Laird Technologies and Their Latest Innovations

The world of technology is in constant motion, evolving at a breakneck pace that can be challenging to keep up with. From the devices in our pockets to the complex systems powering our cities, innovation is the driving force. In this dynamic landscape, certain companies stand out for their consistent contributions to pushing the boundaries of what's possible. One such name that has been synonymous with cutting-edge electronic components and solutions is Laird Technologies.

But what exactly has Laird Technologies been up to lately? How are their latest innovations shaping the future of various industries? This comprehensive article will delve into the core areas where Laird Technologies (and its evolved entities) continues to make significant strides, offering practical insights into how their advancements are solving real-world challenges.

Understanding Laird Technologies: A Legacy of Innovation

For decades, Laird Technologies has been a quiet giant in the electronics industry, specializing in performance-critical products for advanced electronic applications. Their expertise spans electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, thermal management, signal integrity components, and antenna solutions. However, the corporate landscape is ever-changing, and it's important to note some recent developments that reflect the evolution of "Laird Technologies" as an entity.

As of July 1, 2021, Laird Performance Materials, a key part of Laird Technologies focusing on EMI shielding and thermal management, was acquired by DuPont. Similarly, Laird Connectivity, known for its wireless technology, officially rebranded as Ezurio in March 2024, continuing its mission to simplify wireless connectivity with modules, IoT devices, and antennas. Most recently, Laird Thermal Systems rebranded to Tark Thermal Solutions in June 2025.

Despite these structural changes, the legacy of innovation, the expertise, and the product lines continue under these new banners, ensuring that the critical work initiated by Laird Technologies lives on, addressing the complex challenges of modern electronics.

Mastering the Invisible: EMI Shielding Innovations

In today's hyper-connected world, electronic devices are packed with more functionality and operate at higher speeds, making them susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI). This "noise" can disrupt performance, reduce reliability, and even cause system failures. Laird Technologies, through its EMI shielding solutions (now largely under DuPont's Laird Performance Materials), has consistently delivered advanced protection.

Their latest innovations in EMI shielding focus on both material science and application flexibility:

• Advanced Material Formulations: Products like Ecofoam™ offer innovative X, Y, and Z-axis conductivity, providing enhanced shielding effectiveness and an alternative to traditional grounding methods. They even offer flame-retardant versions for added safety.
• Flexible and Adaptable Solutions: Laird provides highly conductive EMI tapes, fabrics, and adhesives made from materials like nickel/copper metalized fabric, offering exceptional shielding and grounding, even in dynamic flex conditions.
• Board Level Shielding (BLS): For intricate circuit board designs, Laird offers customizable one-piece and two-piece shields that provide isolation for components, crucial for maintaining signal integrity without significant tooling costs.
• Comprehensive Gasket Solutions: From conductive elastomers that seal slight openings to fabric-over-foam (FOF) gaskets providing soft shielding, Laird's range ensures reliable protection across diverse environments and application needs.
• Microwave and mmWave Absorbers: With the proliferation of higher frequencies in communication, their new lines of microwave and mmWave absorbers are designed to reliably perform across various frequency ranges, reducing the negative effects of radiated energy.

These innovations are vital for ensuring the proper functioning of sensitive electronic components in everything from consumer gadgets to critical industrial and military systems.

Keeping Cool Under Pressure: Advanced Thermal Management Solutions

As electronics become smaller and more powerful, managing the heat they generate is a monumental challenge. Excessive heat can degrade performance, shorten lifespan, and lead to system failures. Laird Technologies' thermal management solutions (now primarily under DuPont's Laird Performance Materials and Tark Thermal Solutions) are at the forefront of tackling these issues.

Recent advancements include:

• Next-Generation Thermal Interface Materials (TIMs): Laird has introduced a suite of new TIMs designed for superior heat transfer. These include:
  • Tflex™ HR 6.5: A thermal pad with excellent spring-back and vibration resistance.
  • Tputty™ 607MF and Tflex™ CR550/CR350S: Single and two-part dispensable gap fillers that offer high flow rates for automated application and superior compliance to fill uneven gaps.
  • Tflex™ SF4 and SF7: Non-silicone gap fillers addressing specific application requirements.
  • Tgel™ 600: An all-in-one solution ideal for thin bondline and large gap applications, particularly crucial for high-power AI platform servers.
• Solutions for High-Performance Computing: With the rise of AI and hyperscale data centers, Laird's Tpcm™ 7000 and MaxAir™ Vent Panels are designed to keep GPUs and TPUs cool, addressing sharply elevated heat levels in extreme design densities.
• Thermoelectric Cooler Assemblies: Laird Thermal Systems (now Tark Thermal Solutions) offers compact, reliable thermoelectric cooler assemblies for precise temperature control, providing advantages over traditional compressor-based systems in terms of size, weight, and maintenance.

