Printing instead of a PCB – how to simplify IoT device design

Integration Without Cables – How to Combine HMI, Sensors and Housing in One Layer

In IoT device design, every decision is a trade-off between size, function, and speed. Imagine Michał, an experienced engineer working on a new version of a diagnostic wristband. The client wants it light, waterproof, and as clean as possible—no visible complexity, no bulky parts, no cable mess inside the housing. Michał tries to solve it with classic PCBs, wires, and separate plastic panels, but the more he adds, the bigger the problem becomes: more connectors, more assembly steps, more failure points, and less freedom to shape the product the way the user actually needs it.  This is where printed electronics changes the logic of the project. Instead of building electronics as a rigid “block” and then connecting everything around it, you can printr functional layers directly on flexible substrates and integrate multiple functions into one structure. In practice, it means you can combine the HMI interface, sensors, graphics, and conductive connections in a single printed layer—thin, light, and ready to be integrated into the device housing. It’s not future tech or a lab experiment. Smart engineering teams already use it to build faster, with fewer parts, and with more control over quality and repeatability.

Top 5 Concerns Project Managers Have About Printed Electronics – And How to Solve Them

Project managers usually like innovation—until it brings extra risk, extra meetings, and extra uncertainty. And printed electronics can trigger exactly that reaction, especially if your team has built its experience around classic PCBs and standard components. So let’s walk through the five most common concerns PMs have about printed electronics, and how to solve them in a practical, low-risk way.  This material comes from the free LCE Insider newsletter, available in both English and Polish.Subscribe today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lcelektronik.com/lce-insider/?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=podcast [https://lcelektronik.com/lce-insider/?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=podcast]

Printing instead of a PCB – how to simplify IoT device design

When you design an IoT device, you often fight the same battle every time: you need more functions in less space, the product must stay light and cost-effective, and assembly should be fast and repeatable. In many cases, the biggest “space and complexity” generator is the traditional PCB, together with connectors, wires, and mechanical mounting. That’s why more and more designers ask a simple question: do we really need a classic PCB here, or can we print the circuit instead? Printed electronics is a method of creating electronic layers by printing conductive, insulating, sensing, or protective inks on flexible materials. Instead of building a rigid board and then connecting everything around it, you can build thin, lightweight circuits directly on substrates like PET film, TPU, paper, fabrics, or even biodegradable foils. The result is an electronic layer that can be integrated into the surface of the product, into the housing, or into an HMI panel, which makes printed electronics especially attractive for IoT, wearables, automotive, and medical devices.  This material comes from the free LCE Insider newsletter, available in both English and Polish.Subscribe today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lcelektronik.com/lce-insider/?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=podcast [https://lcelektronik.com/lce-insider/?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=podcast]

KNOWLEDGE THAT STAYS – A Mini Guide for Project Managers

In today’s episode of LC INSIDER, we talk about something every Project Manager knows too well: documentation that actually works. Not the kind that collects dust or gets lost in folders, but the kind that helps teams make decisions faster, avoid mistakes, and build knowledge that stays in the company — even when people change, when sprints move fast, or when a project suddenly pivots.  Let’s start with a simple rule: one file equals one decision. It sounds minimalistic, and that’s the point. When we separate files for approving layers, changing materials, or adjusting test conditions, the whole story becomes clear. One decision, one document, no confusion. In large projects, this clarity is gold. It helps teams review, compare versions, and understand why something happened — even months later. It also makes audits so much easier. No more hunting through long documents trying to guess what changed, when it changed, and who decided it.  This material comes from the free LCE Insider newsletter, available in both English and Polish.Subscribe today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lcelektronik.com/lce-insider/?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=podcast [https://lcelektronik.com/lce-insider/?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=podcast]

How printed electronics is changing the rules in IoT ?

When was the last time someone from your R&D team said, “It can’t be done”? Maybe because the part is too big, too stiff, the battery doesn’t fit, or the PCB can’t bend. Maybe everything fails when humidity is high. For many CEOs, these limits aren’t just frustrating. They’re a real risk to staying competitive. But what if there’s another way? What if you could build a light, flexible, working electronic system—without glass, without hard plastic, and without a traditional PCB? That’s exactly what printed electronics makes possible. It’s not science fiction. It’s a real technology already used in automotive, wearables, and smart packaging, and it’s happening in Europe right now.