Top 10 Companies in the Water-based Conductive Ink Market (2026): Market Leaders Driving Sustainable Electronics Innovation

In Business Insights
February 23, 2026


The Global Water-based Conductive Ink Market was valued at USD 1.6 Billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 3.5 Billion by 2034, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.1% during the forecast period (2024–2030). This robust growth is primarily fueled by the surging demand for flexible and printed electronics, stringent environmental regulations favoring low-VOC materials, and the excellent performance characteristics of these inks, including high stability and strong adhesion to substrates like PET films.

As the electronics industry pivots towards more sustainable manufacturing processes and innovative applications in wearables, smart packaging, and IoT devices, the role of advanced materials becomes critical. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Water-based Conductive Ink Industry—a dynamic mix of established chemical giants and specialized innovators shaping the future of printed electronics.


🔟 1. Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

Headquarters: Düsseldorf, Germany
Key Offering: LOCTITE EDAG conductive inks, including silver and carbon-based waterborne formulations

Henkel is a global leader in adhesive technologies and functional materials, with a significant presence in the conductive ink market. Their LOCTITE EDAG brand offers a range of water-based conductive inks known for their reliability, high conductivity, and environmental compatibility. The company serves a broad spectrum of industries, from automotive electronics to consumer goods.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Development of low-temperature cure inks for heat-sensitive substrates

  • R&D focused on enhancing flexibility and stretchability for wearable electronics

  • Commitment to sustainability through reduced VOC emissions and recyclable material designs

Download FREE Sample Report: Water-based Conductive Ink Market – View in Detailed Research Report


9️⃣ 2. Heraeus Holding GmbH

Headquarters: Hanau, Germany
Key Offering: Clevios conductive polymer inks, silver nanoparticle inks

Heraeus is a renowned technology group with deep expertise in precious metals and materials science. Their electronics division is a key supplier of water-based conductive inks, particularly famous for the Clevios range of PEDOT:PSS inks, which offer high transparency and flexibility. They are pivotal in developing solutions for touch screens, OLEDs, and flexible displays.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Pioneering transparent conductive films as an alternative to indium tin oxide (ITO)

  • Investment in scalable production of nanoparticle inks for printed electronics


8️⃣ 3. Sun Chemical Corporation

Headquarters: Parsippany, New Jersey, USA
Key Offering: SunTronic water-based conductive inks (silver, copper, carbon)

As part of the DIC Corporation, Sun Chemical is one of the world’s largest producers of printing inks and pigments. Their SunTronic portfolio includes advanced water-based conductive inks designed for various printing technologies like inkjet, flexographic, and gravure. They are a major supplier to the packaging and printed electronics industries.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Expansion of copper-based ink offerings to provide cost-effective alternatives to silver

  • Collaboration with OEMs to develop customized ink solutions for specific applications


7️⃣ 4. Dow Inc.

Headquarters: Midland, Michigan, USA
Key Offering: DOW Electronic Materials, including conductive inks and binders

Dow is a global materials science leader, and its electronic materials business provides essential components for the electronics value chain. Their expertise in polymer science enables them to create high-performance water-based conductive inks with superior adhesion and environmental stability, catering to demanding applications in flexible circuits and antennas.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Focus on developing sustainable binder systems for next-generation conductive inks

  • Integration of conductive inks into broader material solutions for 5G and IoT devices


6️⃣ 5. Johnson Matthey

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Key Offering: Specialty conductive inks and pastes for electronics

Johnson Matthey is a global leader in sustainable technologies, with a strong legacy in precious metals and advanced materials. Their electronics materials division produces specialized conductive inks, including water-based formulations, used in a wide array of applications from medical sensors to automotive electronics, emphasizing performance and reliability.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Development of biocompatible inks for medical and wearable device applications

  • Investment in circular economy principles for precious metal recovery and reuse in ink production

Download FREE Sample Report: Water-based Conductive Ink Market – View in Detailed Research Report


5️⃣ 6. DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

Headquarters: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Key Offering: DuPont PE872 series and other advanced electronic inks

DuPont is a cornerstone of the materials industry, with a long history of innovation in electronics. Their portfolio includes sophisticated water-based conductive inks designed for high-resolution printing on flexible substrates. These inks are critical for manufacturing components in consumer electronics, automotive systems, and renewable energy applications.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • R&D in stretchable and durable inks for next-generation flexible hybrid electronics (FHE)

  • Collaborations with research institutions to push the boundaries of printed electronics performance


4️⃣ 7. Creative Materials Inc.

Headquarters: Ayer, Massachusetts, USA
Key Offering: A wide range of conductive inks, adhesives, and coatings

Creative Materials specializes in formulating specialty conductive compounds, including a diverse lineup of water-based conductive inks. Known for their custom formulation capabilities, they serve niche markets requiring specific performance attributes, such as high conductivity on unusual substrates or resistance to harsh environments.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Specialization in providing tailored solutions for prototyping and low-volume production runs

  • Focus on developing inks with enhanced weatherability and chemical resistance


3️⃣ 8. Parker Hannifin Corporation (Chomerics Division)

Headquarters: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Key Offering: EMI shielding coatings and conductive inks

Parker Hannifin’s Chomerics division is a leader in electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding solutions. They offer water-based conductive inks that are essential for applying shielding layers to plastic electronic enclosures. This is critical for ensuring the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of modern electronic devices, from smartphones to medical equipment.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Development of high-shielding-effectiveness inks that comply with global EMC regulations

  • Integration of conductive inks into multi-functional coating systems


2️⃣ 9. Poly-Ink

Headquarters: Lille, France
Key Offering: Conductive polymer inks, including water-based PEDOT formulations

Poly-Ink is a specialized manufacturer focused on conductive polymer inks. Their water-based PEDOT inks are a key enabling technology for creating transparent, flexible conductive layers. They are particularly important for applications like organic photovoltaics (OPV), electrochromic displays, and biosensors, where traditional metal-based inks are not suitable.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Leading the commercialization of PEDOT-based inks for organic and printed electronics

  • Collaboration with academic partners on developing inks with improved conductivity and stability


1️⃣ 10. Nagase & Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
Key Offering: DENATRON conductive polymers and inks

Nagase is a major Japanese chemical trading and manufacturing company. Through its expertise in fine chemicals, it produces DENATRON conductive polymers, which are used to formulate high-performance water-based conductive inks. These materials are valued in the Asian market for electronics manufacturing, especially for flexible printed circuit boards and sensors.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Expansion of product lines to meet the growing demand for eco-friendly electronic materials in Asia

  • Development of inks with self-healing properties for enhanced durability in flexible electronics

Get Full Report Here: Water-based Conductive Ink Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🌍 Outlook: The Future of Water-based Conductive Ink Is Flexible and Sustainable

The water-based conductive ink market is undergoing a significant transformation. While traditional applications in membrane switches and PCBs remain important, the future is being written in flexible displays, wearable sensors, and smart packaging. The industry is investing heavily in R&D to overcome performance barriers and unlock new application possibilities.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Accelerated adoption of inkjet printing technology for high-precision, customizable electronics manufacturing

  • Rising demand for graphene and carbon nanotube-based inks to achieve superior flexibility and transparency

  • Increased regulatory pressure and corporate sustainability goals driving the shift from solvent-based to water-based systems

  • Strategic partnerships between ink manufacturers and electronics OEMs to co-develop application-specific solutions

Get Full Report Here: Water-based Conductive Ink Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only supplying essential materials for today’s electronics—they are actively enabling the next wave of technological innovation across a more sustainable and interconnected world.