BMW i Ventures Invests in Flexible Circuit Tech with CelLink
October 31, 2019 | BMW i VenturesEstimated reading time: 1 minute
BMW i Ventures has recently invested in CelLink, a San Carlos, CA-based manufacturer of flexible circuit technology that delivers high-conductance, large-area, lightweight, and low-cost flexible circuits through a proprietary combination of manufacturing processes, designs, and materials. The investment arm of BMW, aimed at finding advanced technologies and trailblazers for the Bavarian Group participated in a $22.5 million Series B funding round alongside Ford Motor Co. and Robert Bosch Venture Capital.
The new funding is aimed at ramping up production of large-area flexible circuits for power and data transmission and will support CelLink’s operations as it scales up existing production contracts and transitions several projects into full-scale production. CelLink will continue to ramp production in its first manufacturing facility through 2019, and the company intends to bring a new production facility online in the 2020-21 timeframe to meet additional demand.
“We believe CelLink’s technology will transform wire harnessing from an ‘old school’, simple technology to a more advanced, integrated, multi-purpose, flexible circuit technology with more functionality and lower cost. Automotive wiring is finally becoming high tech,” said Marcus Behrendt, partner at BMW i Ventures.
“CelLink was founded eight years ago on the premise of providing interconnect solutions to the solar industry. We are thrilled that the core innovations that we developed have evolved into a new type of flexible circuit that addresses the growing challenges of vehicle wiring and light-weighting, battery wiring, and energy-efficient lighting applications,” added CEO and co-founder Kevin Coakley.
The US-based company is specialized in creating lightweight, low-cost circuits which can be used to replace bulky harnesses used on cars today. Conventional wiring is to be replaced in the near future with thin conductive circuits sandwiched between two sheets of flexible plastic. This way, the company claims it can reduce weight brought on by circuitry by anything between 70%-90%.
Suggested Items
Trackwise Awarded Prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation
04/24/2024 | TrackwiseTrackwise Designs plc, the innovative manufacturer of specialist products using printed circuit technology, is delighted to be recognised with a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise. Announced, Friday 21 April, Trackwise has been recognised for its excellence in Innovation for its length-unlimited, multilayer flexible printed circuits.
IDTechEx Discusses the Role of Printed Sensors in Mass-Digitization
04/11/2024 | PRNewswireIntegrated sensors digitizing physical interactions are vital in everyday life. From personalized user experiences to warehouse inventory management, data-driven insights are driving demand for smarter sensors — and lots of them.
ENNOVI Introduces a New Flexible Circuit Production Process for Low Voltage Connectivity in EV Battery Cell Contacting Systems
04/03/2024 | PRNewswireENNOVI, a mobility electrification solutions partner, introduces a more advanced and sustainable way of producing flexible circuits for low voltage signals in electric vehicle (EV) battery cell contacting systems.
OE-A at LOPEC: Printed Electronics Powers Sustainability
02/06/2024 | OE-AThe “OE-A Competition 2024” shows the many possibilities of flexible, organic, and printed electronics with inspiring products, prototypes, and fresh designs live at LOPEC 2024, the leading international exhibition and conference for flexible, organic, and printed electronics in Munich.
All Flex Solutions Invests in New Flexible Circuit Facility
02/05/2024 | All Flex SolutionsAll Flex Solutions has started the equipment build-out of a completely new flexible circuit manufacturing facility in Minneapolis. The building was purchased in 2020, and was completely renovated to accommodate the company’s plans for a brand new state-of-the-art flexible circuit fabrication plant.