E Ink

E Ink and AUO announced a new strategic partnership to co-develop large-size color ePaper displays. E Ink will provide full-color ePaper modules, while AUO will provide integrated software and hardware technologies along with the TFT backplane components.

E Ink hopes this new agreement will enable it to expand the adoption of its ePaper displays in retail applications. AUO's Smart Retail Business Group has developed software and hardware platforms that will enable the integration of the new displays and offer a direct route to market. The company is set to launch a new a cloud-based platform solution that integrates digital signage and electronic shelf labels. Its integrated CMS serves over 30,000 client nodes globally. As part of the new partnership, AUO plans to introduce additional large-size, ultra-low power consumption, energy-efficient display solutions using the E Ink displays.

E Ink announced it is collaborating with Realtek Semiconductor, Integrated Solutions Technology (IST), and Chipbond Technology to develop the System on Panel (SoP) architecture, to be integrated into the next-generation electronic shelf label (ESL) jointly developed with the system integrator, SOLUM. 

SOLUM is the number one US ESL solution provider, and the project's aim is to simplify the material structure of ESL and bring a sustainable solution via reduced material usage, lower power consumption and simplified production processes.

Kobo launched two e-Readers, both of which use E Ink's latest Kaleido 3 color displays. First up is the Kobo Libra Colour, with its 7" color 1264x1680 E Ink Kaleido 3 touchscreen (300 PPI in monochrome, 150 PPI in color). The Libra Colour offers a Dual-Core 2 Ghz chipset, Kobo Stylus 2 support ($69.99 extra), physical page turn buttons and IPX8 waterproofing. The Kobo Libra Color will ship by the end of April 2024, for $219.99.

The Kobo Clara Colour eReader offers a 6" E Ink 1448 x 1072 Kaleido 3 display (300 PPI in monochrome, 150 PPI in color), a Dual-Core 2.0 Ghz chipset and IPX8 waterproofing. The Kobo Clara Colour eReaderw will ship by end of April 2024 for $149.99.

E Ink announced a new collaboration with Hitachi to achieve digital transformation and paperless operations in Hitachi's manufacturing sites at Omika Works. Hitachi deployed eNote devices, developed by E Ink's subsidiary, Linfiny Japan Inc., on Hitachi's IoT platform.  The eNote devices use 13.3" E Ink Kaleido 3 flexible and durable color ePaper displays.

One of Hitachi's most difficult challenges was to reudce paper media. Hitachi says that E Ink's ePaper solutions are very suitable for on-site work and would enable a smooth transition to digitalization without conventional work methods needing to be changed. 

BMW has unviled a new concept car, the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA, that is covered with E Ink Prism 3 panels - and which pays a tribute to the 1991 Esther Mahlangu Art Car. 

Directly inspired by the South African artist Esther Mahlangu, the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA has 1,349 E Ink Prism 3 segments that can be individually controlled.

PPDS launched a new E Ink signage display, the 31.5-inch (16:9) Philips Tableaux 5150I Series using E Ink Spectra 6. This product is the first one to adopt E Ink's new 31.5" Spectra 6 module. The Philips Tableaux 5150I can be used as a standalone solution or as part of a fleet of displays across multiple locations around the world, and can be managed manually, or remotely using third-party or PPDS’s inhouse software.

Due to E Ink’s unique image stability, the 32-inch 5150I model can display static imagery without drawing on any energy source, only requiring low power when content is being updated. Details on availability and pricing will be announced by PPDS in early 2024.

AIOI Systems announced a new smart equipment inspection system that uses eNotebook devices based on a 13.3" color E Ink Kaleido 3 touch-enabled screen. The new product will launch in April 2024.

AIOI, a group company of Toppan Holdings, says the new system and the new ePaper eNotes provide a more sustainable solution, increase productivity and eliminate paper waste.

ePaper passenger information display developer Papercast launched two new products, both based on 13" E Ink displays. These are battery-powered flag and compact displays, that Papercast says were engineered to meet the specific needs of bus stop flags in North America and Europe.

Papercast says that these displays can operate for 3 years, or even more, on a single battery charge. At the heart of this innovation is Papercast’s in-house developed advanced e-paper driver circuit board, that increase the power efficiency of the system.

The ePaper industry and market, led by E Ink, is growing, mostly fueled by demand for electronic shelf labels, next-gen tablets and eReaders, and signage displays. Here are some recent and popular news that you may find of interest:

• Walmart to install 60 million E Ink shelf labels at 500 stores in the US
• E Ink announces the first deployment of its Kaleido 3 Outdoor signage
• Sharp expands its ePoster lineup with color 13.3" and 25.3" displays
• E Ink launches Spectra 6 full-color ePaper display technology
• McLaren tests E Ink ads in its racing cars
• E Ink Gallery 3 ACeP color ePaper displays move into mass production
• Huawei sold 110,000 E Ink tablet devices in 2 months, sues Amazon over E Ink patents
• Harvard researchers find that E Ink displays are healthier than LCD or OLED displays
• Amazon launches a 10.2-inch eNote/eReader device
• E Ink to spend around $110 million to expand its production facilities
• reMarkable sold over a million E Ink tablets, raises funds
• Is Apple testing color E Ink displays for future foldable phones and tablets?
• Is Amazon developing a foldable E Ink Kindle device?

Papercast LTD announced that it is partnering with Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) in a transformative public transportation project in Bali, Indonesia. TMF leads this initiative, that aims to address critical urban mobility challenges, including congestion, parking availability, public transport utilisation and air pollution.

The project has two core components: Dynamic Bus Schedule Displays and Smart xEV Park and Ride solution (which includes a deployment of an app-powered fixed route shuttle service).  The first component will include Papercast's 23” outdoor solar-powered e-paper displays that will be strategically installed at bus stops to show real-time bus arrival information, route details, marketing content and other essential updates, in both Indonesian and English.