Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Invests in Elephantech Inc. to Advance Inkjet PCB Manufacturing

https://cdn.pcbdirectory.com/news/700_365_H_12__639089051518301722.webp712370

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has announced an investment in Elephantech Inc., a startup developing nano-ink technology for inkjet printing, and signed a partnership agreement with the company. Through this collaboration, Mitsubishi Electric aims to accelerate the industry’s transition toward printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing using inkjet printing, a process designed to reduce environmental impact.

Mitsubishi Electric had previously invested in Elephantech through its Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) fund in May 2023.

Elephantech has developed copper nano-ink technology that enables circuit formation by printing conductive ink directly onto a substrate only where needed. Compared with conventional PCB manufacturing methods, this process significantly reduces the number of production steps while lowering copper & water consumption and also carbon dioxide emissions. According to the companies, the approach can reduce manufacturing costs while improving sustainability in PCB production.

Under the partnership agreement, Mitsubishi Electric will begin offering factory automation (FA) solutions that incorporate Elephantech’s inkjet printing technology to PCB manufacturers. The companies also plan to collaborate on expanding the market for inkjet-based PCB manufacturing solutions. In the future, Mitsubishi Electric’s manufacturing sites are expected to adopt Elephantech’s specialized technologies for the mass production and sales of inkjet printing equipment, supporting broader commercialization of the process.

Click here to learn more about the Elephantech.