The Sharpest
I-PEX Inc. (Headquarters: Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, Representative Director and President: Reiji Konishi, hereinafter referred to as I-PEX) announced that its Smart Cloth, its human-detection safety sensor, received the “Nippon Brand Prize” at the 2026 “Super Monodzukuri Parts and Components Awards”. The award was organized by the Monodzukuri Nippon Conference and The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun and announced on October 29, 2026.
Smart Cloth, a fabric-based, non-contact human-detection safety sensor Smart Cloth: Supporting the Safe Coexistence of People and Machines
At manufacturing sites, the use of collaborative robots, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) continues to grow. As people and machines increasingly work in the same spaces, measures to prevent contact accidents are needed. To achieve a safe collaborative environment, it is essential to have mechanisms that monitor the areas around robots and equipment and prevent hazards before they occur.
Smart Cloth is a human-detection safety sensor built on proprietary sensing technology that uses conductive fabric. Because it is made of a flexible fabric material, it can be installed on robot arms, grippers, conveyance equipment, and other locations where conventional safety sensors have been difficult to mount. By linking with the deceleration and stop control of machines, it supports the safe coexistence of people and machines.
Related Information
Smart Cloth, Human-Detection Safety Sensor, Introduction Video
About I-PEX's Sensor Products
I-PEX develops proprietary sensing technologies and offers sensors that support collaborative and safety applications —such as the ESTORQ®series of torque sensors that detect contact between people and machines such as robots, and Smart Cloth, which detects proximity without contact—as well as smell sensors that leverage MEMS technology to detect odors, such as nose@MEMS®and noseStick®. Across a wide range of applications spanning industrial fields, everyday life, and mobility, I-PEX creates unprecedented solutions that contribute to safety and comfort.
Visit the Sensor Products Website
About I-PEX Inc.
I-PEX stands for “Innovative Product development & Engineering solutions eXpert” providing value in the form of inspiration and astonishment in the global marketplace. The company was founded in 1963 as Dai-ichi Seiko, a precision mold manufacturer, and has since produced numerous world-firsts and unique products and solutions. I-PEX currently operates in five business fields: Connectors, Contract Manufacturing (Automotive Components & Electronics Components), Molds & Equipment, MEMS Foundry, Energy Solutions. By delivering the sharpest tip to the world, we will contribute to exciting value-creation in the digitalized society by working globally with every client who open up the new era.
| Trade Name | I-PEX Inc. |
|---|---|
| President | Representative Director and President Reiji Konishi |
| Location | 5th Hase Building, 7th Floor, 637 Suiginya-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8411 |
| Establishment | July 10, 1963 |
| Paid-in Capital | 9,968 million yen (as of December 31, 2025) |
| Business Operation | ・Connectors Business ・Contract Manufacturing Business (Automotive Components & Electronics Components) ・Mold & Equipment Business ・MEMS Foundry Business ・Energy Solutions Business |
| URL | https://corp.i-pex.com/en |
