P2i signs deal with Samsung to protect selected Galaxy smartphones with its liquid protection Barrier coating

P2i signs deal with Samsung to protect selected Galaxy smartphones with its liquid protection Barrier coating

Advanced nano coating technology enables increased reliability and liquid protection for smartphones

31 March 2020, Oxford, UK – P2i announced partnership agreement with Samsung that will see its Barrier nano coating technology deployed across several smartphone designs from 2019, extending water and liquid protection to the internal components of selected Samsung Galaxy smartphones. P2i’s Barrier will be deployed across other smartphone models in due course. The new agreement builds on an existing relationship between Samsung and P2i, dating back to 2014.

P2i’s Barrier is a next-generation waterproofing technology that provides higher levels of liquid protection and enables manufacturers to protect the components, even after water gets into the device.

By using this approach, companies can protect the components on the Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) in the event of a spill or accidental short immersion into water.

Inkang Song, Vice President, Head of Technology Strategy Group at Mobile Communications, Samsung Electronics said: “Samsung is at the forefront of smartphone innovation and this not only extends to the performance and the aesthetics, but to ensuring our smartphones are reliable. Water protection is a key part of this, with P2i providing an advanced and trusted nanotechnology solution.”

Ady Moores, CEO of P2i said: “P2i is delighted to announce that Barrier is now a part of Samsung’s design on selected smartphones. P2i’s Barrier increases the reliability of smartphones and other electronic devices by creating a nanoscale electrically insulating plasma coating on the PCBA. This provides liquid protection against corrosion from direct and prolonged exposure to liquids.”

Barrier uses a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process that provides an electrically-insulated coating on the PCBA and critical components in the handset. Coating thickness / protection level can be adapted to suit the needs of the component and the technology uses a non-degrading thin nano film that lasts for the life of the device. The coating allows re-application if a repair is made or modular component replaced.

It is one of three classes of water protection offerings from P2i which provide up to and exceeding IPX8 liquid protection. The company also offers Splash-proof and Dunkable® coatings to firms seeking to protect electronic equipment from liquid damage.

In light of the evolving concerns around the Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation and the associated global disruption, please be assured that P2i’s continuing focus is on ensuring the health and safety of our employees, customers and other stakeholders, as well as the continuity of our services across the world.

P2i is a global company with a UK headquarters; an applications centre in China; and technology implemented in factories around the world. The comprehensive service and support we can offer reflects the scale and capability of our operations.

These are unsettling times for us all, but P2i is committed to ensuring support continues and that field based staff, including engineers, are fully available to service and support our customers facilities in the usual manner throughout this period and beyond.

In line with this and in order to provide an even more proactive level of support, P2i is able to offer remote monitoring of the P2i machines located in your production facilities. While staff are now working remotely, the P2i Operations Centre based at our UK headquarters can monitor the performance of the equipment – and this provides the following benefits:

• Remote monitoring of P2i equipment, including alarms and issues
• Machine health checks
• Faster process improvement deployment
• More efficient service visits as engineers will have full access to machine logs prior to arrival on site
• Regular reporting capability, built over time and customised by site, to show the key metrics of the P2i machine performance and factory machine utilisation

P2i is ready to implement this service immediately. All that is required is the provision of an internet connection per installed machine. To alleviate any security concerns, P2i machines are equipped with hardware offering military grade encryption for key controlled remote access, over the internet, securing the provided connection. Only P2i machine data can be retrieved over this connection. P2i is happy to discuss the requirements, please contact us to discuss the quickest way to implement this enhanced level of support.

Stay safe – and remember that P2i is here to support you throughout this difficult time.

by Ady Moores, CEO, P2i

P2i, the global leader in liquid repellent nano-coating technology, has launched a new Halogen-Free Barrier product range. The new reworkable, sustainable coating solution for Printed Circuit Board’s enables OEMs, from automotive to consumer electronics, achieve their environmental targets by cutting harmful emissions in production, while also reducing scrap and customer returns due to the elimination of corrosion damage.

In addition, P2i’s approach will substantially lessen the environmental impact of OEMs’ activities by increasing product lifespan while eliminating hazardous chemicals, and reducing electrical waste and landfill.

