Gentherm, a Northville-based global developer of thermal management technologies, has invested an undisclosed sum in Forciot, a Finnish-based technology developer of sensors for touch, motion, and force measurement.
The technology being developed by Forciot has the potential to be integrated into vehicle interiors, including into steering wheels for hands-on-detection functionality for advanced driver assistance systems, according to Gentherm.
Forciot’s stretchable and printed sensors and advanced electronics are designed to help accurately measure touch, motion, and force. The sensors may be used to indicate an occupant’s presence and potentially to replace buttons and other human-machine interfaces (HMI) within vehicle interiors.
“The automotive industry is changing extremely fast, and we see potential opportunities with Forciot’s stretchable electronics and sensor technology to address the challenges that our customers are facing today and in the future,” says Phil Eyler, president and CEO of Gentherm. “Our investment in Forciot provides us an opportunity to expand our Automotive and Electronics solutions and help improve vehicle safety and passenger comfort.”
Tytti Julkunen, chairman of Forciot, says, “We are very excited to cooperate with Gentherm, who passionately drives innovation and advanced functionality to their future solutions. This cooperation and investment enables us to scale up Forciot operations further to prepare for the mass volume phase and supports our global business and technology development growth plans as well.”
