As one of the world’s largest electronics manufacturing companies, Taiwan-based Hon Hai Precision Industry Company Ltd., better known as Foxconn, is a leading contract manufacturer.  With annual sales estimated at more than $128 billion in 2014, Foxconn is well known for an OEM manufacturer, with the iPhone, Xbox and many more electronics leaders being produced at its factories.
 
When Foxconn makes a move toward a new technology, the electronics industry takes notice. This is certainly the case with the joint venture Foxconn announced with Cima NanoTech to produce SANTE® ProTouch modules, cost-competitive, projected capacitive (pro-cap) systems for large format touch screens. The two companies will sell SANTE ProTouch modules through the new JV.
 
“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. “Our partnership with Cima NanoTech enables us to break new ground and address the rapidly growing large format touch market.”
 
Jon Brodd, Cima NanoTech’s CEO, said that his company saw a sizeable untapped market opportunity for large format (> 40”) projected capacitive touch screens.
 
“However, the supply chain to deliver solutions for this market was immature and no one customer had all the elements under one roof to deliver in high volumes,” Brodd noted. “By creating a joint venture with the world’s leading manufacturer, Foxconn, we can disrupt the market by providing high quality, mass produceable large format pro-cap touch modules at a cost competitive price.”
 
 “SANTE ProTouch modules will be manufactured at our newly established, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities,” Brodd noted. “Having a full, in-house supply chain for large format projected capacitive touch solutions is an industry first.”
 
Brodd noted that Foxconn’s expertise in the mass production of reliable, high-quality products, coupled with Cima NanoTech’s proprietary SANTE self-assembling nanoparticle technology, delivers a cost-competitive solution for customers looking to shift from their existing touch technology to pro-cap multi-touch solutions and systems.
 
Cima Touch’s target markets are large format projected capacitive touch screens 40” and above for interactive digital signage, interactive whiteboards, interactive tabletops, kiosks and other applications desiring large format solutions with fast response time.
 
Brodd noted that SANTE ProTouch modules provide users with ultra fast response for an intuitive multi-user, multi-touch experience.
 
“The overall design and product appeal of the touch system is also enhanced with edge-to-edge cover lens and narrow bezel,” he noted. “SANTE ProTouch modules are available in sizes ranging from 40” to 85”, allowing touch screen manufacturers to stick to one material for all large format products in their offering.
 
“The non-moiré characteristic of SANTE self-assembling nanoparticle technology makes it compatible with all LCD display models in the market; the highly customizable nature of SANTE ProTouch modules also provides manufacturers and system integrators with the freedom to design features such as cover lens thickness, glass type and bezel width,” Brodd added.
 
There have been challenges for bringing SANTE ProTouch to the market, and the partnership with Foxconn eliminates a largest hurdle.
 
“Our biggest hurdle has been in developing the supply chain for large format pro-cap touch screens,” Brodd said. “SANTE Films, our transparent conductive films product, has been fully commercial, but the challenge was finding partners and customers that could manufacture modules at the large sizes desired by the market (> 40”).  By partnering with Foxconn, we overcome this challenge with an experienced manufacturing partner to deliver high volume, cost competitive products.”
 
Brodd anticipates excellent opportunities ahead for Cima NanoTech and the printed and flexible electronics field.
 
“Our outlook is very positive, as we see more and more applications leveraging the technology from printed and flexible electronics,” Brodd concluded. “The Internet of Things (IoT) will be a big driver as we are connected with devices around us on a daily basis, and desire a clean modern look and function. Large format pro-cap touch is only the tip of the iceberg for the new applications and solutions that SANTE self-assembling nanoparticle technology can enable.”