Ady Moores, P2i’s CEO, said: “This is a step-change for the industry. P2i’s approach will substantially lessen the environmental impact of OEMs’ activity by eliminating halogens from the manufacturing process. This also aligns to the stated goals set out by Greenpeace in its ‘Guide to Greener Electronics’ report.”

P2i’s Halogen Free Barrier Coatings are an innovative nano-coating solution, which continues to provide industry-leading liquid protection and dramatically improve reliability on all printed circuit boards, with a fully-integrated and proven manufacturing process.

The P2i Halogen-Free Barrier is available in three different variants; Halogen-Free Barrier Lite to provide a board level IPx4 solution: Halogen-Free Barrier to provide IPx4 + short immersion and Halogen-Free Barrier Max to help achieve up to IPx8 device level protection.

Moores added: “P2i is thrilled to announce these new Halogen-Free Barrier Products. This is the ideal sustainable liquid protection solution for electronics across a wide range of industries, and it will have a key role to play in helping OEMs achieve their environmental impact and sustainability goals.”

About P2i

P2i is the liquid protection expert. Founded in 2004, P2i works with OEMs to enhance their products to make them liquid resistant and give waterproof protection, improving their reliability and enabling them to survive liquid exposure from everyday accidents. P2i brings reliability to market, by pushing the boundaries of science and engineering to deliver world leading protective nano-coating technologies.

Simon Vogt is the President of Sales at P2i, with over 20 years telecommunications experience. Having lived and worked in the UK, Dubai and the US, Simon has a multinational background, joining P2i in 2017 and has expanded his role in P2i to take on responsibility for all Sales, Business Development and Pricing activity across the company.

Please tell us a little bit about how you came to work in the nano coating industry, and with P2i specifically?

SV: Well, I had spent about the previous twenty years working for mainly Motorola, but Nokia Siemens as well. So, big companies in the mobile network space. Ultimately, I was after a new challenge where one can actually make a difference in what is happening within that particular company. So, P2i is a relatively small company, and I joined in a position where I could make a difference. P2i have a great story in terms of where it can get to going forward. It’s an exciting proposition to be able to directly influence and help P2i transform itself from a small beginning through to the ultimate story that we have in terms of where we want to take the company over the next two or three years.

So, for those who don’t know P2i, how would you describe the offering, and how is it unique compared to other operators in the space?

SV: So, we have a very thin lightweight coating. We are able to offer liquid protection across an entire company’s portfolio, from IPX2 from our Splash-proof technology; a Barrier™ coating that can offer IPX4 and now having launched Dunkable® at Mobile World Congress earlier this year we have protection that can go to IPX8 and beyond. When we’re talking to customers, we have something that can cover their entire portfolio and not just used on a handful of products, we are there to support everything that they do.

If you could tell us a little bit about other applications for your technology? I think P2i is well-known in the smartphones space, what about other sectors?

SV: We have a 57% market share in the hearing aid industry. We are quite prevalent on a number of headphones in the market. Moving forward, however, with the new P2i Barrier technology, we are targeting the drone’s sector, using the thinness and the lightness of the coating so it doesn’t affect the sensors within the drone. Almost any outdoor sensors would absolutely benefit from a P2i Barrier coating. The Automotive sector is also an area that we are actively looking at currently. As cars become more intelligent with both electric models and all the sensors they use around the car to detect impact; it is the electronics within the car that need protection from liquid damage. So, this and all the technology being used to take the automotive industry forward creates a huge opportunity for us to move into that area.

Also, gaming consoles, are creating more opportunities where people can interact with their devices outdoors. There is the new Harry Potter game where people are encouraged to go and explore outside of the home. So, where the gaming console or the handheld element of the game is being used in this external environment that is open to rain, water, and environmental pollutants, it opens up a perfect opportunity for us to look into that space. In addition, things particularly like e-readers as well, where people can use them whilst on holiday typically around the swimming pool and/or beach. Here too, we’ve got a great opportunity in that space as well.

How does P2i remain ahead of the curve in terms of technology?

