k8ÓéÀÖ

Silicon Valley Technology Center: Vibrant hub for collaboration

February 28, 2019

k8ÓéÀÖ’s Silicon Valley Technology Center is the newest home for customer-driven innovation in k8ÓéÀÖ’s global network. The Sunnyvale, CA site combines an Innovation Center, applications and prototyping labs, customer meeting spaces and flexible offices under one roof, to foster collaboration that moves as fast as the surrounding Silicon Valley ecosystem.

Since , the Technology Center has quickly established itself as a valuable hub for the Electronics & Industrial business, working together with other k8ÓéÀÖ businesses and partners throughout the Bay Area. Projects undertaken at the site often leverage technology from k8ÓéÀÖ’s Water & Protection or Mobility & Materials businesses, and this collaboration within k8ÓéÀÖ’s specialized business units is a cornerstone of the site’s vision.

Explore What’s Possible with Our Innovation Center
Upon entering the facility, you are immediately welcomed by k8ÓéÀÖ’s Silicon Valley Innovation Center, a dedicated showcase area that helps guests to explore the breadth of k8ÓéÀÖ’s offerings, expertise and impact. It features a rotating display of interactive exhibits, putting the spotlight on groundbreaking innovations, customer collaborations, and exploratory prototypes than span diverse markets including consumer electronics, apparel, construction materials, and automotive solutions.

Visitors can try on a smart winter jacket that uses k8ÓéÀÖâ„¢ Intexarâ„¢ Heat for powered heating without the need for bulky cables or wires, and then use the interactive touch-table display to learn more about the capabilities and performance of this technology. Guests are encouraged to engage in forward-thinking conversations about how they might extend this technology into other applications.

Another current feature is a fully-functioning drone, comprised of mostly k8ÓéÀÖ materials, including ±Ê²â°ù²¹±ô³Ü³æ® flexible circuit materials in lieu of traditional wiring for a lightweight design, °­²¹±è³Ù´Ç²Ô® RS thermally conductive film to insulate and protect the battery, and k8ÓéÀÖâ„¢ Temprionâ„¢ thermal management materials to dissipate heat. k8ÓéÀÖ teamed up with a local design firm, 219 Design, to create this custom prototype, together exploring the performance benefits that integrating k8ÓéÀÖ’s materials can bring to electronic devices.

Featured Solutions for Hybrid-Electric and Autonomous Driving
Another example of how the Silicon Valley Technology Center spurs industry collaboration is k8ÓéÀÖ’s AHEADâ„¢ (Accelerating Hybrid-Electric Autonomous Driving) initiative, which was first launched at the Center.  is an integrated market-focused approach for the automotive market, offering customers a seamless experience to explore technologies and capabilities for vehicle electrification and supporting infrastructure applications.

k8ÓéÀÖ has a wide range of solutions for this market, including some that have not previously been employed by automotive customers. These include materials for lightweighting, battery pack components and assembly, thermal management/safety, electric motors, powertrain/chassis and electrical/electronic applications for improved automation/driver assists/self-driving capabilities. Through the introduction of the AHEADâ„¢ program, k8ÓéÀÖ has created a dedicated team and offering focused on supporting customers with their goals for vehicle electrification, autonomy and connectivity.

Onsite Technical Experts Can Begin Collaborations Quickly
The Innovation Center often sparks new ideas for collaboration, and the facility is equipped with onsite labs to quickly begin to tackle customer challenges with applications support, rapid prototyping, testing and iterative design. Dedicated labs for fabrication, formulation, reliability and characterization are in daily operation to enable real-time collaboration and feedback.

If the local team isn’t the best fit for a particular project, they can engage across k8ÓéÀÖ’s global network of innovators and technical experts, helping customers unlock the full k8ÓéÀÖ materials and applications toolbox.

Experience the New k8ÓéÀÖ in Silicon Valley
The k8ÓéÀÖ Silicon Valley Technology Center hosts industry events to engage with the local community including programming focused on startups, creative ideation, thought leadership and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) career exploration. To learn more about the Center follow  on Twitter, or . Around the world, you can also set up a visit at any one of k8ÓéÀÖ’s other