technology gathering for entrepreneurs, investors, business executives, researchers, startups and government in Brisbane.
Brisbane Convention + Exhibition Centre, 24-25 March 2020
Come and visit us at Stand 67 and check out our latest technologies.
#qode #qodebrisbane2020 #brisbane
We are very excited to share with you that our technology has made its way over to Belgium. The product pictured is an electric vehicle charging station, one of 25 positioned along Belgium’s motorway system, linking the country’s major cities. These stations can charge two vehicles at the same time and drivers can expect to charge 80 per cent of their battery in just 30 minutes.
For this product, we have supplied a membrane switch and acrylic backing panel as the interface which, put simply, is the black part that you can see in the middle of the unit with the buttons. As you can see, the charging station is up against harsh weather conditions, in this case, snow. Worth noting is its unique liquid-cooled technology, which enables the Veefil-RT to operate in such extreme temperatures. It’s incredibly important to us that we can meet the high standards required of us by our customers. We are pleased that we can illustrate how we provide solutions for world-class technology with particularly robust specifications including the ability to withstand harsh conditions.
The charging stations within this network are easy to use and accessible to all drivers, making this project a key component of the modernisation of transport infrastructure across the EU. Being part of a project that makes it feasible for electric car drivers to travel from Scotland to Genoa in Italy or Brussels in Belgium, using public charging to support their journeys, is certainly something that we are pleased to be involved with.
Get in touch with Reid Industrial when you develop your next product
Here at Reid Industrial Graphic Products, we’re proud of our commitment to our quality management system and continuous improvement. In 2010 we were recipients of the Quality Management System 15 Year Gold Award. This award recognises of our efforts in the management of our quality systems over the past 15 years. And just last year, we achieved a significant milestone – 20 years of continual compliance to ISO 9001.
Our Director, Clem Johnson, believes that certification to ISO 9001 places us in a strong position to best serve our clients, backed by the assurance that we have quality systems in place. As a family-owned business, we pride ourselves on providing second-to-none products and services to our customers and we have every intention of achieving 25 years of continual compliance in 2020.
Operating on the north side of Brisbane with 18 members of staff, we produce interface products locally in our purpose-built facility. We have the ultimate blend of knowledge and industry experience, which allows us to combine various technologies with the products we design to provide a complete interface solution for our clients.
Our products are used across many industries including Air Conditioning, Mining, Water, Medical and Industrial Cooking Equipment to name a few. As far as we’re concerned, customer satisfaction is paramount. We work together with our customers to ensure that the manufacturing process and supply chain is streamlined, to achieve the best quality product possible. The finished interface can be shipped to your manufacturing facility here in Australia or abroad, ready for final product assembly.
Get in touch with Reid Industrial when you develop your next product
One of the pleasures of being a specialist manufacturer is having the opportunity to be involved in new projects from their inception through to becoming fully functioning devices. At Reid Industrial Graphic Products we are committed to an R&D program that has over time, created new technologies that have significantly made a difference for our customers.
Over the years we have been involved in many R&D projects undertaken and brought to market; we would like to share one case study with you here.
Industry IQ, a leading electrical engineering company specialising in control systems for moving machines, required an interface device that would allow concrete truck drivers to work at the rear of the truck during darkness.
With the customer working closely with our R&D engineers, the outcome was to manufacture a flat panel membrane switch with tactile domes, backlit using SMD side shining Led’s and incorporating Reid Industrials Light Guide Film technology, for even light distribution across the panel. The project has been successfully released to market and is a win-win for both companies, developed and manufactured at our Clontarf facility.
If you have a printed electronics project that needs our R&D expertise to bring it from concept to market, don’t hesitate to contact out Account Management Team for more information on how we can help you.
For your next project, contact Reid Industrial Graphic Products for an obligation free quotation.
Why buying local is better
We have conversations quite regularly with people about buying local versus offshore suppliers and sadly, we often hear the horror stories during these conversations. Stories about incorrect products being delivered, incorrect dimensions, incorrect colours or the product not being what the person expected, and we pretty much have the same answer each time. Whilst offshore suppliers may have their benefits, in our opinion, the benefits of local supply far outweigh any benefits of using offshore suppliers. Here’s why.
Is it really local?
What we’ve found is that in many cases, people don’t actually know where their product is coming from. Just because a sales representative is based locally does not mean that their products are locally made. We’ve had too many discussions with customers where they are not properly informed, or they’re just unaware. Ask the suppliers if their product is produced locally. Make sure you know the facts.
The benefits
Local support & representation
We conduct customer visits to discuss your projects and find a solution. This means that you get to speak directly with our team, face to face, and discuss your requirements in detail. Meeting our team in person means that you know who you are talking to. After visiting your business, we have clear understanding of what you need, with no uncertainty.
Locally manufactured
We have full control over the finished product as we produce it here in our facility. This ensures that what you receive is exactly what you’re after, and if any issues arise they can be addressed quickly, easily and with a faster turnaround on delivery because we’re local. Did you know that we reinvest a minimum of 5% of our turnover into R&D Projects, allowing us to develop new products and collaborate with key customers to utilise the technology to grow their businesses.
Staff
From an ethical perspective, buying locally manufactured products supports our local community, keeping skilled Australians employed. Our staff are all highly trained, and locally based.
Cost
When buying offshore products, you need to consider the cost of freight. Furthermore, if you receive an incorrect item, or a part needs to be replaced, you’re looking at additional freight costs.
For your next project, contact Reid Industrial Graphic Products for a obligation free quotation.
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