DENSO Corp. has agreed to acquire the 3D Business Unit of I-Net Corp. The acquisition will be completed on April 1, 2012, and upon completion of ownership, the business unit will become a subsidiary of DENSO and begin operation as 3D Corp.
The business unit provides software and services based on its technologies to create and analyze 3D images. DENSO projects the subsidiary's sales will total $5 million in 2012.
"There is a growing need for clearer and brighter images on in-vehicle displays, such as instrument clusters, car navigation systems, and head-up displays,” says Hiroyuki Wakabayashi, executive director of DENSO's Information and Safety Systems Business Group. “DENSO will use the technologies and expertise of I-Net’s 3D Business Unit to help us develop more sophisticated display technologies.”
The 3D Business Unit has succeeded in developing 3D image-based simulation technologies, as well as software for haptic devices (haptic devices commercialized by DENSO include remote touch controllers used in Lexus GS, RX, and other Lexus models). These technologies and expertise will be used in DENSO’s developments of various products, including human machine interface area.
I-Net’s 3D Business Unit has diverse customers ranging from automobile to medical and amusement industries. 3D Corp., based in Kohoku-ku, Yokohama City, Japan, will continue to offer software and services in these industries, according to DENSO.
DENSO posted net income of $467.8 million on net sales of $28.5 billion for its third quarter ended Dec. 31, 2011. Its income-to-sales ratio was 1.6%, which was lower than it was during the same period in 2010.
For more information on DENSO, visit www.globaldenso.com.
