BMS to acquire Artificial Muscle

Through the acquisition, BMS says it will gain access to Artificial Muscle’s product portfolio so will be able to make a move into the market for electroactive polymers.

AMI's polymers are used in actuators and sensing components, such as touchscreen panels used in consumer electronics, accroding to BMS. The technology has applications in devices including smartphones, gaming controllers and touchpads.

“The takeover of AMI allows us to expand in a new market sector,” says Dr Joachim Wolff, head of the BMS Coatings, Adhesives and Specialties unit. “We invest heavily in R&D and this agreement further strengthens our position as a solution provider.”

Urethanes Technology International reports that the market for functional films - which can replace complex electronic components made of many parts and which are labour-intensive to assembl - was worth $650m (€478m) in 2005 and is predicted to reach $1bn (€736m) by 2020, and $2.5bn (€1.8bn) in 2025 (figures from market research group IDTechEx).