Faurecia Invests in Canatu and Deepens Ties by Choosing Canatu as Innovation Partner

Canatu, the leading manufacturer of 3D formable and flexible transparent conductive films and touch sensors, and Faurecia, a global automotive interior system manufacturer, have deepened ties. The two companies have signed a Joint Development Agreement. Faurecia was also the latest significant investor for Canatu in its recent funding round which totaled 22 million euros.

The collaboration is being announced at The Paris Motor Show 2016 where Canatu is exhibiting alongside Faurecia at their Open Innovation Corner. By joining forces, Canatu and Faurecia aspire to enhance automotive interior systems by providing the industry with innovative automotive user interfaces and novel functional automotive interior parts with tactile functionality. Canatu’s enabler material along with Faurecia’s visionary modular systems provide automotive interior designers total design freedom to use free form shapes for tactile functions that are in strong demand for the center console and dashboard. The companies will develop, integrate, and verify the necessary technologies to be able to adapt them into automotive programs.

Canatu’s films and touch sensors are based on its enabler material CNB™ (Carbon NanoBud®) which offer unique stretch properties. CNB products provide designers total design freedom by providing a clear path to the replacement of mechanical controls with 3D shaped touch sensors and seamless touch displays.

Faurecia is one of the world leaders in automotive interior systems including complete modules for car cockpits, instrument panels, door panels and center consoles.  Faurecia works with all leading automotive manufacturers and is developing technologies for the cockpit of the future.

“Touch is a very natural and intuitive way of interacting and will become ubiquitous in the car interior. Our products enable interactive solutions and finishes for automobiles never seen before. The design freedom now possible will without doubt thrill designers. The breadth and depth of experience Faurecia has acquired has impressed us, and we are proud to have our CNB Film to be a key enabler in bringing Faurecia’s visions of Smart Surfaces and Intuitive Connectivity into life”, says CEO Juha Kokkonen from Canatu.

“This is an important step in the evolution of our interior systems offering towards the move to smart surfaces, driven by the fusion between Electronics and surface decorations. It also confirms our strategy to work with an open network of various technology partners with leading-edge solutions. Coupling Faurecia’s position as Lead Architect of a new Customer Experience and Canatu’s unique CNB films, we are convinced that the combination will rapidly offer automotive-level solutions tailored to end-consumers’ advanced needs” explains Mr. David Weill, VP Marketing and Business Development at Faurecia Interior Systems.

Specifically designed for automobile center consoles and dashboards, consumer electronics, wearable devices and specific user interfaces, CNB™ In-Mold Films can be easily formed into shape. The film is first patterned to the required touch functionality, then formed, then back-molded by injection molding, resulting in a unique 3D shape with multitouch functionality.  With a bending radius of 1mm, CNB™ In-Mold Films can bring touch to almost any surface imaginable.

Bryan, Garnier & Co, the independent investment bank focused on European growth companies, advised Canatu for the latest investment transaction made by Faurecia.