SV: We have a highly educated and motivated R&D and engineering team, who are constantly evolving the product based upon customer specifications and requirements. We pride ourselves on the flexible response we provide when working with customers, and particularly our ability to change processes to allow us to protect their devices in the best possible way. We too are constantly improving our own processes and making them quicker, more efficient, and cleaner.

We work hand-in-hand with our customers using a collaborative approach through our dedicated engineering and support teams, by working very closely with them. In terms of the regulatory environment, we are fully aware of the forthcoming regulations from a chemical perspective and have been working to ensure that all of our processes and chemicals meet the required industry standards and are completely in line these planned regulatory changes.

A key thrust of P2i is prolonging the lifespan of devices. In which areas do you see this as being specifically beneficial?

SV: If we take smartphones as an example, reliability of the device to the manufacturer is becoming higher up on the agenda and has become a key differentiator in their product offering particularly in markets such as India. When applying a P2i coating this can and will reduce the failure rate, and any failures due to water or a humid environment. For the smartphone manufacturers not only does the coating, (a) prolong the lifecycle of the device, but, (b) reduce the failure rate, and the returns rate. Now for them, that provides a great return on investment for the extra cost of our coating versus the cost of the logistics of the returns and repairs on their devices. So, for them, a very significant return on investment which is really positive.

P2i is obviously a global business, and in addition to many other markets, you operate in the two biggest in the world; China and India in terms of populations. Obviously, the growth potential there is enormous. Could you share any insights into the opportunities presented by these markets and any inherent challenges?

SV: Yes. China is quite a mature business for P2i. We have a large office in Shenzhen with essentially staff there for all functions. In particular, we have a large support team based out of China operating in the factories of our customers and have process development teams in China already on the ground at our P2i office. This enables us to quickly respond and resolve any issues that appear in the field.

We have a supply chain our finance team set up in China, which means we already have a mature network that we have been working with for at least the last eight years or so. More recently, the move into India happened relatively quickly for us, and we have extended our operations with three of our main customers currently in India. The growth we have seen in India has happened rapidly, so we are currently expanding our support team in India quite significantly to meet this demand.

There are, of course, the logistics of the geography of the country, and the distances between various sites, but with our expansion in India, we are addressing that. We have now set up our chemical supply within India to cover this territory at sites on the ground which is expansive. The threat of humidity within the region and the damage it causes to phones is a real problem, hence why we are now seeing this rise in smartphone sales.

There is a huge market in India with manufacturers looking to see how they can differentiate their product offering, and P2i is providing a perfect opportunity for them to do that. We are positioned strategically together with our infrastructure to support the forthcoming growth in India. This contrasts with China where we are more established and mature with our support offering fully in place.

You’re a British born company based in Oxfordshire. Are you concerned about the impact that Brexit might have on the P2i business?

SV: Of course, we are all still unsure as to how the Brexit situation will play out but politically there are a number of interesting challenges going on in the world currently. The US-China Trade war is having a very big effect at the moment as we are seeing many manufacturers shifting their production out of China and into South-East Asian countries, the trade row between Japan and South Korea will also have an impact for smartphone manufacturing. However, from a supply chain perspective, we are prepared for Brexit. Despite being a British company most of our business currently is overseas and outside of the EU, our chemicals are again sourced from and shipped to various global locations. The business impact should be minimal.

On 24th May in Macau China, a number of delegates from key suppliers of Lenovo attended the Smart Way Ahead 2019 Conference and Award Ceremony. As part of Lenovo’s new strategy and push into smart technology, they are laying a solid foundation and growing momentum giving year on year growth globally with their range of products. For the second time running, P2i has been honoured with being nominated and also winning the Lenovo Award for Technology and Innovation, being named as winners in the same category in 2018. Simon Vogt VP Sales from P2i was on hand to collect this amazing award and was able to celebrate for contributing to the Smart Way Ahead initiative.

Simon said ‘it was a great feeling being recognized by Lenovo for the hard work from our team; I would like to personally thank everybody that has contributed towards our success, it was wonderful to hear such positive news about P2i. Our high standards of quality, passion and innovative solutions ensure that we can offer our clients the best service and technology to meet their requirements. Our customers and partners can be confident that working with us is easy and cutting edge”.

