Fraunhofer, TRUMPF Ink Tech Transfer Agreement: Week in Brief - 1/14/22

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — KPM Analytics acquired Bruins Instruments, a manufacturer of high-resolution near-infrared reflectance and transmission analyzers. The acquisition strengthens KPM’s positions in agriculture and feed and food applications, and it expands its portfolio of NIR devices. KPM plans to integrate the Bruins Instruments line into its existing portfolio and expand sales throughout the global market using KPM’s existing sales network.

LAS VEGAS — Opsys Tech, a developer of pure solid-state scanning microflash lidar, will supply lidar systems to South Korean auto parts supplier SL Corp. for inclusion in production vehicles as early as 2024 or 2025. The deal is one of several Opsys Tech has secured to supply lidar systems for production vehicles within the next two to three years. The company expects to announce additional supplier agreements in the first half of 2022 that will expand its market reach to Europe.

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University partnered with Purdue University and the University of Michigan to form a Midwest-based alliance to push the frontiers of quantum science and engineering research, education, and training. The Midwest Quantum Collaboratory will foster projects across the universities and bolster the universities’ work preparing their graduates to power the growing quantum workforce.

This dilution fridge found in Johannes Pollanen’s lab is an example of equipment on MSU’s campus designed to make quantum measurements and test quantum technology. Courtesy of the Laboratory for Hybrid Quantum Systems, Michigan State University.

BIRMINGHAM, England — Aston University is leading a collaboration that will explore new optical frequency comb technology and its applications in areas including telecommunications and the food industry. Based in the university’s Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies (AIPT), the project was awarded £1.6 million ($2.2 million) by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation. The project is in partnership with two French universities: the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis and the University of Lille.

HAIFA, Israel — Elbit Systems’ United Kingdom subsidiary, Elbit Systems UK Ltd., sold the power and control business of its Ferranti Technologies subsidiary to TT Electronics for approximately $12 million in cash, subject to customary post-completion working-capital adjustments. The remaining business of Ferranti, including training and simulation, avionics, display systems, aircrew survival systems, platform protection, and computing, are planned to be integrated into Elbit Systems UK.

AACHEN, Germany — The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT and TRUMPF Laser-und Systemtechnik GmbH signed an agreement to create a plant to accelerate the transfer of laser material deposition technology to industry. The plant is expected to be operational in the spring, enabling applications including the economical coating of automobile brake discs or the wear and corrosion protection of hydraulic cylinders. Plans to further expand the collaboration in other areas of laser materials processing are underway.

Potential applications of the technology to be developed through the Fraunhofer/TRUMPF agreement include the economical coating of brake discs or the wear and corrosion protection of hydraulic cylinders. Courtesy of TRUMPF.

PITTSBURGH — 3D-imaging company Kaarta partnered with Teledyne FLIR on a contract with the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Joint Science and Technology Office to develop threat mapping and visualization tools. Teledyne FLIR announced the contract, worth up to $15.7 million, last month. Through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency program, Teledyne FLIR and Kaarta are working to layer other sensed data onto the point cloud to digitally represent the material threats and their exact location.

ESPOO, Finland — Shortwave-infrared imaging developer Emberion raised €6 million ($6.9 million) to accelerate the growth of its infrared imaging business, which uses nanotechnology to develop visible to shortwave-length cameras using in-house developed sensors. The sensors deliver low noise and high dynamic range imaging over a broad spectrum.