Creating complete multi-sensory solutions
that break the mould

Inspired by human skin, Holst Centre creates adaptable, multisensory surfaces that can easily be integrated into everyday objects and electronic applications that enhance healthcare and human-machine interaction.

At Holst Centre, we are pushing the boundaries of printable sensor technologies. New form factors and design freedom are achieved with flexible, stretchable, formable, and washable electronics, enabling new functions and applications in various domains.

One of the main benefits of printed electronics is its scalability. We can print sheet-to-sheet on small surfaces, or even roll-to-roll over large areas with speeds of up to several metres per minute. With our additive manufacturing process we can work extremely efficiently, incurring minimal material loss and environmental impact.

Cost effective printing method

The broad range of functional materials and substrates makes printing suitable for an unlimited number of applications in various domains. Printing sensors is also a cost-effective production method, making the printing of one or one thousand sensors equally simple. It offers ultra-thin and flexible form factors, which would have been very difficult to create with conventional technologies. Furthermore, printing is highly suited for the creation of ‘multimodal’ sensor systems, thanks to the additive nature of the manufacturing process.

At Holst Centre, we create adaptable, multisensory surfaces that can easily be integrated into everyday objects and electronic applications. These surfaces incorporate sensors that emulate the basic sense of touch; for example by the sensing of temperature and pressure. In the automotive industry, there are many promising applications for large-area sensing surfaces. Contact surfaces can measure vital signs to indicate if a driver is able to take control of an autonomous vehicle. Additionally, temperature and pressure sensors can monitor the battery condition in electric vehicles.

Biomedical applications

Especially in the biomedical domain there are many promising applications for large-area sensing arrays. Printed stretchable electronics are enabling large-area sensing devices that can measure vital signs. These devices can be seamlessly integrated onto or close to surfaces that regularly come into contact with people. Pressure and temperature sensors integrated in mattresses can measure the vital signs of a patient through clothing in an unobtrusive way. Using this kind of system, medical conditions such as sleep apnoea can possibly be discovered or diagnosed at an early stage.