The aim of the paper is to figure out different options to improve the mechanical reliability of printed nanoparticle based silver ink tracks by using conductive organic ink on a PET-substrate and to check out whether the possible improvement are good enough to make print-outs with low-cost-printer for industrial use. The following materials were used: Brother printer, silver ink from AgIC, PET-substrate from NovaCentrix, PEDOT:PSS from Agfa-Gevaert N.V. and carbon ink from Method Development Company. The membrane switches were tested in a special test device which was developed to create a practical test conditions. The following results could be carried out:  (a) printed silver circuitry based on low-cost printers (= without after treatment) are only very conditionally applicable for professional use (= switching cycles > 1 million); (b) improved silver lanes by the use of conductive polymers in the form of an adhesion primer on the PET-film or an overlaying of the silver lanes as such have proven to be useful. This could be an interesting option to cut the cost; (c) in addition to the intrinsic polymer PEDOT:PSS, conductive carbon inks are an interesting, inexpensive alternative to serve as an adhesion or top coat for silver inks.

printed electronics, membrane switches, conductive inks, printer.