Printed Electronics Industry Remains Positive But Cautious in 2024
March 7, 2024 | OE-AEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
The results of the latest OE-A Business Climate Survey show slightly lower expectations for 2024 compared to the projections made in the 2023 surveys. However, the decline is at a high level: For 2024, responding association members expect a 13 percent increase in revenue for the flexible and printed electronics industry. "Our industry is even more confident in 2025, with an estimated growth of 17 percent. The relatively young Printed Electronics industry has come a long way in the last 15 years. I am convinced that we are on the right track, despite the challenging geopolitical situation," said Dr. Alain Schumacher, OE-A Vice Chairman and Chief Technology Officer at IEE in Luxembourg. The results of the OE-A Business Climate Survey were presented at the international press conference at LOPEC 2024 in Munich, Germany. The bi-annual survey is conducted by the Organic and Printed Electronics Association (OE-A), an international working group within VDMA. For each survey, OE-A member organizations from the entire value chain, from R&D to material suppliers to end users, are asked to provide qualitative data on the state of the industry, expected sales development and markets.
The positive picture is reinforced by the fact that 74 percent of respondents expect further growth and development in 2024 (Oct. 2023: 46%). This increase shows that the printed electronics industry is convinced that impulses will come from the targeted end-user industries such as Consumer Electronics, Automotive, Medical & Pharmaceutical and Packaging.
OE-A expects 13 percent revenue growth by 2024
With expected revenue growth of 13 percent, the printed electronics community is slightly less optimistic than in the fall of 2023 (+18 percent). By 2025, the industry's outlook brightens to an expected revenue growth of 17 percent. More than half of the companies expect to increase their investments in production within the next 6 months (53%), while the other half expects to keep investments at a constant level. We see a similarly stable picture for research and development: Half of the companies surveyed plan to increase their R&D activities, while the other half will keep activities stable.
On solid grounds
“We are dealing with a very volatile environment. Some of our key end markets are affected, such as the automotive market. For our industry, this is reflected in fluctuating sales forecasts. In addition to geopolitical crises, high energy costs and inflation are also taking their toll," concludes Dr. Alain Schumacher. “But thanks to the broad customer and product portfolio of printed electronics, we expect stable percentage growth in 2024 and beyond. The ingenuity of the industry is unbroken, and I look forward to presenting and seeing the results at LOPEC.”
Suggested Items
NEOTech Positions Itself as Microelectronics Industry Leader with High-Technology Investments
05/09/2024 | NEOTechNEOTech, a leading provider of electronic manufacturing services (EMS), design engineering, and supply chain solutions in the high-tech industrial, medical device, and aerospace/defense markets, announces a significant investment in acquiring new Palomar 8100 wire bonder machines, enhancing the company’s positioning as a leader of cutting-edge microelectronics assemblies for mission-critical applications.
MKS Instruments Reports Q1 2024 Financial Results
05/09/2024 | MKS Instruments, Inc.MKS Instruments, Inc., a global provider of enabling technologies that transform our world, reported first quarter 2024 financial results.
America Projected to Triple Semiconductor Manufacturing Capacity by 2032, the Largest Rate of Growth in the World
05/08/2024 | SIAThe Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), in partnership with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), released a report on the global chip supply chain that projects the United States will triple its domestic semiconductor manufacturing capacity from 2022—when the CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS) was enacted—to 2032.
Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2024: The Driving World of e-Mobility with Indium
05/08/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOIn the competitive EV market, technology plays a crucial role facing the challenges of infrastructure. As Brian O'Leary explains, Indium's e-Mobility product suite includes proven solder and thermal management products for high reliability.
Incap Releases Unaudited Business Review for January–March 2024
05/08/2024 | IncapRevenue for the first quarter 2024 amounted to EUR 51.4 million (1–3/2023: EUR 72.2 million). Year-on-year the revenue decreased 29.3%, as expected.