Kyocera participates in TactoTek funding with €5 million investment and strategic partnership

With its HAPTIVITY platform, Kyocera fulfills the intent of TactoTek’s licensing model – enabling partners to combine IMSE technology with their own strengths.
TactoTek, a global leader in In-Mold Structural Electronics (IMSE) technology, has announced that Kyocera, a global innovation leader 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 their haptics solution, HAPTIVITY by in-molding their 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," said 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."
About TactoTek
TactoTek, Oy (Oulu, Finland), is a world leader in developing and licensing in-mold structural electronics (IMSE) technologies. Automotive, aviation, connected home, industrial control and medical brands use TactoTek innovations to create next-generation user experiences. Designers use TactoTek IP to integrate circuits and components directly into plastic parts, transforming conventional structures into smart interactive surfaces. TactoTek licenses its intellectual property, including over 280 patents and critical know-how developed over a decade of intensive R&D and quality testing, to global manufacturers who use reliable, standardised manufacturing processes to produce curved-shape and conformal electronics.
About Kyocera
Kyocera Corporation, the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group,was founded in 1959 as a producer of fine ceramics (also known as “advanced ceramics”). By combining these engineered materials with metals and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of industrial and automotive components, semiconductor packages, electronic devices, smart energy systems, printers, copiers and mobile phones. During the year ended March 31, 2024, the company’s consolidated sales revenue totaled 2 trillion yen (approx. US$13.3 billion).
Source: TactoTek
Caption: By combining advanced ceramics with metals and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of industrial and automotive components, semiconductor packages, electronic devices, smart energy systems, printers, copiers and mobile phones.
www.tactotek.com
www.kyocera.com