F. Combier (Présences Grenoble)
Original article in French (Translation to English by Carol Leslie)
Grenoble-based start-up TiHive has taken its industrial inspection solution to the next level. In addition to industrial solutions, its innovative products is now installed at a research laboratory in Chambery, France, which will help advance terahertz research.
TiHive joint founders (left to right): Hani Sherry, CEO, Carlos Prada, CIO/CFO and Nicolas Beaudouin, COO
Founded in 2017 and now with a staff of 20, TiHive is the brains behind a terahertz AI-aided imaging system. This monitoring system is designed to improve product quality by identifying defects and contamination along the production process, rather than at the end of the manufacturing chain. The technology enables manufacturers to ‘see inside’ materials such as super-absorbent polymers and non-woven materials (used in masks, wipes, medical materials, and similar items). The initial application of TiHive’s solution the personal hygiene sector (diapers, feminine hygiene products, etc.) as well as the luxury goods and automotive industries. But now it has set its sights further afield.
At the end of 2020, TiHive launched its next-generation cameras by installing its latest solution at the IMEP-LAHC research laboratory at the Savoie-Technolac science and technology park in Chambery, France. This lab plans to use TiHive cameras to advance its terahertz research and develop new applications. Alongside this exciting new venture, TiHive also continues to market its cameras to industry partners. “2021 marks the miniaturization of our Terahertz cameras and the client testing phase,” explains Hani Sherry, CEO of TiHive. “In 2022, we will be moving to the industrialization phase.”
Applications for the Health Sector
TiHive’s strength lies in its ability to miniaturize its system and produce it on a large scale. “The potential applications extend well beyond the industrial sector. We are already exploring options in the pharmaceutical and medical markets. For instance, terahertz technology could be used to rapidly check that medication has been properly packaged, e.g., checking that each blister pack contains the right number of pills. Even more excitingly will be its capacity to enable medics to collect data and measurements that simply haven’t been possible before, in particular when analyzing cancer cells. There’s even the potential for a non-intrusive technique for measuring blood glucose levels, which would be life-changing for people with diabetes!”
TiHive technology is already in use in Germany, the US, the Netherlands, and Sweden. And that’s just the start: By the end of 2022, the start-up plans to double its staff to 40 employees and achieve a turnover of more than EUR 1 million.
F. Combier
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