42 Technology (42T), a consultancy specialising in product development and manufacturing innovation, has entered into a strategic partnership with Synaptics, a leader in Edge AI processors, connectivity, and multimodal sensing solutions for industrial applications. This collaboration is poised to provide 42T’s global manufacturing clients with expedited access to cutting-edge AI technologies, allowing swift exploration of transformative concepts and a more rapid transition from prototype to implementation. The partnership also offers clients the flexibility required to build and scale solutions effectively.
Manufacturers are increasingly seeking to harness the commercial benefits of real-time Edge AI intelligence across production lines and within products. However, finding cost-effective, high-performance processing solutions remains a challenge. The partnership addresses this need by merging 42T’s expertise in manufacturing and product development with Synaptics’ open development environment and toolchain approach, utilising the Astra processor family for industrial IoT workloads.
Synaptics’ open architecture distinguishes itself from proprietary AI platforms by allowing companies to employ development tools and models from any source. This flexibility enables the use of preferred frameworks and prevents dependency on a single supplier as systems scale. The technology can also be retrofitted, incorporating AI capabilities — such as advanced vision, audio, or sensor processing — into existing manufacturing equipment without necessitating major redesigns or capital expenditure.
Dr Jon Spratley, CEO of 42 Technology, commented, “42 Technology’s clients want fast, flexible access to the latest AI innovations but without being restricted by a vendor-specific build environment. Partnering with Synaptics allows us to explore the full landscape of available options, to quickly prototype Edge AI solutions, and to deliver the technology that best solves our client’s real manufacturing challenges.”
The partnership will facilitate 42T’s clients in de-risking the adoption of Edge AI solutions, expediting proof of concept, and transitioning successful pilot projects to production. Target applications include process control, automated inspection, output monitoring, and automated operator guidance. John Weil, VP & GM, IoT Processors at Synaptics, stated, “42 Technology’s manufacturing expertise and commitment to always finding the best solution for each of its clients makes them the ideal partner for Synaptics.”
This collaboration builds on several Edge AI developments completed over the past year with Synaptics, Grinn, Arcturus Networks, and other industry leaders. Recent AI achievements include developing a breakthrough AI-powered automated line clearance for pharmaceutical manufacturers, creating an industrial-grade Edge-AI single-board computer for defect detection showcased at CES 2026, and supporting Addenbrooke’s Hospital in developing machine-learning models to improve a handheld eye-screening device’s accuracy for newborns.
