Printed Electronics Leader and Local Craft-Beer Marketplace to Incorporate
NFC OpenSense Technology Into Microbrew Brands Across the U.S.
(OSLO, Norway) May 18, 2016 - Thin Film Electronics ASA ("Thinfilm") (OSE: THIN.OL; OTCQX: TFECY), a global leader in printed electronics and smart systems, today announced a partnership with Hopsy, the USA's first local craft beer marketplace and beer delivery service. The two companies will collaborate to integrate Thinfilm's NFC OpenSense(TM) technology into a variety of locally produced craft beers across the United States. The wireless NFC tags will enable microbreweries to engage with consumers, educate customers, and differentiate their respective brands.
Hopsy was created as an alternative distribution system through which customers can order fresh draft beer directly from local breweries and have it delivered right to their door. The beer is packaged in 32-ounce containers called "growlettes," and each container will feature an NFC OpenSense tag as part of its label. Hopsy currently offers over twenty different beers from twelve San Francisco Bay Area breweries, with plans to access more beers and breweries soon.
"Craft beer is not just about beer, it's also about authenticity and craftsmanship. The two most important people in craft beer are the beer makers and the beer lovers. Our customers truly care about where their beer comes from and who made it. And we, at Hopsy, create a direct connection between the two, bringing the freshest beer to the home, just as the brewer intended it," said Hopsy's co-founder and CEO, Sebastien Tron. "We decided to go one step further and bring the tasting experience into the living room. We believe Thinfilm's technology gives our partner breweries a powerful tool to connect with their customers beyond the brewery."
NFC OpenSense tags are thin, flexible labels that integrate with a product's packaging or label and can be read with the tap of an NFC-enabled smartphone. Each tag is uniquely identifiable and can detect a product's "factory sealed" and "opened" states. Once tapped, the tag wirelessly communicates with the cloud, instantly delivering relevant, contextual content based on the product's state. Hopsy will work with its partner breweries to deliver a range of rich content through the NFC tags, including brewery information, product details, videos, and more.
"Niche businesses and novel brands often find it very difficult to compete with larger, more established companies. They need solutions that differentiate their products and help them connect with customers," said Davor Sutija, CEO of Thinfilm. "Hopsy has developed a compelling service that's resonating in the craft beer markets, and we're excited about the role our technology can play in growing its business and the businesses of its clients."
Thinfilm and Hopsy will be demonstrating the technology at the Craft Beverage Expo on May 18th and 19th at the Oakland Convention Center in Oakland, California. A video highlighting Hopsy's service and the smart bottles can be viewed by clicking the following link: https://youtu.be/enXayX4gRFs.
About Thin Film Electronics ASA
Thinfilm is a leader in the development and commercialization of printed electronics. The first to commercialize printed, rewritable memory, the Company is creating printed systems that include memory, sensing, display, and wireless communication, all at a low cost unmatched by any other electronic technology. Thinfilm's roadmap integrates technology from a strong and growing ecosystem of partners to enable the Internet of Everything by bringing intelligence to disposable goods.
Thin Film Electronics ASA ("Thinfilm") is a publicly listed Norwegian company with headquarters in Oslo, Norway; product development and production in Linköping, Sweden; product development, production, and business development in San Jose, California, USA; and sales offices in the United States, Hong Kong, and Singapore. For more information, visit www.thinfilm.no.
About Hopsy
Hopsy is the first local craft beer marketplace and beer delivery service connecting local breweries with beer lovers. Hopsy's technology enables brewers to have fresh draft beer delivered to local customers while providing beer lovers unprecedented access to local beer when they want and where they want. Launched in January 2016, Hopsy is currently serving the Bay Area, with plans to quickly expand in all major craft beer markets.
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This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to §5-12 vphl (Norwegian Securities Trading Act).
For more information on Thinfilm please contact:
Bill Cummings
VP, Marketing & Communications
Thin Film Electronics ASA
+1 408-503-7312
bill.cummings@thinfilm.no
Jennifer Smith
Blanc & Otus for Thin Film Electronics ASA
+1 415-856-5152
jsmith@blancandotus.com
For more information on Hopsy please contact:
Sebastien Tron
CEO
Hopsy, Inc.
+1 510-922-0353
Sebastien@hopsy.beer