News & Press releases

Unique lamination unit added to roll-to-roll R&D line

The recent installation of a lamination tool brings Holst Centre one step closer to demonstrating a complete systems-in-foil manufacturing process on its roll-to-roll R&D line.

This unique piece of equipment will allow Holst Centre to test and develop innovative methods for accurately laminating multiple interconnected functional foils for large area electronics. First lamination trials using 30 cm wide foils are planned for the start of next year.

The lamination machine uses a patented concept and is designed to align foils with high accuracy – Holst Centre is aiming for an initial accuracy of 100µm – and laminate them with low residual stress in a continuous process. This allows lamination at low tensile forces to avoid damaging the devices and prevent stress-induced curling.

Together with its partners in the Integration and Interconnects technology program, Holst Centre will use the new machine to investigate further optimization and application of this process for large-area electronics, such as OLED lighting and organic photovoltaics (OPV).

The lamination process requires extreme positioning control and the new system uses advanced vision control technology from research partner Orbotech. Innovations in control technology, both hardware and software, will be a key component of this development.

Holst Centre is also considering incorporating a laser system for multilayer patterning and via drilling into the roll-to-roll platform. Further R&D partners from the laser industry have already indicated their interest to join a roll-to-roll laser program to build such a tool and demonstrate applications.