TactoTek is pleased to share the publication of IPC-8401, Guidelines for In-Mold Electronics, the first IPC global standard for this innovative technology. The guidelines help businesses adopt in-mold electronics, a technology that integrates electronic functionality into lightweight, molded parts.
Standards like IPC-8401 provide clear benchmarks for quality, reliability, and compatibility. For emerging technologies, these frameworks reduce uncertainties, streamline adoption, and support long-term success. In-mold electronics enable resource-efficient designs, helping industries innovate while prioritizing sustainability.
The IPC-8401 standard guides the design, manufacturing, and testing of in-mold electronics. It addresses key aspects such as material selection, process optimization, and reliability, offering practical recommendations for companies exploring this technology.
The development of IPC-8401 involved a multidisciplinary team of global experts, including OEMs, Tier suppliers, material providers, researchers, and technology developers. At TactoTek, we are proud to have contributed to this effort, with myself, Paavo Niskala, SVP IMSE Technology, leading the IPC task group, and Outi Rusanen, Principal Interconnection Specialist, providing significant input.
This collaboration brought together diverse perspectives to ensure that the standard addresses the needs of different industries and applications. The result is a guideline that provides practical, actionable insights for companies working with in-mold electronics.
IPC-8401 is the first in what will be a family of IPC standards for in-mold electronics. Future standards will address additional aspects of the technology as it continues to evolve. These developments are essential for building confidence in the technology and encouraging broader adoption.
For TactoTek, contributing to IPC-8401 aligns with our commitment to supporting sustainable electronics and advancing innovation in product design. By participating in standardization efforts, we aim to help industries integrate this technology into products in a way that is both efficient and reliable.
We are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside IPC and other contributors in developing this important standard. As the in-mold electronics field grows, we look forward to continuing this work and supporting the development of new standards.
For more information about IPC-8401 or TactoTek’s work in in-mold electronics, please contact us. Together, we can explore how this technology can enhance product design and promote sustainability.
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