DuPont and TactoTek Collaborate to Support Growing In-Mold Electronics Market

DuPont and TactoTek have announced that they will be collaborating to cater to the growing demand for injection molded electronics solutions (IME). DuPont is a leader in electronic materials, while TactoTek is one of the leading players in the field of injection molded electronics (IME). While As part of the collaboration, while DuPont will deal with the production of advanced materials, TactoTek will come up with innovative designs for products that will be used in the automotive field like touch controls, illumination, and connected intelligence.
Commenting on the partnership, Michael Burrows, global venture leader, DuPont said that the partnership will allow user interface designers and engineers to create touch control surfaces that are beautiful, functional, and durable. The resulting parts can contributing significantly to reducing the weight, assembly effort, and overall cost of vehicles.

IME involves integration of flexible circuitry and electronic components into three-dimensional molded plastics. Circuits are printed directly onto plastic substrates, and thus product designers can integrate touch controls, lighting, and antennas in household appliances like washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, as well as automotive consoles, dashboards, steering wheels and armrests. The use of this technology eliminates the need for complex, thick, and heavy multi-layer assemblies that are normally seen in conventional electronics designs and can be as thin as 2mm. DuPont and TactoTek’s collaboration will lead to the development of advanced materials, designs, prototypes, and fabrication processes for IME.

Dave Rice, senior vice president, marketing at TactoTek said that by encapsulating the complexity of numerous discrete sub-parts into a single solution, IMSE technology greatly simplifies electronics integration and offers new degrees of design freedom. The two companies will collaborate on educating designers and engineers about IME design rules so that everyone can benefit from the technology and realize its full potential. Several customer projects are already underway.