LOPEC 2026: printed electronics for a smart life

“Printed electronics remains on course even in turbulent times,”  says Dr. Klaus Hecker, Managing Director of LOPEC co-organizer OE-A, an international working group within VDMA. Hecker continues. “With numerous innovations, LOPEC 2026 demonstrates the unbroken innovative strength of the industry.” 

The focus is on efficient solutions for the healthcare sector and smart applications for the building sector.

Whether it’s smoke detectors, people counters, or sensors for measuring humidity and temperature, smart building technology requires energy. LOPEC exhibitor Dracula Technologies from France, for example, has developed printed solar cells that work so efficiently that even small panels generate enough electricity under normal room lighting to power a wireless webcam, for instance.

The ultra-thin, flexible cells can be seamlessly integrated into any design. They use both natural and artificial light, which makes them ideal for indoor use.

Relief for doctors and patients

Under the focus topic “Smart Living”, LOPEC 2026 is also presenting a host of applications for the healthcare sector. For example, the sensor system for shoes from Luxembourg-based manufacturer IEE measures how pressure is distributed on the sole when walking, running or jumping. The data is transmitted in real time to a smartphone or other device. That not only supports athletes during training but also helps people with an unsteady gait to control their balance, and diabetics to prevent foot ulcers.

Another highlight of LOPEC 2026 is the sensor patch for pregnant women at the Beneli booth from Sweden. When attached to the woman’s abdomen, it monitors contractions and the well-being and heart rate of the unborn child.

The Dutch research institute Holst Centre equips wound dressings with sensors that remotely monitor the temperature, humidity, and other parameters of the wound. That allows doctors to monitor the healing process without having to constantly change the dressing, and to detect an infection at an early stage.

From spectacular ideas to mass products

In addition, printed conductors, circuits and other components are driving the miniaturization of electronic applications. LOPEC exhibitor ABeetle from Taiwan has already launched an artificial fingernail for nail sculpting that changes color and design via an app. 

“Printed electronics can be used to implement spectacular ideas, as the components are thin, lightweight, flexible, and reliable,” 

emphasizes Hecker, adding that the industry is no longer restricted to concepts and individual prototypes. Hecker continues: 

“At LOPEC, we will see a host of products and technologies for the mass market, from cars and buildings to medical technology.”

At the booth of the Slovenian equipment manufacturer INO, LOPEC visitors can experience an industrial screen-printing machine in action. It can print electronics on up to 800 sheets per hour. Equally fascinating is the resource-saving nano-printing technology from the Polish company XTPL. With nano-inks and ultra-precise printing heads, the company achieves a resolution of less than a micrometer. The XTPL system even prints on steps and around elements.

Material manufacturers such as Celanese, Covestro, Elantas, Henkel and Heraeus are also essential for the rapid progress and market success of printed electronics. In Munich, they will be presenting functional inks, printing pastes and other high-tech materials for smart applications in a wide range of industries.

Whether it’s new materials and systems, innovative concepts, prototypes, or series of products that are already successful, as an international trade fair with an accompanying conference, LOPEC offers a comprehensive insight into the latest technologies. It impressively demonstrates how printed and flexible electronics can enable the efficient and cost-effective manufacturing of sustainable products. 

“LOPEC brings all the players together under one roof, paving the way for greener electronics,” 

says Hecker, summing up.