As a developer and manufacturer of sensor elements based on thin films for mechanical measurement quantities for example, CeLaGo Sensors supports companies in the field of sensors and measurement technology to design more powerful, more stable, energy saving and/or more precise systems.
Founded in Saarbrücken Germany in 2017, CeLaGo Sensors GmbH is one of the younger companies which emerged from a transfer of research from the University of Applied Sciences in Saarland (htw saar). With the aim of establishing itself as a high-tech production company, the first step was being taken by launching highly sensitive strain gauges on the market.
Through strong networks within the university environment and an affinity with innovative approaches, CeLaGo Sensors is the companion to new products and offers sensor elements which are consistently developed and manufactured taking the applicable industrial standards into account.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
CeLaGo Sensors: First we are a producer of strain gauges, customer specific with nonstandard capabilities as well as standard strain gauges and active in the B2B-market as a supplier in the field of sensors and measurement technology.
As an expert for coating of flexible substrates and laser structuring/trimming, we offer our know-how to apply metallic coatings on substrates like polyimide foils, PEEK foils, thin Ceramics, thin glass, or others and to structure and trim the thin films on the carrier substrates. In this way, we can offer customer-specific sensor elements that go beyond the strain gauges, such as temperature, pressure, or flow sensors.
Another area of activity is the development of OEM products.
Starting with the design of transducers, whether for pressure or force, for example, through the selection of the appropriate functional layer to the characterization of the prototypes at your site. We support our customers throughout the entire development process from beginning.
E.E: What’s the news for 2021 about new products?
CeLaGo Sensors: As a specialist in customized sensor elements based on thin films, CeLaGo Sensors has developed a new series in its strain gauge section. Characterized by increased moisture protection, this further development of the highly sensitive strain gauges is primarily addressed to applications from the load cell, especially when hermetic encapsulation is not possible. The new series is the next step in the performance increase and will open doors to weighing technology.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
CeLaGo Sensors: CeLaGo Sensors offers a wide range of strain gauges. The strain gauges are characterized not only by their increased sensitivity, but also by their enormous adaptability. Due to the flexible adaptation of the outer and inner contours of the strain gauges, as well as the modification of the electrical resistance in a wide range, highly customized and energy-saving sensors could be offered so far.
Besides temperature sensors there are suitable accessories for the application available.
This is accompanied by a broad range of services related to thin film sensor elements such as consultation, feasibility studies, technology transfer, training, development of transducers, application of SG, for example.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
CeLaGo Sensors: Of course, there was also a strong slump in the sensor industry due to the Corona pandemic. However, expectations are positive and moderate growth is expected, especially when trade fairs can take place and these are available again as distributions channel.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
CeLaGo Sensors: Just like customised strain gauges, which are becoming affordable thanks to innovative manufacturing processes, we also see a trend towards strain gauges with higher resistance, as these can offer savings in energy consumption and thus can contribute to more sustainability. Another clear trend is the miniaturization of strain gauges to be able to offer increasingly compact force sensors.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
CeLaGo Sensors: As a spin-off from an university of applied sciences in the field sensors and thin films the most innovative products are undoubtedly our strain gauges, which have a significantly higher sensitivity than the standard. In addition, our innovative production process allows us to offer these products in a customer-specific manner in small as well as in large quantities. The technology allows these strain gauges to be miniaturized significantly and to be designed with higher resistance (energy-saving).
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2021?
CeLaGo Sensors: We expect the sensor market to recover in 2021. Both in terms of standard products sold and the resumption of development activities by our customers that were shut down during the pandemic.
Due to our efforts to penetrate further into the international market, we expect a stronger demand for our products, especially from the American and Asian market.
In the context of the internationalization, negotiations are currently being held in the background with sales partners so that customers will have a local contact in the future.