The Pôle Européen de Plasturgie (PEP) and LPKF Laser & Electronics AG have agreed on a future close cooperation. The PEP is a centre of technological excellence, focusing on research and development in the plastics industry molding on behalf of several French companies. The PEP supports companies in the industry in the research and implementation of new products.
 
The instituted located in France’s Ain-Département is connected to businesses such as Sagem, EADS, Radiall as well as manufacturers and suppliers in the automotive industry. On a European level PEP has been researching in the actual implementation of new MID applications in line with the MIDASS (MID Applied to Smart Systems) project since 2008.

LPKF will provide technological support for the PEP in line with this cooperation. This will primarily be through technological consulting for implementing the LDS method. For LPKF, PEP is an important technology partner in the consolidation of the French market.

In France, where the fitting coined word plastronique was introduced for joining mechanical and electronic elements in place of mechatronics, utilizing laser direct structuring in the production of mechatronics assemblies is currently still uncommon. „In our view, PEP holds the key to the French market. PEP’s close collaboration with numerous companies from the plastics industry will also turn the spotlight on our LDS method for developers and manufacturers there“, so Nils Heininger, Director PCB/LDS Equipment Division at LPKF. By September PEP will have pictures of the entire in-house LDS process chain.