Smart surfaces
OULU, FINLAND/LACROSSE, WISCONSIN, USA – TactoTek® (www.tactotek.com), the Finland-based company that develops Injection Molded Structural Electronics (IMSE®) technology, and DuraTech Industries (“DuraTech”, www.DuraTech.com) announced that DuraTech has licensed TactoTek IMSE technology. DuraTech is a TactoTek Design and Innovate licensee with rights to sell, design, and produce parts that use TactoTek’s intellectual property which includes 44 patent families with over 130 granted patents, as well as extensive trade secrets and know-how for designing and producing IMSE parts. DuraTech will create and deliver IMSE solutions for its customers in North America and around the world from production facilities in the USA.
DuraTech has a long history as a high-quality manufacturer of in-mold printed electronics (IME). Their IME solutions have resonated with a range of markets including home appliances, medical, industrial, automotive and consumer electronics. TactoTek IMSE technology is an advanced form of IME that incorporates electronic components such as LEDs for illumination, and system-in-package (SiP) electronics for intelligence, within 3D injection molded structures, expanding the capabilities and use cases for smart surfaces.
According to Peter Johnson, President of DuraTech, “Our customers have been asking for more electronic functionality in IME parts and for that we need to work with TactoTek. TactoTek is the clear leader in advancing the technology domain by integrating electronic components within smart surfaces. For DuraTech, becoming a TactoTek licensee expands our offerings for existing customers and opens new opportunities to do what we do best: reliably mass produce high quality parts.”
TactoTek’s Design and Innovate licensing includes rights to commercially use TactoTek intellectual property, training materials for designing and manufacturing IMSE parts, detailed design and production information for TactoTek reference designs, information on materials, components, and material stacks verified to automotive and aviation industry standards for producing IMSE parts, and engineering support services.
“DuraTech is a great match for TactoTek licensing—we focus on advancing and industrializing IMSE technology, and they focus on producing parts for their customers”, stated Jussi Harvela, TactoTek CEO. “By making IMSE solutions more accessible in markets beyond automotive, and with production in North America, our relationship opens new business opportunities for DuraTech and further confirms TactoTek’s go-to-market licensing model for IMSE technology”.
TactoTek is the leading provider of Injection Molded Structural Electronics (IMSE®) solutions that integrate printed circuitry and electronic components into 3D injection molded smart surfaces. Leading IMSE use cases include human-machine interfaces (HMI), connectivity and electronic styling features for automotive, smart home, appliances and other markets. IMSE technology is a greener solution: it uses 50-70% less plastics and generates up to 60% less greenhouse gas equivalents than conventional electronic equivalents. TactoTek develops and industrializes IMSE technology, creates mass production ready IMSE prototypes, and licenses IMSE technology for 3rd party IMSE part design and global mass production.
TactoTek is funded by international leaders in finance and industry committed to advancing technology solutions that benefit consumers and the environment. TactoTek investors include Conor Venture Partners, 3M Ventures, Repsol Energy Ventures, Faurecia Ventures, Voima Ventures, Tesi, Nidoco AB and Cornes Technologies Limited. For more information, please visit www.tactotek.com.
DuraTech Industries is a custom graphics manufacturer specializing in In-Mold Electronics and printed electronics. DuraTech also offers screen, digital or flexo printed products including In-Mold Decorating labels, overlays and pressure sensitive products, and membrane switches. Services include supplier-managed inventory and bin stocking. The USA manufacturing facility is ISO 9001:2015 certified. The China facility is ISO 9001:2008 certified. DuraTech has been serving Fortune 500 companies in the medical, appliance, electronic, OME, automotive and aerospace markets for over 44 years. www.duratech.com
