42 Technology and Synaptics to fast-track scalable Edge AI for global manufacturers

This new collaboration will give 42T’s global manufacturing clients faster access to emerging AI technologies, enabling them to quickly explore disruptive concepts and to move from prototype to implementation with greater speed. It will also give 42T’s clients the flexibility they need in how solutions are built and scaled.

As manufacturers look to take advantage of the commercial benefits of real-time Edge AI intelligence across their production lines or embedded within their products, identifying and deploying cost-effective, high-performance processing solutions can be challenging. 42T’s new partnership directly addresses this by combining its manufacturing and product development insight with Synaptics’ open development environment, as well as an open toolchain approach for its powerful and easily scalable embedded AI Astra processor family for industrial IoT workloads.

Unlike proprietary AI platforms, Synaptics open architecture allows companies to use development tools and models from any source, to build with their preferred frameworks, and to avoid being tied to a single supplier as systems scale. The technology is also retrofittable, enabling AI capabilities using advanced vision, audio or sensor processing to be easily added to existing manufacturing equipment without major redesigns or capital expenditure.

Dr Jon Spratley, CEO of 42 Technology said:
“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 help 42T’s FMCG, industrial, and other manufacturing clients to de-risk the adoption of Edge AI solutions, while making it faster and more efficient to reach proof of concept and to take successful pilot projects into production. Target applications include process control, automated inspection, output monitoring and automated operator guidance.

John Weil, VP & GM, IoT Processors at Synaptics said:
“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. Together, we can help manufacturers accelerate innovation and strengthen their competitive edge by reducing risk, shortening development cycles, and quickly deploying cost-effective, scalable industrial Edge AI solutions built on the Synaptics Astra portfolio of AI-native IoT processors." 

42T’s new partnership builds on several Edge AI developments delivered over the last year in collaboration with Synaptics, Grinn, Arcturus Networks, and other industry leaders.

Recent AI successes include working with world-leading pharmaceutical manufacturers to develop a breakthrough approach for AI-powered automated line clearance; developing an industrial-grade Edge-AI single-board computer that powers no-code machine learning for defect detection on production lines, which was showcased at CES 2026 in Las Vegas; and supporting Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge in developing machine-learning models to improve the accuracy of a handheld eye-screening device for newborn babies, making it even easier for midwives and GPs to use when it is launched commercially.