Kyocera participates in TactoTek funding with €5 million investment
TactoTek, the company specialising in In-Mold Structural Electronics (IMSE) technology, has announced that Kyocera, a global innovator in fine ceramic components, electronics, and technology solutions, has joined TactoTek’s current funding round with an investment of €5 million.
In addition, Kyocera is advancing its haptics solution, HAPTIVITY, by in-moulding its piezoceramic actuators within IMSE parts, to HAPTIVITY i.
Kyocera’s HAPTIVITY platform is designed to combine force sensing and tactile feedback to create intuitive and user-friendly experiences. Force sensing activates capacitive touch interfaces with intent, while tactile feedback confirms actions by feel.
Kyocera’s piezoceramic actuators reflect its leadership in developing fine ceramic materials in industrial and consumer applications. As a TactoTek licensee, Kyocera has integrated its components within IMSE human-machine interface (HMI) surfaces. The result is unique HMI solutions that are thin, light, and tactile.
“With HAPTIVITY i, Kyocera fulfills the intent of TactoTek’s licensing model – enabling our partners to combine IMSE technology with their own strengths to secure and extend their market position,” noted Jussi Harvela, CEO at TactoTek. “Kyocera’s significant investment in TactoTek’s current financing round reflects the market potential of IMSE technologies, including Kyocera’s current customers and prospects.”
TactoTek develops and validates IMSE technology that it licenses to an ecosystem of partners, including designers, manufacturers, integrators, and OEMs/brands who design, manufacture, and integrate IMSE into their product offerings. User interfaces and lighting solutions are among the prominent IMSE use cases.
“The use of capacitive touch switches in HMIs has become common, and the market demand for tactile sensation is growing. On the other hand, conventional technology has not been able to make it thinner and lighter with tactile functions." said Masafumi Ikeuchi, executive officer of Kyocera Corporation. "HAPTIVITY i is the world's first technology to successfully add a tactile function to an HMI while maintaining a thin and light design by encapsulating piezo ceramics with resin using IMSE technology. IMSE also opened the possibility of integrating piezo ceramics and Kyocera's extensive product range.”
For more startup news, check out the other articles on the website, and subscribe to the magazine for free. Listen to The Cereal Entrepreneur podcast for more interviews with entrepreneurs and big-hitters in the startup ecosystem.
