TactoTek, the pioneer of In-Mould Structural Electronics (IMSE), has signed a technology licensing agreement with the EDAG Group, a globally leading independent engineering service provider with approximately 8,000 employees across more than 70 locations worldwide. Under the agreement, EDAG will apply IMSE technology across its global engineering services to advance the development and industrialisation of IMSE-based smart-surface solutions for automotive and other mobility applications.
Focus on interior and exterior IMSE lighting solutions
With a focus on both interior and exterior IMSE lighting solutions and smart surfaces, EDAG will support customers from early concept development and prototype build through to industrialisation, validation, and series production. Its system-level expertise spans every IMSE engineering discipline – mechanics, electronics, lighting, software, and testing. This holistic approach is reinforced by efficient development processes, advanced simulation, and robust validation capabilities, enabling high-quality outcomes with speed and reliability that mass production demands.
EDAG Group’s international footprint extends this advantage into key Asian automotive markets. The company operates a sizeable organisation in China across six locations, complemented by an established presence in Japan through its Yokohama office. Together, these enable close customer engagement and engineering collaboration on the ground in regions central to the future of mobility.
“We are excited to bring IMSE into our technology portfolio. Through our close relationships with OEMs, we are confident they will be impressed by the new possibilities it creates for design and expression once lighting and electronics are integrated directly into vehicle surfaces,” said Jannes Buthmann, Global Head of Lighting & Display Systems at EDAG. “By combining it with our system-level engineering expertise and global delivery capabilities, we can efficiently support customers from the earliest concept phases through to mass production.”
Engineering depth
“We are building the IMSE ecosystem with partners who can deliver at the highest level, not for scale alone,” added Sami Hyyryläinen, SVP, Licensing, Strategic Sales and Markets Expansion at TactoTek. “EDAG brings exactly the kind of engineering depth that can turn IMSE concepts into validated, production-ready solutions. Backed by its strong presence globally, and particularly in Asia, this partnership enhances our ability to serve customers in strategically important markets and to accelerate the worldwide adoption of smart-surface solutions, on a foundation of quality, not just reach.”
TactoTek’s IMSE technology integrates lighting, touch controls, electrical components, and circuitry directly into three-dimensional moulded structures. By replacing conventional multi-component architectures with structural electronics, IMSE enables lightweight, thin smart surfaces that combine distinctive design and improved performance with reduced assembly complexity and lower total system cost. The technology has been awarded for mass production in both automotive interior and exterior smart-surface applications.