On March 25, 2022, Smile Invest will acquire a majority stake in Sentech. In order to achieve its growth ambitions and long-term objectives, Sentech held exploratory discussions with several financial partners last year. Following a careful selection and due diligence process, the decision was made to collaborate with Smile Invest.

Sentech was founded in 2000 by Marcel Figge and now has more than 60 employees. Sentech's sensor solutions are used worldwide in applications within the semiconductor industry, automotive, healthcare, and agromarkets. Due to the rise of innovations such as autonomous vehicles, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence, the sensor market is expected to continue to grow strongly in the coming years.

Commercial Director Marco Leeggangers and Operations Director Hermen Kobus will take on the day-to-day management of Sentech as a two-person executive team. Founder Marcel Figge will continue to focus on long-term strategic projects. Marcel Figge: “With Smile Invest, we’re bringing on board a partner that not only has the necessary network, capital, and technical expertise, but also aligns with our vision of creating long-term value for our customers in a transparent manner. Smile’s entry into the shareholder structure comes at a time when we are ready to take the next major step. With these new resources and expertise, we will invest in building a solid footprint outside the Netherlands and further professionalizing our operational facilities.”

Marco Leeggangers and Hermen Kobus add: “In recent years, we have been actively involved as managers in building the foundation. Now, in our new roles, we can set the direction ourselves to become a leading supplier of integrated sensor solutions in Northwestern Europe, and to make Sentech an even stronger company. This feels like a logical step for us, but it remains a new chapter, which is why we are pleased to bring in an experienced partner like Smile Invest who will help us navigate the next phase.”

Ad Notenboom and Bart Cauberghe, partners at Smile Invest: “For us, Sentech is the prime example of a Dutch high-tech gem with a unique market position. The professionalism of the organization, the quality of its solutions, and its high customer satisfaction are at a level typically seen in companies that are a few years ahead. Sentech's technically innovative profile, combined with its strong growth ambitions, aligns perfectly with our investment focus. We will support Sentech in achieving these ambitions and believe the company is perfectly equipped for both organic and inorganic growth of its activities.”

Over Smile Invest

Smile Invest (Smart Money for Innovation Leaders) is a European evergreen investment company with €350 million in capital under management, funded by 40 entrepreneurial families with a long-term focus on innovative growth companies. Smile Invest focuses on companies within three investment themes: digitalization, health, and sustainability. From offices in The Hague and Leuven, the team supports ambitious entrepreneurs and managers in achieving their growth plans.

Variohm EuroSensor has recently introduced its newest pressure sensor. This versatile pressure sensor has a pressure range of up to an incredible 4000 Bar. It is exceptionally well-suited for on- and off-road automotive and industrial applications. Sentech particularly relies on the sensor manufacturer for sensor applications involving pressure measurement.

In its half-century of existence, Variohm has grown into a leading sensor supplier for various industries. The originally British company serves automotive, aviation, agricultural, medical, and industrial companies and OEMs, among others.

A-brand excels in sensor applications for pressure measurement

Account Manager Rob Pieters: “We need partners who are open to customer-specific applications. Variohm stands for quality and delivers custom solutions upon request. When we develop a sensor solution for pressure measurement, I always look at Variohm.”

Sentech has been working with Variohm for over 10 years.

What is a pressure transducer?

The SMO3100 pressure sensor is a pressure transducer, or a pressure transducer. In the sensor housing, a medium exerts pressure on an extremely thin and pressure-sensitive material located on the sensor chip. There, the pressure is converted into an analog electrical signal.

Benefits of SMO3100 Pressure Sensor up to 4000 bar

The newest SMO3100 series Variohm's pressure transducers are specially developed for automotive applications. According to Pieters, the E1 automotive certification is partly due to their robust stainless steel construction. The pressure transducer is based on the proven technology of the EPT3100 sensor.

“The sensor's EMC and RFI protection is excellent, so electromagnetic radiation and radio waves cannot interfere with the pressure measurement. The sensor housing is made entirely of stainless steel, without silicone oil and O-ring seals. This prevents leakage and protects the sensor against overpressure,” said the account manager.

“Moreover, the sensor has an extremely fast response time, is extremely accurate and reliable,” he adds.

The pressure sensor has a range of 600 mbar to 4000 bar and is suitable for almost all liquids and gases, as long as the medium does not corrode the stainless steel housing.

Properties:

Versatile application possibilities Variohm pressure transducer

Pieters finds the SMO3100 sensor series suitable for pressure measurement in diverse automotive applications. “You can use the sensor for pressure measurement of all types of liquids and gas mixtures in vehicles. This can include passenger cars, but also trucks, buses, excavators, cranes, agricultural vehicles. Basically, anything with wheels,” he explains.

