It is forecasted the market for fully printed sensors will be over $8 billion by 2025.
Research and Markets has announced the addition of the “Printed and Flexible Sensors 2015-2025: Technologies, Players, Forecasts” report to their offering.
“Sensors are playing an increasingly important role in printed electronics. While the biggest market is currently glucose sensors (for the treatment of diabetes), it is also highly commoditized. However, a new generation of printed sensors is now emerging from R&D and the range of applications is vast. There are many types of sensors and therefore many addressable markets.
Printing is not a new technique in the sensor industry. In fact, some types of sensors have always been printed.
For example, there are already various types of sensors partially manufactured by screen printing (also known as a “”thick film”” process). In such devices, the transducer is a printed layer of either a polymeric or ceramic material. This technology has been used in the sensor industry for many years.
Progress in printed electronics now enables more sensors to be fully printed. Since sensors have a much simpler structure than displays or logic circuits, the manufacturing learning curve is therefore less steep compared to many other printed electronics applications. In most cases, these new printed sensors can be made on plastic substrates, offering the advantages of mechanical flexibility, thinness and light weight.
This report covers the following categories of printed sensors:
- Biosensors
- Capacitive sensors
- Piezoresistive sensors
- Piezoelectric sensors
- Photodetectors
- Temperature sensors
- Humidity sensors
- Gas sensors
- Established and emerging markets
Printed disposable blood glucose sensors currently generate $6 billion of revenue annually. These sensors are used by diabetics as a self-diagnosis tool. The technology is well-established but the market is now commoditized and in low-growth mode. However, other types of printed biosensors are emerging, targeting medical or fitness applications.
Some printed and flexible sensors such as photodetectors, temperature sensors or gas sensors are transitioning from R&D to mass production. These market segments are set to grow fast over the next 10 years.
Printed humidity sensors will have the highest growth rate. However, this can be explained by the fact that it is starting from a low base. The market size (in terms of revenue) will actually be much smaller compared to other segments.