These thermal innovations are critical for maintaining the performance and reliability of everything from advanced AI chips to consumer electronics and automotive systems.

Connecting the World: Wireless and IoT Innovations (Now Ezurio)

Seamless and reliable wireless connectivity is the backbone of the Internet of Things (IoT) and modern communication. While Laird Connectivity has now rebranded as Ezurio, the core expertise and product portfolio continue to drive advancements in this space.

Ezurio (formerly Laird Connectivity) continues to simplify wireless connectivity with:

• Comprehensive Wireless Modules: Offering a wide range of modules for various wireless technologies, including Wi-Fi (e.g., Sona MT320 Wi-Fi 6 Module), Bluetooth LE (e.g., BL54 Series, Lyra Series), LoRaWAN (e.g., RM126x, Sentrius™ LPWAN ecosystem), and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) modules (e.g., Sera NX040).
• System-on-Modules (SOMs) and Single Board Computers (SBCs): These integrated solutions, such as the Tungsten510 & Nitrogen8Mini SMARC SOMs and Summit SOM 8M Plus, accelerate product development by providing pre-certified, ready-to-use platforms for complex connected devices.
• IoT Devices and Gateways: Their Sentrius™ LPWAN ecosystem, including sensors and gateways, leverages RF expertise to enable secure, low-power, long-range IoT deployments, ideal for applications like cold chain monitoring and industrial temperature sensing.
• Internal Antennas: Designing high-performance internal antennas is crucial for compact, reliable wireless products. Ezurio continues to offer solutions like FlexPIFA and i-FlexPIFA for sub-GHz applications, ensuring strong performance in challenging environments.

These connectivity solutions are fundamental to the expansion of IoT, smart devices, and advanced wireless communication across industrial, medical, and commercial sectors.

Driving the Future: Automotive Technology Solutions

The automotive industry is undergoing a massive transformation, driven by electrification, autonomous driving, and advanced infotainment systems. Laird Technologies, particularly through its materials science expertise (now part of DuPont), has been a crucial partner for Tier 1 automotive suppliers in addressing complex electronics design challenges, especially concerning EMI suppression and heat channeling.

Their contributions to the automotive sector include:

• EV Powertrain Electronics: Developing thermal solutions and EMI mitigation for electric vehicle powertrain components, including low-profile SMD power inductors, broadband common mode chokes, and thermally conductive greases and gap fillers.
• LED Component Systems: Providing solutions to improve thermal management and mitigate crosstalk for advanced LED automotive lighting systems, with products like beam shading stamped metals and specialized gap fillers.
• ADAS / Autonomous Driving Systems: Offering components like microwave absorbers and specialized thermal greases to ensure the optimal efficiency and reliability of advanced driver-assistance systems.
• Connected Car Platforms: While launched in 2018, the Laird MAX (Modular Automotive Connectivity Solution) platform exemplified their foresight, integrating secure mobile connectivity and automotive Ethernet for reliable in-vehicle internet use, setting a precedent for future connected vehicles.

These innovations are critical for the safety, performance, and reliability of the next generation of vehicles.

Beyond Components: AI in Laird's Operations

Beyond the components and solutions they offer, Laird has also embraced artificial intelligence (AI) within its own operational workflows. In 2023, Laird introduced AI to streamline internal processes, such as:

• Automated Client Instruction Processing: Using AI to read incoming client instructions, extract salient data, and integrate it into their workflow platforms, significantly reducing manual tasks and expediting job processing.
• Visual Intelligence for Damage Assessment: Implementing AI to assist with capturing and assessing crashed car images from consumers, helping to evaluate light or superficial damage and automate subsequent actions like instructing repairers.
• Generative AI for Customer Service: Developing chatbots, including a total-loss chatbot and a natural language voice bot, to handle customer queries and streamline communication, particularly for tasks like agreeing on total loss valuations.

While these are internal applications, they demonstrate Laird's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology not just in their products but also in enhancing their efficiency and customer service.

Conclusion

Laird Technologies, through its various specialized entities like DuPont's Laird Performance Materials, Ezurio (formerly Laird Connectivity), and Tark Thermal Solutions (formerly Laird Thermal Systems), continues to be a pivotal force in the technology sector. Their relentless pursuit of innovation in EMI shielding, thermal management, wireless connectivity, and automotive solutions underpins the functionality and reliability of countless electronic devices we rely on daily.

From ensuring your smartphone operates flawlessly to enabling the advanced systems in autonomous vehicles and the vast network of IoT devices, Laird's contributions are often unseen but always essential. Their commitment to solving complex engineering challenges, coupled with their adaptive approach to an evolving industry, solidifies