Smart surfaces
OULU, FINLAND/SAITAMA, JAPAN (13 January 2021) – TactoTek® (www.tactotek.com), the Finland-based company that develops, industrializes and licenses in-mold structural electronics (IMSE™) technology, and Phiaro Corporation, an international design company known for using advanced technology to create innovative automotive design solutions, today announced that Phiaro Corporation will integrate IMSE solutions into customer designs.
Phiaro Corporation is internationally recognized as a design leader with a record of innovation for over 75 years. Phiaro Corporation’s design portfolio emphasizes automotive and other personal transportation solutions and extends into public transportation, personal technology and home solutions that illustrate their focus on creating user-centric designs using advanced technology. Their work can be seen in award-winning concept vehicles, custom racing vehicles as well as innovations in mass production vehicles from global OEMs.
“At Phiaro Corporation we ‘Strive for No. 1’ by combining innovative design, rigorous engineering and advanced technologies into inspiring designs that fulfill dreams. For vehicles, engineering for the future includes a user-centric approach for new demands including autonomous operation, electric power and low impact personal urban mobility,” said Teruhiko Iwasaki, President at Phiaro Corporation. “TactoTek’s IMSE technology is perfectly suited for these design challenges because it enables appealing free form, seamless user interfaces with attractive surface treatments, wireless connectivity and integrated illumination for styling and function in ultra-thin, light weight, strong, conformal structures.”
IMSE parts combine structure, electronic functions, and cosmetics in single piece, seamless smart surfaces by integrating printed electronics and electronic components within 3D injection molded plastics. Popular uses for IMSE parts include control panels, functional and styling illumination in automotive, home appliance and smart home markets.
“We are very excited to have Phiaro Corporation incorporating IMSE technology into their designs—it’s an important step forward in making innovative IMSE design services globally available,” noted Sami Hyyryläinen, SVP, Field Operations at TactoTek. “TactoTek has many customer cases in which IMSE is used as a direct replacement for traditional electronics, however, the full benefits of IMSE technology, both in terms of design innovation and cost efficiency, are realized when solutions are specifically designed to exploit IMSE benefits—that’s true for individual components and complete vehicles. With TactoTek’s IMSE Designer™, Phiaro Corporation has the engineering foundations to support their design inspiration.”
TactoTek develops and industrializes IMSE technology. The company partners with design leaders and works directly with OEMs, brands and their suppliers to develop production-ready prototypes. Mass production is done by TactoTek licensees.
