From: mk_thisisit
Inuru, a European company with Polish roots, has developed a groundbreaking process for producing OLEDs (Organic Light-Emitting Diodes) through printing [00:00:03]. This technological advancement in OLEDs aims to make light and interactive elements ubiquitous and contribute to a world with less waste [00:00:57].
The Printing Process
Traditional OLED production is costly due to reliance on classic silicon processes, similar to microprocessors [00:03:21]. Inuru’s innovative printing method significantly reduces costs [00:03:40]. The process uses approximately 99% less surface, energy, and materials compared to conventional manufacturing [00:04:41]. Instead of vacuum deposition, plastic materials are introduced directly under a printer, with layers being printed and dried sequentially until the OLED is complete [00:04:50].
The resulting printed screens are incredibly thin, about 500 nanometers [00:05:08], and can be as thin as a sheet of paper [00:01:19]. While they can be made transparent, Inuru’s current designs include a special reflective layer to ensure light emits from only one side [00:05:11]. Currently, these screens are single-color [00:05:26].
Applications of Printed Screens
Inuru’s printed screens can be integrated into nearly any surface, including clothing, board games, cards, and even Harry Potter newspapers [00:03:13]. The company aims to provide smart, interactive light that adds value beyond mere aesthetics [00:06:05].
Current and envisioned applications include:
- Luxury Product Labels – Initially used for champagne labels [00:00:21].
- Board Games – A significant milestone was the launch of the world’s first board game with an interactive printed screen in the American market, available in Walmart [00:02:16], [00:07:14]. The screen lights up upon touch, providing an interactive element [00:02:30]. This market entry strategy leverages applications willing to pay higher prices for early-stage technology [00:08:04].
- Medicine Packaging – Integrating a small timer on medicine labels to indicate expiration dates [00:00:26], or for smart packaging that lights up when medicine is taken, reminding users about dosages or expiry [00:06:30].
- Clothing – The technology allows clothing to change color or patterns, promoting durable and reusable garments where patterns can be downloaded like licenses [00:10:20].
- Reusable Packaging – Creating packaging that can be reused for different products (e.g., apple juice today, milk tomorrow) by simply changing the digital content displayed on the integrated screen [00:11:10].
- Posters and Advertising – Animated and interactive posters, such as those available through Displate.com [00:33:30].
- Future Concepts – Potential for screens on walls, sidewalks, and road signs [00:09:51]. Discussions also include glowing tattoos and even screens transplanted under the skin for health monitoring interfaces [00:29:39], [00:30:01].
Company Vision and Growth
Inuru was co-founded by Marcin Ratajczak and Patryk, who met in high school [00:16:29]. The initial idea stemmed from a childhood dream of replacing paper catalogs with thin, flexible screens to reduce deforestation [00:15:55]. After Patryk, who was working on OLEDs, showed Marcin a transparent foil with moving blue ink, the vision for printed, interactive light became clear [00:18:19].
The company’s goal is to become the best technology company in the world [00:01:04] and to create a world with less waste [00:00:57]. They believe in fostering a smarter, more interactive world in terms of consumption [00:11:32].
After 11 years of development [00:19:01], Inuru is scaling up its operations. They are launching a new production line capable of producing 8 million OLEDs annually [00:00:52], [00:23:37]. This expansion is critical for making the technology affordable for new applications, especially in the medical sector, where widespread accessibility is crucial [00:23:46].
Inuru is a European company with production in Germany and an expanding branch in Poland [00:15:11]. Despite facing skepticism and being underestimated, similar to many innovations throughout history [00:12:20], the company maintains its determination. They emphasize the importance of perseverance, internal belief, and not fearing failure [00:27:08]. Their ultimate goal is to go public via the stock exchange rather than being acquired, allowing them to pursue their mission of revolutionizing consumption [00:31:37].
In the near future, products featuring Inuru’s technological innovations in Poland are expected to appear on Polish shelves within the next year [00:33:20].