Continental has acquired a minority stake in Industry 4.0’s Feelit startup, headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel. The companies agreed not to disclose the amount of the stake. Feelit offers state-of-the-art predictive maintenance solutions for a variety of industrial equipment and machines using their own hardware sensors and dedicated algorithms. The startup has developed a structural sensing technology that is up to fifty times more sensitive than currently standard market applications. Feelit uses printed, nanomaterial-based, fully integrated sensors and cloud-based analytics to provide live and remote feedback on changes in equipment design and performance. For example, the sensors can be integrated into battery cooling systems in electric vehicles to optimize battery life and range. Continental sees further opportunities for remote condition monitoring and predictive maintenance of hoses used in the food industry, hydraulic and energy solutions that meet safety requirements, and to avoid unplanned and costly downtime.
“The investment will further build The integration of sensors into new and existing product families supports our ongoing transformation into smart and sustainable solutions that go beyond rubber. they explain their condition, ”explained Philip Nelles, a member of the board of Continental and head of the industry-focused business area, ContiTech. This technology helps extend the range and life of electric vehicle batteries while predicting the need for maintenance and increasing safety in the manufacturing environment.
Founded in 2017, Feelit is a highly sensitive, flexible, printed nanomaterial developed a sensor that can be attached to static and rotating machine parts, including flat and rounded surfaces. This sensor measures the load in extremely high resolution and also monitors other parameters such as temperature, vibration and pressure
A system based on an industrial IoT platform for real-time remote sensing of structural changes in mechanical devices. serves as an “electronic skin” that sends a timely signal when critical structural and functional abnormalities are detected. Up to fifty times more sensitive technology than current standard market applications allows remote condition monitoring and predictive maintenance of industrial equipment such as valves, pipes and pumps, and prevents unplanned and costly shutdowns of equipment.
“Feelit is a technology-oriented startup with a value proposition that is relevant to many industries, and in order to have a mature and differentiated solution at the same time, we strive to work with technology leaders already proven in these areas to accelerate commercialization. We are delighted to have won Continental as a sponsor, partner and investor, providing us with operational and industrial expertise, and together we can test and develop our innovative sensors and cloud-based analysis software in a wide range of industrial and automotive industries. during application. We are currently focusing on further developing our technology-leading products for various applications, our sensor solutions, “said Dr. Gady Konvalina, CEO and co-founder of Feelit.
Sophisticated heat treatment extends the life of electric vehicle batteries and range
Batteries for electric vehicles operate most efficiently at temperatures between 20 ° C and 40 ° C. This temperature range extends battery life and range, so cool the units as a function of the outside temperature, External sensors can be retrofitted to hose systems to measure the temperature of battery control systems using oil, coolant or refrigerant.The better the position of the flexible sensor, the better the temperature control to ensure that units such as power electronics for electric cars, the batteries can reach their maximum lifespan and passengers do not have to give up the usual level of comfort
The investment was initiated by Continental’s dedicated corporate venture capital unit, which was set up in 2018 with with a view to making effective use of innovation and exploiting new opportunities more quickly, thus gaining a leading position in transformation in several industries. The venture capital unit invests in start-up technology companies, providing direct access to new technologies, business ideas and the startup ecosystem.
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