Nov. 30, 2022 - Blickfeld, a leading manufacturer of LiDAR hardware and software solutions, selects Fabrinet as its production partner. Fabrinet is a leading global expert in high-precision optical, electronic and mechanical manufacturing services, and a proven partner for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide. As a manufacturing partner, Fabrinet will be responsible for project planning and implementing production of the Qb2, as well as supply chain and quality management. The Qb2 was developed by Blickfeld, is based on patented technology, and is the first Smart LiDAR: The powerful Percept software developed by Blickfeld is integrated into the LiDAR hardware for the first time.
The collaboration between Blickfeld and Fabrinet started in early 2022, and mass production will start in early 2023 at Fabrinet's site in Thailand.
LiDAR production for the mass market
Currently, countless application fields for LiDAR are developing in the IoT field, and the demand for perceptual solutions is rising sharply. Production plays an important role in making LiDAR technology available to the masses: The Qb2 is a complex product for which Blickfeld sought a competent manufacturing partner to produce large quantities in high quality at low cost. Fabrinet, as one of the leading companies in the field of optoelectronics, fulfills these requirements excellently.
Qb2: The first Smart LiDAR
Qb2 combines Blickfeld's patented and industry-proven LiDAR hardware technology with a powerful computing module running the company's proprietary Percept software. As a result, Qb2 is the first Smart LiDAR to combine hardware and software in a single device, and as such, is ideally suited for countless IoT applications where a three-dimensional digital representation of the world adds value, for example, volume monitoring, crowd analytics, security or smart infrastructure. In addition to the European region, Blickfeld is seeing a strong increase in demand from the U.S. and China, which the company is serving with growing teams on the ground.
Edward T. Archer, executive vice president Sales & Marketing at Fabrinet, said: "We are pleased that Blickfeld has entrusted Fabrinet with the series production of the Qb2. Thanks to our many years of expertise and modern manufacturing facilities, we are well equipped to provide the Smart LiDAR in the high volumes needed for the global market." Terje Noevig, managing director and chief operations officer at Blickfeld, said "The Qb2 is the first Smart LiDAR and will be a key element in the revolution of three-dimensional, detailed environmental perception. The Qb2 will transform the IoT sector first and other markets later - LiDAR sensors will soon be everywhere.
The prerequisite for this is mass production, first for industrial needs and, in time, for end-user applications. In Fabrinet, we have found a very experienced and reliable production partner with whom we have worked together in a very constructive and solution-oriented manner, right from the beginning."
About Blickfeld
Founded in 2017 and based in Munich, Germany, Blickfeld provides cutting-edge LiDAR sensors and perception software, enabling countless mobility and IoT applications. The Blickfeld LiDAR products meet extremely demanding technical specifications concerning the performance, cost and dimensions required for the mass market. The main focus is on software-defined LiDAR, to make Blickfeld solutions more powerful and flexible and bring more and more analysis capabilities directly to the device. Blickfeld is backed by Bayern Kapital, Continental, Fluxunit–ams OSRAM Ventures, High-Tech Gründerfonds, New Future Capital, Tengelmann Ventures, and UVC Partners.
About Fabrinet
Fabrinet is a leading provider of advanced optical packaging and precision optical, electro-mechanical, and electronic manufacturing services to original equipment manufacturers of complex products, such as optical communication components, modules and subsystems, automotive components, medical devices, industrial lasers and sensors. Fabrinet offers a broad range of advanced optical and electro-mechanical capabilities across the entire manufacturing process, including process design and engineering, supply chain management, manufacturing, advanced packaging, integration, final assembly and testing. Fabrinet focuses on production of high complexity products in any mix and any volume.
Fabrinet maintains engineering and manufacturing resources and facilities in Thailand, the United States of America, the People’s Republic of China, Israel and the United Kingdom.
