Unichem Acquires US Electronic Skin Firm Loomia, Entering Humanoid Tactile Sensing Market

South Korean automotive interior materials manufacturer Unichem (011330) is acquiring a US flexible electronics specialist, making a decisive entry into the electronic skin market — widely regarded as a core technology for humanoid robots.

Unichem disclosed on the 5th that it has signed a term sheet to acquire a 100% stake in Loomia Technologies, Inc., a flexible electronics deep-tech company headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. The acquisition is valued at up to $6.3 million (approximately 9 billion won), structured through a combination of installment cash payments, Unichem common stock as equity consideration, and earn-out payments tied to future technology development and commercialization milestones. The final agreement will be confirmed following due diligence and negotiations.

The core rationale behind this acquisition is not simply acquiring an overseas company, but internalizing the "tactile sensing" technology essential for humanoid robots. Competition in the humanoid industry is increasingly shifting from artificial intelligence (AI) brains and actuators toward electronic skin technology that enables robots to touch and perceive pressure like humans.

Loomia was founded in 2014 by Stanford engineering alumna Madison Maxey. The company holds proprietary LEL (Loomia Electronic Layer) technology — an ultra-thin flexible electronic circuit structure that can be embedded within leather or fabric. Unlike conventional printed circuit boards (PCBs), this technology is thin and flexible enough to be applied inside materials, enabling automotive seats, leather, and textiles to function as smart materials that generate heat and sense pressure and temperature.

Through this acquisition, Unichem aims to combine its 50 years of expertise in natural leather and industrial material manufacturing and processing with Loomia's foundational flexible electronics technology. The vision extends beyond automotive applications into robotics, medical devices, wearables, and AI data centers.

Loomia is a member of HAND ERC (Human AugmentatioN via Dexterity Engineering Research Center), a research consortium supported by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) whose industry members include Meta and Amazon Robotics. The consortium focuses on advancing tactile sensing technology in robotics, and Loomia is currently exploring ways to apply tactile sensing to key physical AI applications.

Loomia's technology can collect data on pressure, contact location, and slippage even on soft, flexible surfaces, making it expandable into electronic skin for humanoid robot hands, grippers, and exteriors. Following the acquisition, Unichem plans to combine Loomia's thin, flexible tactile sensor technology with its own natural leather and high-performance material processing capabilities to develop large-area electronic skin that covers not only robot hands and grippers but entire robot exteriors.

Mass production initiatives are also underway in the automotive sector. Loomia has been selected as a seat heating system supplier for the Volkswagen Group's ecosystem vehicle program through global automotive seat and components company Sabelt. The company will supply a seat heating solution that is thinner and more flexible than conventional heating wires using its LEL technology. Unichem intends to leverage this as a springboard to upgrade its existing automotive materials business into a smart interior materials business.

Loomia's flexible heating and sensing technology can also be applied to medical heating devices, rehabilitation equipment, pressure distribution devices, and wearable monitoring products. Additionally, the company plans to explore applying LEL technology to thermal management in AI data centers by attaching flexible sensors to servers and equipment to detect temperature distribution and abnormal heat generation. However, the data center segment represents a new R&D area where technology applicability and business viability will be validated post-acquisition.

The acquisition transaction is structured with performance-linked milestones. The final agreement is being pursued within a maximum enterprise value cap of $6.3 million, with a portion of the consideration paid at closing and the remainder disbursed in stages as Loomia achieves pre-agreed technology development and revenue milestones.

To maintain technology and business continuity, Unichem plans to retain Loomia's founder and key R&D personnel post-acquisition. The company is pursuing a co-CEO arrangement with founder Madison Maxey and Unichem Chief Strategy Officer Hanju Kim, while Chief Technology Officer Ezgi Ucar and other key technical staff will oversee global R&D and business expansion.

Loomia's Brooklyn, New York entity and R&D organization will serve as Unichem's North American R&D and US market entry hub. In the US, the company plans to expand joint development with global automakers, robotics firms, and medical device companies, while in South Korea, it will leverage Unichem's manufacturing facilities and partner network to transition prototypes into mass-produced products.

An industry insider commented, "The humanoid industry is transitioning from actuator competition to sensing competition. Electronic skin remains a field with relatively few global players, so technological leadership could significantly determine corporate valuations."

A Unichem representative stated, "The Loomia acquisition marks the starting point for Unichem's transformation from a simple automotive interior materials manufacturer into an intelligent smart materials company that combines materials and electronic technology. We will extend technologies validated in automotive applications into humanoid robot hands and electronic skin, medical devices, and data center thermal management."