Why TactoTek®

Put simply, IMSE® technology makes structural surfaces smart. The smart molded structures are thinner, lighter, and more durable than conventional electronics for comparable use cases. When utilized to the full extent, IMSE brings a holistic 3D approach to product design. Previously bulky devices can be reshaped or integrated into the holistic structure to open up new design languages while reducing the space and weight needed for added functionality.

Our IMSE technology integrates printed circuitry and discrete electronic components inside 3D molded plastics. The result is a single-piece part with revolutionary design opportunities and freedom.

Design and functional variants can be created easily with a single tool set by changing the surface material or printing. IMSE structures can feature natural surface materials such as wood and leather.

Electronic functionality on three-dimensional contours close to the surface allows a new kind of freedom and improved performance for intuitive HMI, UX, and UI experiences.

An IMSE product requires fewer parts and less plastics compared to parts built with conventional methods, leading to reduced environmental impact across the lifecycle. As evidenced by independent lifecycle analysis, IMSE technology produces 60% less greenhouse gas emissions from raw material extraction to ready-made products, from cradle to gate, than conventional electronics manufacturing processes.

IMSE designs are evaluated and optimized using simulations, lowering the number of production experiments. IMSE technology also significantly reduces the total number of injection molding machines and tools, resulting in a reduction in the environmental impact.

Each IMSE part is a seamless one-piece structure that replaces multi-part assemblies of traditional electronics. With up to 70% less plastics usage and respective 50-70% weight reductions, IMSE technology helps reduce CO2 greenhouse emissions during the lifetime operation, specifically in automotive and aviation industries.

By reducing both the number of parts and the mass and volume of the resulting products, IMSE technology has a positive environmental impact on the upstream and downstream logistics processes. The required transportation volume for both the manufacturing process, as well as the shipping to end-users or for final assembly at the customer is significantly reduced.

Recycling IMSE production waste and IMSE parts enable the circularization of the material streams. Existing recycling and material recovery technologies enable the efficient and economically viable extraction of silver and other precious metals, such as gold, from IMSE films and other manufacturing waste.

IMSE designs minimize or eliminate dedicated external printed circuit boards, light pipe structures, antenna components, and related electro-mechanical assembly. Additional savings come from reduced tooling requirements, assembly costs, inventory carrying costs, and supplier consolidation. IMSE delivers significant production cost savings.

IMSE is a disruptive technology that transforms the manufacturing process, but it does so using well-known materials and mature manufacturing processes that rely on commodity capital equipment in new and innovative ways. IMSE technology replaces the full-size circuit board with electronics and components molded within and printed directly into the surface structure of a part. This process eliminates costly and extensive electro-mechanical assembly and a space-stealing depth requirement. It offers significant benefits for manufacturers and OEMs, who often need to sell in multiple segments.

Ensuring that high levels of manufacturing efficiency, quality, and performance are maintained is imperative for all brand owners and manufacturers. Each target market and customer segment has its specific requirements for product validation, verification, and quality assurance under various operating conditions. Tests and experience from manufacturing projects have shown that IMSE can withstand the rigors of industry testing, even in the automotive industry, which provides the most demanding spectrum of requirements.