Flexible Printed Sensors
Custom sensors screen-printed on flexible substrates, with embedded sensor chips and flexible printed circuits. The printed-sensing capability behind Reid's specialised sensor products, designed and made in Brisbane.
Printed electronics & sensors, engineered to your design
Reid Print Technologies has developed deep expertise in printed electronics and sensors: printing and testing electronic circuits on flexible substrates, choosing the right printable inks, and establishing repeatable printing and finishing techniques.
We have successfully printed different types of sensors on flexible substrates, customised to each customer's design, and can precisely embed and test the relevant electronic sensor chips on the printed circuitry. Our in-house facility runs automated screen printing and large-format digital printing, with engineering support from design and prototyping through to final manufacturing.
This is the home of Reid's printed-sensing capability. For capacitive touch interfaces and body-worn sensors, see the specialised pages linked below.
What we make
Printed proximity sensors
Proximity sensors, including LED-array designs, printed on flexible substrates to your specification.
Embedded sensor chips
We precisely embed and test the relevant electronic sensor chips directly on the printed circuitry.
Flexible printed circuits
Single, double-sided and multi-layer flex circuits on Polyimide PI, with SMD capability, stiffeners and FFC.
Capacitive touch sensing
Capacitive touch sensors printed on flexible substrates. For HMI capacitive interfaces, see Capacitive Switches.
Custom sensor design
Sensors customised to your design and requirements, from prototype batch through to full production.
Materials expertise
Extensive materials and ink experience, including procurement of high-specification materials used in the defence industry.
Reid has successfully printed different types of sensors on flexible substrates. In most instances the printed sensors were customised based on the designs specified by the customer. Our ability to precisely embed and test relevant electronic sensor chips on printed circuitry has been appreciated by our customers and collaborators.
Printing complex capacitive switches on flexible substrates has been our focus in recent years. Based on customer design and requirements, we have successfully demonstrated the process of printing switches for various applications including defence HMI assemblies and medical device interfaces.
Looking for HMI capacitive switch panels? See our dedicated Capacitive Switches page.
Materials & process
Flexible substrates
Polyimide PI for heat resistance and excellent flexibility, polyester PET, and other flexible films to suit the application.
Conductors
Low-resistance printed silver, and copper typically from 0.05 to 0.10 mm, with specialty metals such as nickel and gold for specific applications.
Print processes
Automated screen printing and large-format digital printing, combined with laminating, die cutting, wire attachment and custom assembly.
SMD & interconnect
Surface-mount component placement on flex circuits, stiffeners where components mount or the circuit bends, and flexible flat cable (FFC) interconnects.
Where printed sensors are used
Flexible Printed Sensors & Circuits
Flexible printed sensor FAQs
What is a flexible printed sensor?
A sensor whose circuit is screen printed with conductive inks onto a thin, flexible substrate instead of a rigid board, so it can bend and conform to the product it sits in while continuing to work.
What types of sensors can you print?
Proximity sensors, including LED-array designs, capacitive touch sensors, and custom sensors designed to your specification, with electronic sensor chips embedded and tested on the printed circuitry.
What substrates and materials do you use?
Flexible substrates such as Polyimide PI (for heat resistance and flexibility) and polyester PET, with printed silver and copper conductors from 0.05 to 0.10 mm, plus specialty metals like nickel and gold where a design needs them.
Can you build flexible printed circuits, not just sensors?
Yes. We build single, double-sided and multi-layer flex circuits on Polyimide PI with SMD capability, stiffeners where components mount or the circuit bends, and flexible flat cable (FFC) interconnects.
Do you make capacitive touch panels or wearable sensors too?
Yes, and both have their own specialised pages: see Capacitive Switches for HMI capacitive interfaces, and Wearable & Stretchable Electronics for body-worn sensors. This page is the general printed-sensing capability those branch off from.
Can you do a small batch or prototype first?
Yes. We produce prototype batches in small quantities for testing before scaling to full production.
Do you manufacture in Australia?
Yes. Designed, printed and finished at our facility in Brisbane, Australia.
Specialised sensing & other Printed Electronics
Need a flexible printed sensor designed
and made in Australia?
Tell us what you need to sense and the substrate it has to sit on, and our Brisbane engineers will take it from there.