In the Engineering Tomorrow series, Artemis highlights many of our portfolio company products by outlining key aspects of the technologies, industries, and end markets within which the business operates. In the most recent installment, we explained the fundamentals of thin-film Formulated Coating technologies, talked to the mission-critical nature of their end-markets and applications, and discussed a specific RM Lucas product that is enabling the Roof Coatings technological frontier. This week we are looking to highlight Artemis platform, Tekscan, and their industry leading ultra-thin film force and pressure sensing technologies.

One of Artemis’ main differentiators is our team’s depth of knowledge around the technologies of our portfolio companies and the passion for building meaningful businesses. From high precision lab automation and specialty chemicals to mission-critical Optics & Photonics and RF/Microwave devices, the Artemis team, from the Associates to the Operating Partners, is able to have entrepreneur-to-entrepreneur conversations on an engineer-to-engineer level because of our deep product, application, and market fluencies.

Over the past few years, one of the firm’s core technology theses has surrounded Tekscan and their minimally invasive imbedded sensing technologies. The overall imbedded sensing industry can be broken down into a variety of categories, among which are those relating to the operating of industrial devices, the characterization of system functionality, and the monitoring of safety standards. For those who may not be familiar with the industry, it relates specifically to those imbedded sensing technologies designed to make surfaces more intuitive and systems for functional or efficient in the healthcare, industrial manufacturing, automotive, Aerospace and Defense, and consumer electronics industries.

Driven by the increased adoption of IoT (“Internet of Things”) devices in the industrial automation industry, the growing utilization of pressure sensors in various automotive applications, and the recent adoption of imbedded sensing technologies in portable healthcare wearables, the overall market for both wired and wireless pressure sensors is expected to grow significantly through the end of the decade. With that being said, there are specific niche environments in which the highest technology specifications are required for the continued advancement of the technological frontier. 

For example, robotic applications like chip assembly, automated package handling, and even surgical procedures have an inherent deficit in the lack of tactile feedback. This is a critical consideration in each of these scenarios given the potential cost of damaged products and even a human life. This is where the mission-critical nature of imbedded pressure sensors plays an essential role. The accuracy, dependability, and detail of haptic (tactile) feedback data enables robotic systems to gain what could be compared to the human sense: touch.

Tekscan, an Artemis portfolio company, a designer and manufacturer of flexible, ultra-thin film force and pressure sensing technologies, developed the FlexiForce line of standard and custom sensing solutions for industrial applications such as these, enabling industrial manufacturing innovators to continue bringing automation concepts into reality. Even more interesting, is the ability of Tekscan’s engineers to provide custom solutions surrounding the geometry, size, environment, and integration of the company’s technologies into products.

To shine more light on the technology that is enabling some of the most innovative systems of the decade, Tekscan’s products have been integral to the success of a variety of interesting and innovative programs spanning all the way from enabling safety in the operation of power tools and enabling the Dr. Scholl’s foot pattern machines to the development of sensors that monitor the operation of battery technologies in Electronic Vehicles and supporting the creation of Haptic Man-Machine interfaces that improve robotic surgery outcomes. 

We hope you enjoyed this discussion of one of Tekscan’ technologies. In the weeks to come, we will highlight some of the work and technology being done at another Portfolio Company, STC. As always be sure to follow the Artemis LinkedIn and check back for more content surrounding Industrial Tech Innovations, Portfolio Company News, Private Equity, and Macroeconomic Trends. Comment to let us know what you think and suggest any topics you'd like to hear Artemis discuss.