-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueDo You Have X-ray Vision?
Has X-ray’s time finally come in electronics manufacturing? Join us in this issue of SMT007 Magazine, where we answer this question and others to bring more efficiency to your bottom line.
IPC APEX EXPO 2025: A Preview
It’s that time again. If you’re going to Anaheim for IPC APEX EXPO 2025, we’ll see you there. In the meantime, consider this issue of SMT007 Magazine to be your golden ticket to planning the show.
Technical Resources
Key industry organizations–all with knowledge sharing as a part of their mission–share their technical repositories in this issue of SMT007 Magazine. Where can you find information critical to your work? Odds are, right here.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
In-mold Electronics: The Convergence of Innovative Materials and Manufacturing Techniques
August 7, 2024 | Linda Stepanich, IPCEstimated reading time: 1 minute

Paavo Niskala, a noted expert in in-mold electronics (IME) at TactoTek, recognized the need for an industry-wide standard when one of his automotive OEM clients asked him how to test a prototype TactoTek had developed. That question led to the creation of the first-ever IPC standard of this type, IPC-8401, Guidelines for In-Mold Electronics, to be released later this year.
“When the customer asked me how to test the part, which is a combination of mechanics and electronics, I realized that a standard for IME does not exist, and that sparked the idea that we should do something,” Paavo says. “Later on, the French plastronics network had the same idea. Our proposal and the French proposal led to the formation of the IPC 3D Plastronics Steering Group. Our first face-to-face meeting was in Lyon, France, in April 2022.”
IME technology merges printed electronics, surface mount (SMT) components, and injection molding using mass-production processes, materials, and components. IME parts are structural electronics characterized by their lightweight, seamless integration. This technology appeals to industries such as automotive or aerospace because it reliably enhances the functionality of surfaces in illuminating spaces, such as door panels, center consoles, and front grill emblems. Combining printed electronics, SMT components, and injection molding is an ideal option for mass production due to the simplicity of both processes.
The automotive industry has driven the development of IME because it significantly reduces the cost, weight, waste, and energy required to produce vehicle interior parts. Rather than using a PCB in a plastic molding with features interacting with PCB sensors, IME components are integrated directly into the plastic molding, making the manufacturing process more streamlined, sustainable, and efficient.
“There's a big market pool for IME, especially in the automotive industry, which is looking for sustainable smart structures,” Paavo says of the new technology's appeal. “They want to build lighting on a 3D surface within the vehicle, whether it's an interior or exterior application. For example, automobiles are full of plastic parts. With IME technology, you can make those thin plastic parts smart and build a lighting application you cannot build with conventional electronics.”
To learn more about the standards being developed for in-mold electronics, read the rest of this article in the Summer 2024 issue of IPC Community.
Suggested Items
IPC Strengthens Global Leadership Team with Addition of Joe Schneider as Vice President of U.S/Canada
04/25/2025 | IPCIPC, the global electronics association, announces the strategic appointment of Joe Schneider as vice president of U.S./Canada. This newly created executive position underscores the association’s commitment to championing the electronics industry's critical contributions to this region’s innovation and economic growth.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
04/25/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007I’m highlighting a discussion on the positive potential coming from the recent changes in global trade policy—from IPC’s Government Relations team, and from TTM CEO Tom Edman. In the realm of designers and purchasers realm, there’s news from Screaming Circuits and ASC/Sunstone Circuits to share. Finally, additive manufacturing and the release of CFX 2.0 highlight just some of the news coming to the shop floor as well.
KYZEN Focuses on Aqueous Cleaning and Stencil Cleaning at SMTA Wisconsin
04/24/2025 | KYZEN'KYZEN, the global leader in innovative environmentally responsible cleaning chemistries, will exhibit at the SMTA Wisconsin Expo and Tech Forum, scheduled to take place Tuesday, May 6 at the Crowne Plaza Milwaukee Airport. KYZEN will be on-site to provide attendees with information about aqueous cleaning chemistry AQUANOX A4618 and stencil cleaner KYZEN E5631J.
TRI at SMTA Wisconsin Expo 2025
04/24/2025 | TRITest Research, Inc. (TRI), the leading test and inspection systems provider for the electronics manufacturing industry, will join the SMTA Wisconsin Expo 2025.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Empowering IPC North Asia—Leadership and Future Goals
04/24/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPONolan Johnson catches up with Sydney Xiao, the IPC North Asia President, who leads a team covering China, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. IPC's North Asia regions 800 members are focusing on standards, training, and advocacy to enhance quality and profitability. The adoption of IPC standards by Toyota in 2021 highlights this increased regional engagement. IPC prioritizes workforce development, with over 7,000 professionals in certification programs and school partnerships.