Canatu Plc and DENSO Corporation, a top global supplier of automotive technology, have signed a 17-month agreement to develop new equipment for making larger carbon nanotube (CNT) films for use in cars.
The larger CNT films are important for future technologies, like full windshield heaters.
As part of the agreement, the companies will build a large CNT deposition chamber that works with existing Canatu equipment. This system will be built and tested at Canatu’s facility in Finland. Later, if needed, the system can be moved to DENSO’s location in Japan.
The total contract value is classified in the "Medium" category, and revenue from this agreement is expected to be recognized in the first half of 2026, once specific milestones are completed.
According to Coherent Market Insights, the Automotive Semiconductor Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.3% during 2025 to 2032. Currently, the market is at USD 77.27 Billion in 2025 and is expected to be around USD 135.02 Billion by 2032. The market is seeing a shift towards electrification and digitalization. Electric Vehicles (EVs) need highly efficient power semiconductors, while autonomous and connected cars need advanced sensors and processors. Also, there is a lot of emphasis on reducing emissions globally, which has added to the deployment of semiconductor solutions that optimize fuel efficiency and enable real-time vehicle diagnostics.
“Scaling this cutting-edge material marks an important step in our innovation strategy,” says Shinichi Yatsuzuka, senior director of DENSO Corporation. “Achieving larger-format CNT film will not only clarify commercial potential but also strengthen our ability to shape next-generation products with high differentiation. We believe this collaboration will open new opportunities and contribute to delivering advanced solutions to the market.”
“The very early Canatu CNT network was only coin-sized,” adds Juha Kokkonen, CEO of Canatu Plc. “Since then, Canatu has scaled stepwise to the current 600mm-wide production line. Now it’s time to take the next step. We aim to deliver larger-area applications such as full-windshield heaters, while also enabling future solar-cell solutions for automotive use.”
This new project continues the long-term partnership between Canatu and DENSO. The two companies have already worked together on several successful projects, and this agreement will strengthen their collaboration in developing equipment for producing larger transparent CNT films and the related technologies.
Source:
News Release: Canatu Plc
Company: Canatu Plc