He even states that the pressure sensor can be used for all extreme conditions. “For example, I'm thinking of applications in the process and food industries, and in aerospace.”

Variohm pressure sensor SMO3100 working drawing

Inspiration for sensor applications for Sentech customers

Sentech closely follows the product news from its sensor partners. “Innovations and product improvements offer us inspiration for smart sensor applications with our customers,” explains Pieters.
”For pressure measurement issues, we draw on our knowledge and that of all our sensor suppliers. At Variohm, it's great that we can fine-tune the sensors to customer needs,” Pieters concludes.

Sensor knowledge is readily available

Sentech works closely with high-quality sensor suppliers, such as Variohm. Benefit from our diverse sensor expertise and the excellent agreements we have with our sensor partners.

Flamco did this by applying smart pressure sensors with an EMC filter in its Flexcon PA.

As a result, CV technicians experience less Unplanned breakdown visits!

Wearing face masks does not lead to more risk-taking behavior, and one-way traffic appears to be effective. Using a Social Distancing Sensor (SDS) also works when properly instructed. This is evident from a recent experimental behavioral study with real-time tracing by the Smart Distance Lab. Technology company Sentech is therefore launching the Social Distancing Sensor (SDS) on the market.

In the Smart Distance Lab, an initiative of the University of Amsterdam, cameras and sensors were used to measure how much distance people kept from each other. Researchers compared different interventions.

Sensor

The use of the Social Distancing Sensor leads to fewer contacts than when visitors do not wear a sensor. This tag provides direct feedback on behavior. The study also shows that this intervention must be clearly and consistently explained to visitors. People should also be able to try it out for a bit.

For example, the Social Distancing Sensor gives employees a warning signal if they come within 1.5 meters of a colleague with such a tag. There is a choice of different types of signals: vibration, sound, and/or light. The SDS not only makes office environments safer. Event and production locations, warehouses, and construction sites also benefit from such a solution.

Face masks and direction of travel

Wearing face masks does not lead to additional contacts. Visitors wearing face masks felt more protected than visitors without face masks. In addition, a one-way route leads to fewer contacts than a free-direction route. The distribution of the number of contacts that a visitor might be infected with is more favorable.

Reliability

Incidentally, there are other systems that alert users to maintain a distance of 1.5 meters from one another. The CoronaMelder app even notifies you if you’ve been near an infected person. The app uses Bluetooth to track proximity, which isn’t 100% reliable. “Whether you have a phone in your pocket also makes a difference,” Ron Roozendaal told NOS earlier. He is the Chief Information Officer at the Ministry of Health.

The CoronaMelder is now issuing around 10,000 notifications per day, even at distances greater than 1.5 meters. How reliable is the measurement then? The need for a system that is accurate is growing with the increasing number of Corona infections.

The ultra-wideband (UWB) technology is used in the Social Distancing Sensor. You can put it in your pocket or wear it around your neck, and the distance measurement is fully maintained. The measurements are much more accurate and reliable than, for example, Bluetooth. Sensor specialist Rob Pieters from Sentech: “Measurements are taken twice per second at the speed of light, with an accuracy of centimeters. You know immediately if you are too close to someone.”

Sentech is further developing its sensor software in collaboration with Focus Technologies. This will soon allow for measurements of how long people have been in contact with each other, when those contacts occurred, and where. Such time-based measurements are interesting for source and contact tracing. “For example, the GGD (Municipal Health Service) in Breda has already purchased sensors. They have many employees who work under high pressure, and maintaining a minimum distance of 1.5 meters is difficult in those situations,” says Pieters.

Best way to organize an event

“Larger events can be safe if carefully planned,” according to researchers at the Smart Distance Lab. The 1.5-meter rule needs a time duration specification. “With the specification ‘more than 20 seconds,’ we measure no contact in a corner with good airflow. This is important in communication from politicians to citizens.”

Based on the initial results, the research recommendation is that you best organize an event by applying one-way directional guidance. “You can also use a sensor that informs visitors whether they are succeeding in keeping their distance,” says the Smart Distance Lab. It is crucial to clearly explain to visitors how the Social Distancing Sensor works. They need to know what is expected of them when it activates.

“It would be fantastic if we could then link a reward to that; that the visitor with the fewest violations receives something (editor's note: a drink, an entrance ticket). We know that rewards work much better than punishments. By linking it to behavior in such a way, we can encourage social distancing,” the researchers conclude.

Frank Wijnveld, Crowd Management Expert at the Event Safety Institute, emphasizes this. He does so in this video: