Company will double R&D spending to target growth opportunities in consumer markets and outpace new entrants in thermal detection
ULIS, a manufacturer of innovative thermal sensors, announces that the company will again significantly increase its R&D spending for 2017 to reach €15M ($16.8M). This investment marks the company’s strong growth and market leadership progression over the last 15 years. ULIS generated €61.5M ($69.3M) in sales in 2016, a rise of nearly 30% compared to 2015.
Buoyed by the spurt in additional growth and market changes, ULIS’ new level of R&D investment will represent 20% of its annual sales. Previously, the company pledged 10% of its annual revenue to R&D. It aims to further simplify access to thermal imaging within growing smart building, automotive and consumer electronics markets by making the key component – the thermal sensor – more compact, more affordable, easier to integrate and available in mass volumes.
As applications of thermal imaging become increasingly diversified, attracting new players worldwide, ULIS deems this investment necessary to sustain the pace of market developments and further advance its market lead. ULIS exports 97% of its products.
ULIS will accelerate the design of models and features better adapted to system maker and end-user needs in new markets (leisure equipment, smart buildings, driving assistance for cars with or without drivers etc). It will pursue development of disruptive technologies that reach new heights in performance of thermal image sensors for clients in traditional markets, for example defense and security. The company will also commence 24/7 non-stop production to meet new demands for mass volume.
“ULIS is happy to mark its 15th anniversary with an even stronger commitment to democratizing thermal image sensors, making them available and affordable for all,” said Jean-François Delepau, Managing Director of ULIS, “It has taken an enormous investment in capital, human resources, skills and technological expertise and much dedication from ULIS staff to gain the market confidence in our products and innovations that we enjoy today. We are very grateful to our customers and the ULIS team. Today, the diversity of market applications for thermal imaging is creating a new dynamics; changing the rules of the game. The barrier to entry has been raised. Success requires a greater intensification of resources and state-of-the-art know-how across all domains, plus the experience to transform these assets into value-added products. We look forward to fulfilling our promise to provide thermal sensors that are the best suited to meeting market demands for the right performance and quality at the right cost.”
Since its founding in 2002 as a spin-off from CEA-Leti, ULIS has become the second largest producer of thermal image sensors (micro-bolometers) for defense, surveillance, thermography, firefighting, outdoor leisure and automotive markets. It offers a targeted range of high-quality, compact, low-cost micro-bolometers that are the key component of many top brand cameras and thermal imaging equipment sold across Europe, Asia and North America.
