Gail Chiasson, North American Editor
It’s not many companies in the digital signage or digital out-of-home sector that we run into that have a history like that of Zytronic, based in Blaydon on Tyne in the U.K.
While under the name Zytronic since 2000, the company actually began in 1943 providing lens for gas masks.
The first person we met on the trade show floor at #dse2016 was Mark Cambridge, who will celebrate 25 years with the company this coming July and has been Zytronic’s CEO since 2008.
“This is our second year here,” said Cambridge. “It’s the best vehicle in North America for us.”
Cambridge gave us a rundown on the history of the company and how it had become the company with such robust, laminated touch screens in an almost limitless range of sizes and shapes for almost any display, kiosk and more. The company had provided displays for medical devices and covers for ATM machines by the 1980s. Its Zytouch for ATMs and kiosks was on the market before the mobile explosion.
“We were providing niche solutions,” said Cambridge, “but they were costly, high premium products for external use. By 2005, we were seeing more activations, although limited, because of the cost. But we could see applications for the touch ecosystem. So we developed a further technology called ZyPos, which gave a light touch possibility. Initial products involved one-touch at that time.
“We saw more opportunities and found our place with digital signage applications, the military and ATMs. We felt we had the best technology solution but went further and developed Zybrid, a highly durable touch sensor product. That really helped with costs. Today, we offer up to 40 touch points for multi-users.”
Zytronic projected capacitive touch technology products for secure encrypted touch sensors are used in transactional kiosks, curved interactive surfaces for casino cabinets, and rugged, anti-microbial glass touch screens for high use unattended environments. When one is buying a train ticket, withdrawing cash, fuelling a car or buying a snack, a Zytronic touch sensor has likely unknowingly been used.
Zytronic products are used around the globe: 50% in Europe and 25% each in North America and Asia. Clients include companies like Coca-Cola, Diebold and NCR.
“About 90% of our business is now Zybrid, 5% is ZyPos and 5% is Zytouch,” said Cambridge, as he demonstrated that Zytronic can handle from 5” to 85” screens and more, including curved solutions. “We took various patents out in 2012, and have approval, to date, for four in the UK and three in the US, Europe and China and elsewhere.
“We recently brought out an Android solution with a zoom function that makes a multi-user screen like an ‘iPad on steroids’.”
Cambridge said that Zytronic has had an annual growth of 15% to 20% annually since 2008. And for the future, “Table touch will drive us. We’re seeing it used in car showrooms, in real estate offices, and in travel agencies.
“Our biggest advantage is our flexibility. We can do niche, and can do one or two, or in the hundreds.”
What’s coming next? Zytronic’s special encrypted touchscreen with a technique that will allow use of a pen on the glass.
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