Canatu Plc and DENSO Corporation, a leading global supplier of automotive technology and components, have signed a 17-month joint development agreement (JDA) to develop advanced manufacturing equipment for producing larger-area carbon nanotube (CNT) films for automotive applications.

Scaling CNT film size is critical for enabling future applications, such as full windshield heaters.

Under the JDA, the companies will build a large-scale CNT deposition chamber compatible with existing Canatu CNT100 HPR reactors and related post-processing tools. The system will first be built and tested at Canatu’s facility in Finland. If desired, the system can later be dismantled, shipped, and reassembled at DENSO’s facility in Japan.

The total contract value is classified as the lowest quartile of the “Medium” (1.0–5.0 M€) category in accordance with Canatu’s disclosure policy, with corresponding revenue expected to be recognized primarily in H1/2026, subject to the completion of the defined milestones.

“Scaling this cutting-edge material marks an important step in our innovation strategy,” says Shinichi Yatsuzuka, senior director of DENSO Corporation. “Achieving larger-format CNT film will not only clarify commercial potential but also strengthen our ability to shape next-generation products with high differentiation. We believe this collaboration will open new opportunities and contribute to delivering advanced solutions to the market.”

“The very early Canatu CNT network was only coin-sized,” adds Juha Kokkonen, CEO of Canatu Plc. “Since then, Canatu has scaled stepwise to the current 600mm-wide production line. Now it’s time to take the next step. We aim to deliver larger-area applications such as full-windshield heaters, while also enabling future solar-cell solutions for automotive use.”

The new joint development project continues a long-standing collaboration between the companies. Canatu and DENSO have completed several successful joint development programs, and this agreement further strengthens the partnership in developing equipment for larger-sized transparent CNT film production and related process technologies.