The new VTI automotive digital accelerometer family has been designed to support the trend towards intelligent integration and smart sensing combined with improved reliability and sophisticated self-test features. The products comply with the stringent requirements of a wide range of automotive applications that need sophisticated yet robust sensing technology.

The new digital sensor platform offers our customers a very cost effective system solution in diverse applications, states Markku Hirvonen, CEO of VTI Group. Customer response has been very good and a number of leading companies have taken up the new digital platform. They have been very pleased by the performance, good offset stability and robustness of the sensors for automotive use, of which we are particularly proud.

"Systems integrators are looking for smart sensors that are compact and easy to integrate. The VTI digital platform uses a common component package for all its sensors, for example," Kimmo Rauhala, Executive Vice President, Automotive Business Unit of VTI Group points out. Compared to analog sensors, our digital products are smaller, more cost competitive and even easier to use. This adds up to time and cost savings for our customers.

The digital products can operate with excellent offset stability over a wide temperature range and have been designed especially for new electronic stability control and inclination applications. The product offering covers 1, 2, and 3 axis measurement from 2g to 5g and fit into a package that measures only 7.6 x 3.3 x 8.6 mm.

"VTI is the market leader as a supplier of low-g sensors to the automotive industry since the early 90's, and these digital accelerometers will strengthen our position as continuously higher performance is required", continues Kimmo Rauhala. The qualification sample deliveries of the new digital products have already started and volume production readiness is in place.

More information
Hannu Laatikainen, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, tel. +358 50 568 1300 hannu.laatikainen@vti.fi
Tiina Olkkonen, Vice President, Corporate Communications, tel. +358 40 827 8844, tiina.olkkonen@vti.fi

VTI in Brief

VTI Technologies is a global market leader of low-g acceleration sensors for automotive industry applications and Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM). Application areas for the company's motion and pressure sensors include the automotive industry, medical, instruments, as well as sports and handheld terminals.

VTI develops and produces silicon-based capacitive sensors using its proprietary 3D MEMS (MicroElectroMechanicalSystem) technology, with application areas e.g. in acceleration, inclination, shock, vibration, angular rate and pressure measurement.

VTI is owned by EQT III private equity fund. VTI's net sales in 2006 totaled €72.4 million and the company has approx. 700 employees. Along with the head office in Finland and the global partner network, VTI's international sales and marketing network includes offices in Germany, USA, Japan and China. Besides Finland, VTI also has manufacturing operations in Mexico. More than 99% of the company's products are sold on international markets. www.vti.fi.