The bus shelter has a hight of only ten centimeters. Energy efficient OLEDs display the schedule or give light signals when a bus arrives. Their energy comes solely from the sun: In the roof and the side wall organic solar cells are integrated, which are partially transparent. So far, there is only a model of the shelter in the scale of 1:20. It was designed by the Potsdam office for product design fdesign within a joint project with Fraunhofer IAP, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research. The Potsdam Fraunhofer Institute developed the OLEDs as well as the organic solar cells. "The model shows that organic electronics has great design potential for energy-saving, intelligent lighting control and information systems. To apply these technologies to life-size street furniture, the new pilot line now offers the possibility to realize organic electronic components under near-industrial conditions - a crucial prerequisite for the later transfer into commercial products,“ explains Dr. Armin Wedel, Division Director at Fraunhofer IAP. Until now, the researchers developed the components only on a laboratory scale. OLEDs and organic solar cells are used not only in architecture. For designers or applications in textile and life sciences industry, they are very interesting, as well − especially due to the possibility to make flexible devices.

The new pilot line is not only important for the industry, but also for the science region of Berlin/Brandenburg: „We are proud that we successfully constructed the pilot line in close collaboration with Fraunhofer IAP. Thus, optimal conditions for cutting-edge research have emerged at the research site Potsdam-Golm,“ sais Dr. Martin Reinelt, CEO of MBRAUN. „We hope to strengthen the German research landscape in order to compete successfully with American and Asian research institutions. We also want to demonstrate the performance of German plant manufacturing".

At the two-day event, the partners present the new pilot line, its potentials and current research topics of Fraunhofer IAP in the field of organic electronics. Subsequently, the visitors can gain an insight of the plant on site. In workshops, renowned experts speak about recent trends and developments in organic electronics − including material developments, technologies and applications. About 70 participants are expected. The pilot line is part of the recently opened Application Centre for Innovative Polymer Technologies of Fraunhofer IAP which is directed by Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Fink.

About Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP

The Fraunhofer IAP in Potsdam-Golm specializes in research and development for the entire range of polymer applications. Directed by Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Fink the Institute supports companies and partners in the custom development and optimization of innovative and sustainable materials, processing aids and processes. In addition to the environmentally-friendly, economical production and processing of polymers in the laboratory and pilot plant scale, the Institute also offers the characterization of polymers. We focus on synthetic petroleum-based polymers as well as biopolymers and biobased polymers from renewable resources. The applications are versatile, ranging from biotechnology, medicine, pharmacy and cosmetics via electronics and optics to applications in packaging, environmental and wastewater engineering or the automotive, paper, construction and paint industry.

About MBRAUN

For more than 30 years MBRAUN is a specialist in inert gas technology and process automation. The products developed an produced in Germany are applied in chemical research, in OLED development and mass production as well as in the development of lithium-ion batteries. Because of own production and distribution facilities in the U.S. and China, MBRAUN ensures a major customer focus and excellent service support.