Plastic Logic
Developer and manufacturer of flexible electrophoretic displays based on organic thin-film transistor technology.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Plastic Logic is a flexible-electronics technology company associated with the development and manufacture of plastic electrophoretic displays, commonly described as flexible electronic-paper displays. Its technology is based on organic thin-film transistors, or OTFTs, which allow electronic circuits to be fabricated on flexible plastic substrates rather than conventional rigid glass. This approach is intended to produce displays that are thin, light, robust, daylight-readable and comparatively economical in battery use. The company originated as a spin-off from the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge. It was founded in 2000 by physicists and entrepreneurs Richard Friend, Henning Sirringhaus and Stuart Evans, initially focusing on polymer transistors and plastic electronics. Plastic Logic opened a small fabrication plant in Cambridge in 2003 and later established a mass-production facility in Dresden, Germany, which opened in 2008. Dresden became the principal manufacturing and development location for the business and is also associated with the Plastic Logic Germany operation. Early commercial work included flexible display technology intended for integration into third-party mobile products. In 2004, the company announced a plastic screen intended for use in Siemens Communications mobile devices. It later pursued complete electronic-reading products, most notably the QUE proReader. The QUE was presented publicly at CES in 2010 but was cancelled before shipment in August of that year after delays and changing market conditions. Plastic Logic subsequently announced the Plastic Logic 100, an electronic-textbook device designed for a Russian schools trial. That product was also discontinued after the company changed its strategic direction. From 2012 onward, Plastic Logic placed greater emphasis on supplying enabling components and technology rather than manufacturing branded reader devices. Its “Plastic Inside” strategy involved offering plastic backplanes, sensors, tags and display technologies for incorporation into products made by other companies. The shift included abandoning plans to manufacture its own e-readers, closing the Mountain View, California office and reducing staffing in other locations. The company also demonstrated increasingly advanced flexible-display concepts, including thin colour-capable displays, companion screens for smartphones, wearable concepts and large-format tiled signage. Notable demonstrations included PaperTab, a flexible 10.7-inch display computer developed with Intel and Queen’s University’s Human Media Lab, and a 42-inch flexible electrophoretic signage prototype demonstrated with Toppan Printing. Plastic Logic also collaborated with ISORG on a flexible image sensor on plastic, showing that the underlying OTFT approach could support non-display applications. The company’s Dresden manufacturing operation has been described as licensing technology from the FlexEnable platform and producing flexible plastic electrophoretic displays for third-party end devices. Plastic Logic’s business is therefore best understood as a specialist flexible-electronics supplier and technology developer rather than a mass-market consumer electronics brand.
History
Plastic Logic emerged from research at the Cavendish Laboratory of the University of Cambridge, where work on polymer transistors and organic electronics suggested that electronic circuits could be produced on flexible plastic substrates. Richard Friend, Henning Sirringhaus and Stuart Evans founded the company in 2000 as a spin-off intended to commercialize this research. The enterprise’s central proposition was that organic thin-film transistors could provide the active circuitry for lightweight, bendable and potentially more durable electronic products. The company established its first mini-fabrication plant in Cambridge on 11 November 2003. In 2004 it announced a plastic screen intended for Siemens Communications mobile devices, marking an early attempt to place its technology inside another manufacturer’s product. Plastic Logic subsequently expanded its manufacturing ambitions beyond prototyping. On 17 September 2008 it opened a mass-production factory in Dresden, Germany. Dresden became the company’s main industrial base and the location associated with Plastic Logic Germany, which developed and manufactured flexible electrophoretic displays. Plastic Logic also pursued complete consumer devices. Its QUE proReader was a first-generation electronic reader built around the company’s flexible-display technology. The final version was presented at CES in January 2010, but the device was cancelled in August of that year before commercial shipment. The company cited product delays and major changes in the market for electronic readers. In September 2011 it announced the Plastic Logic 100, a 10.7-inch plastic e-paper device intended to support electronic textbooks. A trial shipment was planned for selected Russian schools, but the product was later discontinued as the company revised its strategy. The business received substantial venture backing in January 2011, including financing associated with Rusnano and Oak Investment Partners. In May 2012 it introduced a “Plastic Inside” strategy, shifting attention from selling finished readers to supplying plastic backplanes, sensors, tags and related display technologies for integration by other companies. On 17 May 2012 Plastic Logic stated that it would abandon plans to manufacture its own e-reader devices, close its Mountain View office and reduce staffing elsewhere. The move positioned the company more clearly as a business-to-business technology supplier. During 2012 and 2013 Plastic Logic demonstrated several applications of its platform. These included a 130-micrometre flexible display, colour video animation driven by OTFTs, an ultra-thin smartphone companion display and concepts for wearable, medical and sports equipment. In January 2013 it presented PaperTab with Intel and Queen’s University’s Human Media Lab. The concept used a flexible 10.7-inch Plastic Logic display and demonstrated interaction through bending and contact between multiple screens. In March of the same year, Plastic Logic and Toppan Printing showed a 42-inch flexible electrophoretic signage prototype assembled from sixteen smaller panels. The company also collaborated with ISORG on a flexible image sensor fabricated on plastic, extending its technology beyond conventional displays. Plastic Logic’s Dresden operation has been described as using or licensing the FlexEnable organic-transistor technology platform. Its displays are designed for daylight readability, low power consumption, flexibility, light weight and resistance to shattering. In February 2015 the company announced that technology development and manufacturing would be separated into independent businesses. The Dresden operation continued under the Plastic Logic Germany name, developing, manufacturing and selling flexible electrophoretic displays for third-party applications. The resulting business identity is that of a specialist supplier of flexible-display modules and organic-electronics know-how rather than a mass-market reader manufacturer.
