In an exclusive interview, Mariia Zhuldybina, CEO and co-founder of TRAQC, a Canadian startup, shared her vision for transforming quality control in additive electronics manufacturing. The company is pioneering the use of terahertz radiation to inspect the functionality of printed materials in real-time.
Zhuldybina's journey began during her PhD research in terahertz metamaterials, where she visited industrial facilities producing printable electronics. "I was fascinated about the production line and how it is working at huge volume and how many we can produce in a very short time," Zhuldybina said, but she also noticed that quality control methods were outdated. This realization sparked her desire to bring her research to the industry, developing a solution for in-line, non-contact quality control.
TRAQC's technology uses terahertz light to measure the functionality of printed materials, similar to how our eyes see different colors of light. "Our system is actually measuring how the signal of terahertz light is reflected which corresponds to actual functionality of the printed production of the printed traces. We do it in a similar way to your eyes, for example exploring a rainbow: what is red what is blue what is green, and we can also do it with terahertz to explore what is good electrical properties, what is bad electrical properties," Zhuldybina explained.
Key Advantages
TRAQC's system offers significant advantages over traditional quality control methods. It can operate at speeds up to 50 meters per minute with 95% precision. In contrast, traditional camera solutions only inspect the surface and cannot assess functionality, while probe methods are manual and can damage the products. According to Zhuldybina, "sometimes people throw away kilometers of printed devices because there was a lack of quality control during the production in line."
Applications and Market
TRAQC's technology targets various additive electronics manufacturing sectors, including sensors, RFIDs, NFC antennas, medical devices, wearable devices, and solar cells. The company is particularly focused on the solar energy sector, where there is a growing demand for fast, cheap, and thin solar panels. Zhuldybina emphasized the urgency, stating, "We need to go from producing like 360 gigawatt of solar panels per year to 3,000 gigawatts. We need to jump almost 10 times within five years."
Competitive Edge and Pricing
While there are existing quality control methods like probe methods, camera systems, and profilometers, TRAQC's solution offers a more comprehensive approach. "All the solutions are missing something what we complement," Zhuldybina noted. Although TRAQC's hardware, priced at $75,000, is more expensive than a simple multimeter, it provides added value through consistent data collection, AI integration, and real-time feedback. The company also employs a subscription model for its AI-powered services, costing around $3,000 per month.
Installation, Scalability, and Taiwan's Supply Chains
TRAQC's system is designed for easy integration into existing production lines, requiring only about 30 minutes for installation. The company is currently raising $1 million in pre-seed funding to scale up production, deploy pilot systems, and accelerate market entry.
Recognizing the importance of strategic partnerships, TRAQC is also looking to leverage Taiwan's robust supply chains. "Yes, we are very open for this opportunity, and not only in printable electronics but in terms of the technology which we are using," said Zhuldybina, indicating a dual interest in both printable electronics and the broader technology supply chain in Taiwan.
Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, TRAQC aims to become the standard tool for the printed electronics industry, providing a comprehensive solution for quality control and process improvement. The company is also committed to sustainability, with the goal of reducing waste and energy consumption in manufacturing. According to their estimates, a single TRAQC machine can reduce CO2 emissions by 150,000 kilograms of CO2 equivalent.
TRAQC's innovative approach has the potential to significantly impact the additive electronics manufacturing industry by improving efficiency, reducing waste, and enabling the production of high-quality products.
TRAQC's system offers significant advantages over traditional quality control methods
Photo: Company
TRAQC's system is designed for easy integration into existing production lines
Photo: Company
Article edited by Jerry Chen
