What Trinamix does

trinamiX GmbH is a German sensing-technology company founded in 2015 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of BASF SE, headquartered in Ludwigshafen with a US subsidiary (trinamiX Sensing LLC) in Austin, Texas. The company employs over 200 specialists across software development, machine learning, sensor production, engineering, sales, and business development. Its core technology is proprietary near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and biometric imaging, originating from a discovery by BASF scientists during organic solar cell research. The technology combines NIR laser projection with AI algorithms to enable non-invasive material identification and biometric imaging.

The business operates in two primary segments. In industrial materials testing, the Mobile NIR Spectroscopy platform is deployed as a handheld device for plastics identification (supporting recycling and sorting), textile fiber classification, and feed analysis for livestock and equine nutrition, distributed across Europe via Solid Scanner (Germany), Benelux Scientific (Benelux), Promak (Spain), Vidara, and Kartal (Turkey). In automotive biometrics and safety, trinamiX has co-developed with AUMOVIO an invisible OLED driver-monitoring camera module (1.5 megapixels) integrated behind the display, and a wide-field-of-view (110° × 85°) NIR dot projector for simultaneous driver and passenger monitoring, including real-time vital signs tracking, seatbelt recognition via material detection, and 3D depth mapping for airbag deployment. A major production order for the invisible camera module was received in April 2026 from a European premium automobile manufacturer, representing the first invisibly positioned DMS camera to reach series production. The company also demonstrated fingerprint-based alcohol detection at CES 2026 with potential production by 2028.

Revenue is generated through a combination of hardware sales (NIR spectroscopy devices), licensing and royalties (automotive biometric imaging IP), and professional services (technical support, training, consulting). Pricing is quote-based through enterprise sales, with no publicly disclosed price points. The go-to-market combines enterprise field sales with regional distribution partners and event-driven demand generation at major industry conferences (CES, PlastIndia). BASF SE retains full ownership, though AEA Elevate was reported as an external investor in March 2026; specific terms and ownership stakes were not disclosed.

Name

Trinamix

Legal name

trinamiX GmbH

Website

https://trinamixsensing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

trinamiX GmbH, a BASF subsidiary founded in 2015 and headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany, develops near-infrared spectroscopy and biometric imaging solutions for industrial material identification (plastics, textiles, feed) and automotive driver monitoring systems, serving enterprise customers globally through direct sales and a European distribution network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

NIR Spectroscopy and Biometric Imaging

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

Optical & Light Sensors (Photodiodes/ALS/Color/UV) (HDAHALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL) (HDAHALAL), Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF)

Keywords

• NIR spectroscopy solutions
• Biometric imaging systems
• Material identification devices
• Driver monitoring technology
• Automotive safety sensors

Headquarters

HQ city

Ludwigshafen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. NIR Spectroscopy Hardware and Software: Sale of mobile NIR spectroscopy devices and related software for material identification applications including plastics, textiles, and feed analysis.
2. Biometric Imaging Solutions: Licensing and sale of biometric imaging technology for automotive safety applications including driver monitoring systems.
3. Professional Services and Support: Technical support, training, and consulting services for customers implementing trinamiX solutions.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Trinamix develops and sells near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy hardware and biometric imaging technology. Its portfolio includes mobile NIR spectroscopy devices for material identification (plastics, textiles, feed), automotive-grade driver monitoring systems with invisible OLED-integrated cameras, wide-field-of-view NIR dot projectors for in-cabin safety, and fingerprint-based alcohol detection technology. The technology originated from BASF's organic solar cell research and is sold to industrial, agricultural, and automotive customers.

