BYK buys perisens to expand radar testing portfolio

BYK-Gardner USA is acquiring perisens GmbH to add radar measurement and testing technology to its instruments business. The deal expands BYK’s reach in autonomous-driving quality control, where radar transparency in painted plastic parts and radomes is becoming more important.

Why it matters: - The acquisition gives BYK a foothold in radar measurement, a testing category tied to autonomous-driving hardware and automotive quality control. - perisens technology is aimed at ensuring paints, emblems and other coated plastic components do not interfere with radar performance. - BYK is broadening its instruments portfolio beyond color and gloss measurement into what the company views as an important next-generation testing area.

What happened: - BYK-Gardner USA, a subsidiary of ALTANA’s BYK division, is acquiring perisens GmbH. - perisens is based in Feldkirchen near Munich and develops measurement and testing equipment for automotive radar sensors and radomes. - The companies said the employees working for perisens will transfer to BYK. - perisens will be integrated into BYK-Gardner, which is headquartered in Geretsried, Bavaria.

The details: - perisens was founded in 2009 as a spin-off from the Technical University of Munich. - The company’s RMS-C and RMS-D Radom Measurement Systems cover radar radome testing from development through quality control in series production. - The RMS systems have been used worldwide since 2014 by automakers, radar sensor suppliers, suppliers of plastic components, and paint and pigment manufacturers. - perisens technology works in laboratory measuring instruments and in measuring cells on robot-controlled production lines. - The products support precise process control of coated plastic automotive components. - perisens also offers services and measurement solutions for radar sensors and radar covers, including Radar Target Simulator (RTS) and Radome Measurement System (RMS) products used in R&D, quality control and end-of-line testing. - The technology helps customers improve the radar transparency of automotive metallic paints, avoid radar interference from complex emblems and develop next-generation radar sensors. - BYK said the acquisition strengthens its measurement and testing business and adds innovative radar-measurement technologies.

Between the lines: - The move positions BYK closer to the shift from purely visual quality control toward sensor-aware testing in vehicles. - Radar compatibility is becoming a more practical issue as autonomous-driving systems depend on uninterrupted sensor performance. - The acquisition also extends ALTANA’s industrial testing capabilities into a specialized niche with applications across automotive development and production.

What's next: - BYK will fold perisens into BYK-Gardner and continue developing the radar-testing portfolio. - perisens expects the integration to speed up product development, raise brand awareness and support further innovation. - BYK says the new technology will be offered to customers in the automotive and coatings industries as radar measurement becomes more important for future vehicles.

The bottom line: - BYK is betting that radar testing will become a core part of automotive quality control as autonomous driving advances.