The machine, supplied by Duplo, has been installed at the organisation’s National Printable Electronics Centre to complete the workflow of its Integrated Smart System (ISS) facility, which can deliver printed electronics in a traditional pressroom environment.

The Sedgefield, County Durham-based site has been set up to test the boundaries of printed electronics and to operate as a pilot site for new and innovative print manufacturing processes.

The ISS facility features a £1.5m-Nilpeter combination R2R press, which prints conductive tracks and can handle substrates in thicknesses from 25-370microns, along with a Europlacer "pick and place" to position and attach electronic components prior to curing. Once cured, the Esko digital die-cutter is used to turn printed sheets into products.

At present, the production line at ISS can output demonstration units and printed electronic prototypes, which print firms, brand owners and creative houses can further develop.

ISS programme manager Bela Green said: "A key area for our research is anti-counterfeiting. Incorporating intelligent electronics into packaging is an additional way of combating this activity, which is currently prevalent in many sectors including healthcare.

"The Esko machine completes our tool box for us to create the knowledge that we then aim to transfer to the market."