Product overview

trinamiX offers a portfolio of near-infrared spectroscopy and biometric imaging solutions. The core product is Mobile NIR Spectroscopy, which serves as a handheld device platform supporting multiple application modules including Plastics Identification, Textile Identification, and Feed Analysis for livestock and equine. In the automotive biometrics space, trinamiX provides Driver Monitoring Systems developed in partnership with AUMOVIO, featuring invisible camera modules integrated into OLED displays and wide-field-of-view dot projectors for health and safety monitoring. The company also develops drunk driving prevention technology using NIR spectroscopy. All solutions leverage proprietary near-infrared sensing technology originally discovered within BASF's research operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mobile NIR Spectroscopy Handheld near-infrared spectroscopy device for mobile, non-destructive material identification across plastics recycling, textile manufacturing, livestock/equine feed analysis, and biomarker applications. Sold to industrial, recycling, and agricultural enterprises.
• Driver Monitoring System Automotive-grade biometric imaging system featuring an invisible OLED-integrated NIR camera for driver and passenger monitoring, including vital signs tracking, seatbelt detection, and 3D depth mapping for airbag deployment optimization. Developed with AUMOVIO and sold to automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers.
• Wide-Field-of-View Dot Projector Automotive-grade NIR dot projector with 110° × 85° field-of-view, combining laser projection with AI algorithms for simultaneous driver and front-seat passenger monitoring, real-time vital signs tracking, seatbelt material detection, and 3D distance mapping for airbag deployment. Sold to automotive OEMs.
• Drunk Driving Prevention Technology Fingerprint-based biometric system using near-infrared spectroscopy to detect alcohol molecules on a driver's finger, demonstrated at CES 2026 with potential production availability by 2028. Targeted at automotive OEMs and safety system integrators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Wide Field-of-View Dot Projector: 110° × 85° coverage for simultaneous driver and passenger monitoring
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• AUMOVIOflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Strategic partnership for development of invisible OLED display with integrated near-infrared driver-monitoring camera. The technology enables 3D depth mapping for airbag deployment, seatbelt detection, and vital parameter analysis. AUMOVIO received a major production order in April 2026 from a European premium manufacturer, making this the first invisibly positioned camera module in the industry to reach series production.
• AUMOVIOflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for development of automotive-grade wide Field-of-View (110° × 85°) dot projector for driver monitoring systems. Combines near-infrared laser projection with AI algorithms for simultaneous driver and passenger monitoring, vital signs tracking, and seatbelt recognition.
• AUMOVIOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for fingerprint-based drunk driving prevention technology demonstrated at CES 2026. Uses near-infrared spectroscopy to detect alcohol molecules and could enter production by 2028.
• BASF SEflagshipOthers · 1 January 2015Trinamix was spun off from BASF in 2015 as a wholly-owned subsidiary. The technology originated from discovery by BASF scientists working with organic solar cells. BASF provides corporate backing and resources for R&D and global expansion.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Seeing Machines: Australia-based specialist in driver monitoring systems using camera-based eye and head tracking. Directly competes with trinamiX's DMS offering for automotive OEMs, serving the same cabin-sensing regulatory-driven opportunity.
• Smart Eye: Swedish driver monitoring software company with established design wins across multiple automotive OEMs. Competes head-to-head with trinamiX in DMS, with overlapping customer base of premium European automakers.
• Cipia Vision: Israeli computer vision company focused on automotive in-cabin DMS solutions. Targets the same OEM customer set as trinamiX with similar AI-driven driver monitoring capabilities.
• Consumer Physics (SCiO): Developer of handheld NIR spectrometers for material identification, including plastics and food analysis. Closest direct competitor in the mobile NIR spectroscopy space that trinamiX also addresses.

Emerging players

• Spectral Engines: Finland-based developer of miniaturized NIR spectroscopy sensors and modules for industrial and consumer material sensing. Competes in the OEM spectrometer component market that trinamiX also serves.
• Jungo Connectivity: Israeli provider of in-cabin sensing software including driver monitoring and occupancy detection. Competes in the same DMS software stack that trinamiX's biometric imaging enables.
• Viavi Solutions: Provider of optical filters and spectral sensing components used in biometrics, spectroscopy, and authentication applications. Adjacent technology provider with comparable NIR component expertise.

Broad incumbents

• Bosch Mobility Solutions: Global Tier-1 automotive supplier with significant driver monitoring and interior sensing portfolio. Represents the established incumbent against which trinamiX must compete for OEM design wins.
• ams OSRAM: Major optoelectronic components manufacturer producing NIR LEDs, VCSELs, and sensor components. Comparable as a supplier of the underlying optoelectronic hardware that trinamiX's NIR systems depend on.
• Bruker Optics: Division of Bruker Corporation producing high-end FT-NIR and laboratory spectroscopy instruments for material analysis. Overlaps with trinamiX's industrial spectroscopy applications, though addressing higher-end laboratory users.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLvd4K_EStw4hHFuHhjg81jOxxrxhqqAYx
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/10421725/admin/dashboard
• Xx.com/trinamiXsensing

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Trinamix