Start-up FononTech raises €2.3 million for groundbreaking printing technology

By Elcke Vels

Deep-tech start-up FononTech has raised 2.3 million in a new seed investment. Five investors are contributing to the scale-up and further development of microelectronics printing technology. FononTech was founded in 2022 as a spin-off from TNO at Holst Centre in Eindhoven. The company focuses on impulse printing: a technology to print very small electronic circuits for electronic devices.

3D printed microelectronics

Components of microelectronics are becoming smaller and denser, in complex, often layered structures. This makes it increasingly challenging to make electrical connections between them. Further miniaturization and integrated electronics require better performance and more functionality.

Traditional manufacturing techniques are reaching their limits. So far, manufacturers are using techniques such as lithography or metering systems to print the parts used for modern devices. “The industry is trying to make chips smaller and more powerful and build more and more of them on smaller and smaller surfaces. Our technology makes that possible. It’s really designed for scalability. You’ll soon see it in phones, VR headsets and smartwatches,” said FononTech CEO Rob Hendriks.

Impulse printing has the potential to change microelectronic manufacturing

Electronics are becoming smaller but also more powerful. Their manufacturers are looking for ways to accelerate and scale up their production.

Sustainable

With Impulse Printing™ technology, the ecological impact of micro-electronics manufacturing can be reduced by a factor of 1000. Lithography is often used to electronically connect chips. Today’s lithography-based processes consist of many complex steps with high carbon emission rates that are difficult to reduce. Impulse Printing™ is an additive process, copying a pattern thousands of times at very high speed, while only depositing material in required places. The international semiconductor and display market are already showing strong interest in FononTech’s technology. Hendriks: “Our ambition is to become the global market leader in sustainable assembly and manufacturing of micro-electronics. This means scaling up as quickly as possible, with this investment being a big help on our journey.”

Investors

This first investment round is made possible by TTT Smart Industries Fund, SHIFT Invest, Brabantse Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij (BOM), the Brabant Startup Fonds (BSF) and renowned investor Sake Bosch. Rabobank has also granted a loan.