P2i is the global leader in liquid repellent nanotechnology. Founded in 2004, P2i works with OEMs to enhance devices to make them liquid resistant and give waterproof protection, improving their reliability and enabling them to survive liquid exposure from everyday accidents. P2i has been working with Lenovo since 2011, and more recently in the U.S. market, the Motorola Z4 and G7 delivers excellent product reliability with P2i’s Splash-proof nano-coating.

P2i brings reliability to the market, by pushing the boundaries of science and engineering to deliver world-leading protective nano-coating technologies. For more information, please visit https://www.p2i.com or @P2iLabs

The latest release of P2i’s white paper proves the benefits of P2i’s Splash-proof technology and the lifetime protection provided. P2i have amassed a collection of case studies presented within this white paper to clearly show the durability of the coating over the product lifetime. This paper explains how all surfaces of a device are treated with P2i’s hydrophobic patented pulsed plasma deposition process through a single application and deep treatment process, protecting the access points from liquid ingress.

The tests and investigations outlined and undertaken by P2i, show that external abrasion through everyday wear and tear over the lifetime of the device does not have any negative impact on the liquid protection provided. Not only does the technology supply definitive reliability benefits for the end consumer, but it can also increase profit margins for the device manufacturer through a reduction in return rates and associated handling costs.

Find out more and read: P2i Splash-proof coating lifetime.

Global leader in liquid repellent nano technology has strong and compelling legal case.

25th February, 2019, Abingdon, UK — P2i, the global leader in liquid repellent nano technology, is launching legal action against a Chinese firm for the theft of its intellectual property. P2i believes that Jiangsu Favored Nanotechnology Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Branch (Favored Shenzhen) has infringed on patents it holds for the production of its nano coating technology, used by the world’s leading mobile phone manufacturers to make their devices water-resistant.

The UK-headquartered firm has a strong and compelling legal case. It is demanding that Favored Shenzhen ceases operation of the processes and applications of specific nano coating technology, which P2i believes to be infringing P2i’s granted patents in China.

P2i is a UK-based, innovation-led company which serves the global electronics market. It has offices across Asia and its technology is deployed in excess of 70 factories across five continents around the world. Significant investment in R&D over the years has enabled it to develop a patented pulsed plasma process — delivering hydrophobic nano coatings to provide the highest and most reliable levels of liquid repellency throughout a device. It is a fast-growing market – in the last three years, almost one in ten users has sustained liquid damage requiring repair or early replacement of their phones. Since 2011, P2i has cemented its credentials in the industry by coating hundreds of millions of electronic devices for some of the world’s biggest smartphone and electronics manufacturers.

However, it recently discovered that Favored Shenzhen is using nano coating technology and processes similar to P2i’s patented technology and processes without its authorisation.

The Favored Shenzhen technology is being used in handsets currently available in the Chinese market.

“As the owner of over 160 patents, patent applications and utility model applications worldwide, P2i has invested heavily in R&D over the years to become a global leader in liquid repellent nano coating technology. As commencement of these legal proceedings shows, we’re serious about protecting this intellectual property,” said Stephen Coulson, P2i’s chief science officer and founder.

“We believe P2i has an extremely strong case and look forward to the court’s verdict. We’d also like to remind any manufacturers currently using the Favored Shenzhen technology that if P2i is successful, they may also be compelled to stop any further use and face a permanent ban on its further use, at significant cost and disruption.”

Under Chinese law, P2i is entitled to claim for damages from businesses that have been complicit in patent infringement. P2i is pursuing this case in the jurisdiction in which the infringement was discovered, China’s Guangdong Province. “We will aggressively pursue legal action against the theft of our intellectual property or infringement of our patents in any jurisdictions we find them,” added Dr Coulson.

About P2i

P2i is the global leader in liquid repellent nanotechnology.

Founded in 2004, P2i works with OEMs to enhance devices to make them liquid resistant and give waterproof protection, improving their reliability and enabling them to survive liquid exposure from everyday accidents.

P2i brings reliability to market, by pushing the boundaries of science and engineering to deliver world leading protective nano-coating technologies.

For more information, please visit https://www.p2i.com or @P2iLabs.