Cima NanoTech Secures Joint Venture with Foxconn

Cima NanoTech has secured a joint venture agreement with Foxconn Technology (TPE:2354) to deliver its SANTE® ProTouch™ touchscreen technology to market.
A new company, Cima Touch, will be formed through the joint venture, and both companies will sell SANTE® ProTouch™ modules through that company.
Cima NanoTech’s approach is unique in that it utilizes projected capacitive multi-touch technology rather than infrared touch technology. Cima NanoTech uses its proprietary SANTE^® self-assembling nanoparticle technology to achieve this on a cost-competitive basis. The technology is compatible with all LCD models on the market, and is “highly customizable,” allowing manufacturers and systems integrators the freedom to design various features.
Overall, the modules “provide users with ultra fast response for an intuitive multi-user, multi-touch experience, making it an ideal solution for interactive digital signage, interactive kiosks, interactive tabletops and interactive whiteboards,” as per Cima.

Foxconn’s interest in the technology is driven by its aim to get into the growing market for large-scale touch screens. “Cima NanoTech has a cutting-edge, disruptive technology which puts them at the forefront of high performance innovations,” said Kevin Chen, director of Foxconn Technology Group, in a statement. “Our partnership with Cima NanoTech enables us to break new ground and address the rapidly growing large format touch market.”
Other tech players are onto the trend as well, and the idea of large-scale touch screens isn’t exactly new. 3M’s (NYSE:MMM) touch systems division unveiled a large-format, 55-inch, multi-touch collaborative table concept last June, and other companies, such as Baanto, have been offering large-format touch screens for even longer.
Still, Foxconn’s interest in Cima is an important vote of confidence for the company, and speaks to the potential for nanotechnology to disrupt conventional markets.
Certainly, Jon Brodd, CEO of Cima NanoTech, is positive on the agreement as well. “SANTE^® ProTouch™ modules will be manufactured at our newly established, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities,” he said in Monday’s release. “Having a full, in-house supply chain for large format projected capacitive touch solutions is an industry first, and ensures that we have full control over the quality and reliability of SANTE^® ProTouch™ modules.”

Company news

Last Friday, Nanopool acquired the nanotech division of the Swiss company Bühler, marking the largest deal in the company’s history. The company expects a strategic push towards future markets in Asia and North America. “The demand for high-quality products offering multi-functional properties for different surfaces increases rapidly in those markets,” said Sasha Schwindt, managing director for Nanopool, in Friday’s release.
Also last week, Nanotech Security (TSXV:NTS) released its financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2015. The company reported increased revenues of 127 percent, to $1.4 million, for the quarter, an improved gross margin (51 vs. 31 percent year-on-year) and the receipt of two new patents for its next-generation nanotechnology authentication features and increased protection for its optical thin film.
 
Securities Disclosure: I, Teresa Matich, hold no investment interest in any companies mentioned.