The Conductive Inkjet Technology (CIT, Cambridge / UK; www.conductiveinkjet.com) subsidiary of Carclo (Ossett, West Yorkshire / UK; www.carclo.co.uk) will install a new production line at its Cambridge site for developing and producing touch-screen sensors, which will be incorporated into mobile phones and other electronic devices. The screens will be based on CIT’s patented photolithographic metallisation film and will incorporate very fine copper lines that are almost invisible to the human eye. Carclo expects the production line to be operational in the second half of 2010, with volume production commencing in 2011.

The investment in the line follows the signing of a binding agreement with Atmel Corporation (San Jose, California / USA; www.atmel.com), a global leader in the supply of semiconductor integrated circuits for use in computing and telecommunications. Under the terms of the agreement, Atmel will pay CIT USD 1m to secure preferential access to its production capacity and technology. Half the sum will be paid immediately and two equal payments will follow once CIT meets certain goals associated with the line’s development. If these targets are achieved, Carclo says, group profits for the financial years to March 2012 and March 2013 will be positively impacted.