Industrial and technical products supplier TKH Group has picked up VTT-founded optical confocal imaging sensor company FocalSpec to enhance its portfolio of precision quality control sensors.
FocalSpec, a Finland-based precision quality control sensor developer spun out of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, has been bought by networking, industrial and technical products supplier TKH Group for an undisclosed sum.
Founded in 2009, FocalSpec manufactures optical quality control sensors that rely on line confocal imaging components where the light emitted from a bright white LED is interpreted via a CMOS photodetector array to compose a spectrum of thousands of distinct measurement points.
Line confocal imaging is especially effective in evaluating materials with transparent layers, overlays or air gaps. FocalSpec claims its products are of particular use in quality control settings for mobile devices.
FocalSpec will be absorbed by TKH subsidiary LMI Technologies with the acquisition, helping the corporate bolster its confocal technology portfolio in areas including consumer electronics, batteries and pharmaceuticals.
The FocalSpec operation will become LMI’s global line confocal competence centre but will also continue in-house product development while strengthening its capabilities with the aid of LMI’s metrology and sales resources.
FocalSpec obtained $3.8m in a March 2017 equity round featuring VTT Ventures, the research institute’s investment arm, in addition to pensions insurer Veritas Pension Insurance, regional private equity fund Nordic Option, an unspecified Chinese retailer and then company CEO Sauli Törmälä.
