Electrostatic discharges (ESD), which tend to be harmless to humans, can have serious consequences for electronics. According to estimates by German technology and safety services provider TÜV Nord, the manufacturing industry incurs annual ESD-related costs amounting to billions of euros—and rising. The reason is that electronic components are becoming smaller and smaller, and therefore respond with greater sensitivity to electrostatic discharges.  Electronic circuits may fail due to ESD effects and, as a result, incapacitate a vehicle, a process or an entire assembly line. While the damaged chip costs only a few cents the consequential costs incurred due to downtimes or repairs are enormous.

Plus, ESD damage often remains undetected in normal functional tests. When the equipment subsequently fails it’s already in the customer’s hands in many cases. Consequently, the manufacturer may not only be liable for repair costs but also for providing replacements. Both can quickly amount to large sums to be paid by the manufacturer aside from the damage caused by a tarnished brand image. ESD protection films reduce the probability of an electrical flashover, for instance when the protective film is peeled off a display. This also reduces the risk of people suffering electrical shock or of combustible substances being ignited by the formation of sparks.