Murata Manufacturing to buy Finland's VTI Technologies for $261 million

Japan's Murata Manufacturing Co, a supplier of electronic components to Apple, Nokia and others, is buying Finland's energy-efficiency sensors producer VTI Technologies for 20 billion yen ($261 million)

Founded in 1991, VTI is a leader in specialised micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The company uses proprietary 3D MEMS technology to develop and manufacture silicon-based capacitance sensors for the communication, automotive industry and medical applications.

VTI's products are used to measure acceleration, inclination, shock, vibration, angular velocity, and pressure. In particular, VTI is the world's top manufacturer of low-G accelerometers for the automotive industry and cardiac rhythm management (CRM) systems.

MEMS is a key technology for reducing device size, increasing accuracy and reliability, extending service life, increasing strength, achieving lower prices, and reducing power consumption in a variety of end markets.

The MEMS market is rapidly expanding, including in a wide range of industrial and consumer applications such as automotive, information and communications equipment, energy, life care, and biotechnology.

Its tiny components are used in mobile phones, computers, audio-visual equipment as well as new applications in automotive electronics, environment/energy and healthcare. VTI had sales of €76 million for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2010.