News

The market value for e-paper is predicted to double from £980m ($2bn) in 2012 to £1.98bn in 2014 as products take over shop shelves and point-of-purchase (PoP) displays.

Research group NanoMarkets expects a race to market for the technology, with a land grab expected in core sectors, such as signage. Companies that put affordable colour devices into early production are likely to take the lion's share, it claimed.

The group expects e-paper to earn £590m by 2014 from the signage market alone, which it describes as a "tremendous opportunity". Other markets include disposable electronics and mobile phone displays.

Sharp is already selling e-paper tags for £9.99 or less in the US, hoping to make £41.49m this year from its e-paper range, which uses licensed technology from E Ink.

NanoMarkets principal analyst Lawrence Gasman said: "Smart shelves would update pricing throughout the store from a central location. If such a system could be linked to an inventory system, it would help the retailer even more.

"There is tremendous opportunity here as stores have ongoing problems with changing prices for promotions and other variables. Smart shelving and PoP displays would also add value by reducing incorrect pricing on the shelves."

According to NanoMarkets, outdoor printed billboards are relatively safe from e-paper and digital alternatives, as the need to locate power-hungry LCD displays next to a socket is a barrier to widespread adoption, while e-paper still can't compete on colour technologies.