- 2015
Technology and manufacturing activities separated
[1]Plastic Logic announced that its technology-development and manufacturing activities would proceed as independent companies, with the Dresden operation using the Plastic Logic Germany name.
- 2013
PaperTab and large-format signage concepts demonstrated
[1]The company showcased flexible-display applications with Intel, Queen’s University’s Human Media Lab and Toppan Printing.
- 2012
Business strategy shifts toward supplied technology
[1]Plastic Logic abandoned plans for its own e-reader manufacturing and emphasized licensing and component supply.
- 2010
QUE proReader cancelled
[1]The company cancelled its delayed first-generation e-reader before it reached commercial shipment.
- 2008
Dresden mass-production factory opens
[1]Plastic Logic opened a factory in Dresden for mass production of flexible display units.
- 2003
First mini-fabrication plant opens in Cambridge
[1]The company opened its first small-scale fabrication facility to support plastic-electronics development.
- 2000
Company founded as a Cambridge spin-off
[1]Plastic Logic was founded by Richard Friend, Henning Sirringhaus and Stuart Evans after originating from research at the University of Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory.
Products and positioning
Specialist flexible-display and plastic-electronics technology provider
Flexible displays
Flexible plastic electrophoretic displays
Plastic Logic’s principal offering is a range of flexible electrophoretic displays manufactured on plastic substrates using organic thin-film transistor technology. The displays are intended for third-party devices and applications requiring low weight, thin construction, daylight readability, low power consumption and improved resistance to breakage compared with glass-based panels. They have been demonstrated in multiple sizes, including modules suitable for readers, companion screens, signage and specialized equipment.
E-reader · 2010
QUE proReader
The QUE proReader was Plastic Logic’s first-generation branded electronic-reading device. A final version was presented at CES in January 2010, but the product was cancelled in August 2010 before shipping. Plastic Logic attributed the decision to product delays and changes in the electronic-reader market. The QUE remains an important example of the company’s earlier attempt to commercialize a complete consumer device rather than supply display technology to other manufacturers.
Educational e-reader · 2011
Plastic Logic 100
The Plastic Logic 100 was an electronic-textbook device announced in 2011 for a planned trial in selected Russian schools. It featured a 10.7-inch glare-free and shatter-resistant plastic e-paper display, touch interaction, 4 GB of storage and a Windows CE software platform. The device was designed for reading, underlining and annotation, with a targeted battery duration of approximately one week under regular use. It was discontinued after the company changed strategy in 2012.
Flexible tablet concept · 2013
PaperTab
PaperTab was a concept flexible tablet developed by Plastic Logic in collaboration with Intel and Queen’s University’s Human Media Lab. Demonstrated in 2013, it used a flexible 10.7-inch Plastic Logic display and explored gesture interaction through bending the screen or bringing multiple screens into contact. The concept illustrated possible uses of flexible displays as lightweight, paper-like computer interfaces rather than representing a mass-market product launch.
Brand decisions
2015
Separation of technology development and manufacturingStrategyBackground
The company sought sharper operational focus while addressing different market opportunities.
Action taken
Plastic Logic announced that technology development and manufacturing would proceed as independent companies, with the Dresden manufacturing operation operating under the Plastic Logic Germany name.
Aftermath
The Dresden business continued as a flexible-electrophoretic-display developer, manufacturer and supplier for third-party products.
2012
Adoption of the Plastic Inside strategyStrategyBackground
Plastic Logic reassessed the prospects for manufacturing and selling complete e-reader devices.
Action taken
The company stopped pursuing its own e-reader manufacturing, closed its Mountain View office and emphasized licensing and supplying plastic backplanes, sensors, tags and display technology.
Aftermath
Plastic Logic became more focused on business-to-business technology and component opportunities.
2010
Cancellation of the QUE proReaderOtherBackground
The QUE proReader experienced delays while the electronic-reader market changed substantially.
Action taken
Plastic Logic cancelled the first-generation reader before it shipped commercially.
Aftermath
The company moved away from its initial plan to establish a branded consumer e-reader.
Recent events
UST Global and Plastic Logic partner on digital retail shelf displays[2]
Reported:
UST Global and Plastic Logic announced a partnership to provide retail customers with flexible, whole-shelf electronic shelf labels based on Plastic Logic’s display technology.
Sources2 sources
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