TiHive has got €8.6 million from the EIC Accelerator program under Horizon 2020 to develop its compact imaging system based on terahertz light for deployment in quality control inspections.

TiHive’s terahertz AI-aided imaging system allows for smarter, non-invasive, detection of product defects during in-line production, when flaws can be fixed more inexpensively than if they are spotted after production is complete.

TiHive will use the funds to bring its terahertz AI-aided imaging system to an industrial scale and help accelerate expansion in European and US markets.

A specific use case is in monitoring the application of super-absorbent polymer (SAP) materials in diapers. SAP is the key ingredient in diapers; it enables them to absorb large amounts of liquid effectively.

Manufacturers are eager to close the knowledge gap between how much SAP is deposited on each diaper and how it is distributed. With the most advanced production lines manufacturing up to 1,200 diapers a minute, if SAP is being overdosed, costs can add up quickly.

If it is underdosed, then the product risks failing, resulting in lost consumer trust and lower profits. Other anomalies, such as high humidity and the presence of contaminants, like oil, small pieces of metal and insects, can also be detected.

TiHive’s terahertz imaging system ‘sees-through’ products, similar to an x-ray machine, but outperforms x-rays in many ways. Its system provides fast imaging data, safely; whereas x-ray measurements pose dangers to operators and use a complex process that isn’t as effective.