challenger 650
The challenger 650 is a high-precision, customizable sheet-based platform for printing, coating, laminating, drying, and pilot fabrication of printed electronics and functional devices.
High-Precision, Customizable Sheet-Based Platform for Printed Electronics
The challenger 650 offers modular printing, coating, laminating, and drying technologies with precise layer-to-layer registration, supporting flexible and rigid substrates for R&D and multilayer fabrication.
Applications
Pilot fabrication of printed functional devices
Multilayer processing and hybrid process integration
Research and development in printed electronics
Prototype development and process evaluation
challenger 650
challenger 650
challenger 650
Technical data
Printing/Coating technologies:
Inkjet, Slot Die, Rotary Screen, Flatbed Screen, Flexo, Rotogravure, Gravure Offset, Lamination
Drying & curing:
Photonic Curing, UV, NIR, Hot Air, Heated substrate vacuum chuck, Air Knife
Substrate pre-treatment:
Corona Pre-treatment
Substrate size:
Up to 300 x 300 mm
Substrate compatibility:
Flexible and rigid substrates up to 4 mm thickness
Process speed:
Up to 90 m/min.
Layer-to-layer registration:
+/- 10μm
Process environment:
Filtered laminar flow environment
Data exchange:
OPC UA, SQL database
Multi-step recipe:
Supported
Recipe control:
User-specific recipe management for precise process control
Dimension (L x W x H):
Configuration dependent (varies by number of modules)
Weight:
Configuration dependent (varies by number of modules)
Technologies & Options
Modular Design & Inline Process Integration
The modular process platform can be configured with multiple printing, coating, laminating, drying, and curing technologies for printed electronics and functional devices. Additional process modules such as inkjet, slot-die coating, corona pre-treatment, UV, NIR, photonic curing, and hot-air drying support flexible inline process configurations for sequential multilayer manufacturing and advanced process development.
High Precision & Optical Alignment
Designed for positioning and layer-to-layer registration in the few-micrometer range. The integrated optical alignment system with cameras supports precise substrate alignment and consistent multilayer overprinting, enabling reproducible build-up of functional structures through repeated process sequences. The system can additionally be equipped with a filtered laminar flow environment for contamination-sensitive applications.
Combo Printing Unit
The unique combo printing unit enables technologies such as rotary screen printing, flexographic, rotogravure, gravure offset, and laminating within the same printing unit. By exchanging printing cylinders, rollers, and doctor blade systems, seamless transitions between different printing configurations can be achieved for multilayer manufacturing applications.
Advanced Process Control
The control system supports user-specific recipe management for precise and repeatable process control. OPC UA communication and SQL database integration enable seamless data exchange, process logging, and traceability across complex multilayer manufacturing processes.
Substrate Flexibility
Supports both flexible and rigid substrates. Advanced substrate handling, including a vacuum chuck with temperature compensation, ensures reliable processing of sensitive materials for printed electronics and functional devices.
Real-Time Inspection & Process Evaluation
Integrated camera and inspection software enable live visualization and optical measurement of printed structures directly on the screen. Printed features and layer-to-layer offsets can be analyzed during the process for alignment and quality evaluation.
Scientific publications
Sustainable, Room-Temperature Printing Technologies for Energy Storage and Electronics with MXene Inks, using the Challenger 650 (formerly C600) at Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology
Poster [PDF]
Scalable, Cost-Effective Printing of Carbon Nanotube Electrodes for EAP Transducers with the Challenger 650 (formerly C600) at Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology
Access the full paper here: [Full Publication]
Sustainable Screen Printing of High-Performance MXene Micro-Supercapacitors using the Challenger 650 (formerly C600) at Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology
Access the full paper here: [Full Publication]
Automated Screen Printing of Perovskite Solar Cells – at Empa’s Work with the challenger 650 (formerly C600)
Access the full paper here: [Full Publication]