Technology platform
KWJ Engineering
Application-driven gas detection systems spanning portable, fixed, inline, wireless, and wearable product programs.
Growth Timeline
Interlink history is the story of a sensor pioneer growing into a vertically integrated technology platform.
Founded in 1985, Interlink now serves global blue-chip customers across medical, industrial, automotive, wearables, IoT, and specialty markets through targeted acquisitions, platform expansion, and decades of IP and manufacturing know-how.
Platform
Vertically integrated technology platform serving multiple high-growth verticals.
IP Portfolio
49 issued patents and 14 additional patents pending.
Global Footprint
100+ team members across Fremont, Irvine, Shenzhen, and Yokohama.
1985 · Interlink pioneers Force Sensing Resistor technology1993 · Practical gas-detection product development begins1999 · Electrochemical and nanotechnology-enabled sensing depth expands2008 · Ozone monitoring capability joins the broader gas platform2010 · Interlink sharpens its platform-growth strategy2012 · Printed electrochemical gas sensing scales into compact devices2022 · Gas-Sensing Expansion2023 · Digital Interface Manufacturing2024 · Smart Textiles and Wearables
Company Timeline
Key inventions, platform expansions, and acquisition milestones that shaped Interlink Electronics.
Each milestone below marks a step-change in Interlink's operating footprint, technical depth, or strategic direction as the company expanded from its force sensing roots into broader sensing and printed electronics platforms.
Year
1985
1985
Interlink pioneers Force Sensing Resistor technology
Interlink Electronics was founded in 1985 around its patented Force-Sensing Resistor platform, establishing the company as an early leader in advanced human-machine interface sensing and laying the groundwork for decades of product innovation.
Strategic Theme
Interlink pioneers Force Sensing Resistor technology
Milestone Date
1985
Key Points
Founded in 1985
Built around patented Force Sensing Resistor technology
Trusted by major OEMs across industrial, medical, consumer, automotive, and emerging smart technologies
Year
1993
1993
Practical gas-detection product development begins
The technology base that now sits inside KWJ Engineering began focusing on practical gas detection products for industrial, environmental, and safety applications, establishing an early foundation for what would become Interlink’s gas-sensing platform.
Strategic Theme
Practical gas-detection product development begins
Milestone Date
1993
Linked Brands
1
Key Points
Early platform work in portable and fixed gas detection
Built for industrial, environmental, and safety use cases
Established the systems-level side of Interlink’s future gas portfolio
Included Businesses
Linked subsidiary and portfolio-brand pages tied to this expansion milestone.
Year
1999
1999
Electrochemical and nanotechnology-enabled sensing depth expands
The addition of Transducer Technology capabilities deepened the R&D base around electrochemical sensors, nanotechnology-enabled sensing, and application-specific gas detection development.
Strategic Theme
Electrochemical and nanotechnology-enabled sensing depth expands
Milestone Date
1999
Linked Brands
1
Key Points
Broader electrochemical sensor R&D foundation
Nanotechnology-enabled sensing capabilities added
Strengthened the path from sensor science to deployable systems
Included Businesses
Linked subsidiary and portfolio-brand pages tied to this expansion milestone.
Technology platform
KWJ Engineering
A gas-platform business shaped by sensing chemistry, electronics, calibration, and deployment-ready product engineering.
Year
2008
2008
Ozone monitoring capability joins the broader gas platform
The Eco Sensors business added ozone monitors, controllers, analyzers, and environmental deployment expertise, broadening the practical reach of the gas portfolio beyond sensor elements alone.
Strategic Theme
Ozone monitoring capability joins the broader gas platform
Milestone Date
2008
Linked Brands
1
Key Points
Expanded into finished ozone monitors and controllers
Added environmental deployment expertise
Extended the gas portfolio into complete end-user systems
Included Businesses
Linked subsidiary and portfolio-brand pages tied to this expansion milestone.
Technology platform
Eco Sensors
Finished ozone and environmental monitoring products for indoor air quality, process monitoring, and environmental deployment.
Year
2010
2010–2011
Interlink sharpens its platform-growth strategy
With current leadership taking shape in 2010 and 2011, Interlink aligned around mission-critical technologies, scalable operations, and a disciplined expansion strategy built to serve larger OEM programs worldwide.
Strategic Theme
Interlink sharpens its platform-growth strategy
Milestone Date
2010–2011
Key Points
Focused on strategic growth and acquisition opportunities
Extended Interlink from core sensing into a broader technology platform
Positioned as a critical supplier for the global sensor, AI, and data revolution
Year
2012
2012
Printed electrochemical gas sensing scales into compact devices
SPEC Sensors pushed electrochemical gas sensing into smaller, lower-power, printed and plastic-laminated architectures suited for wearables, smart-home products, indoor air quality devices, and distributed IoT systems.
Strategic Theme
Printed electrochemical gas sensing scales into compact devices
Milestone Date
2012
Linked Brands
1
Key Points
Miniaturized electrochemical sensing for compact electronics
Printed and laminated gas-sensor architecture
Enabled gas sensing in wearables, IoT, and battery-powered systems
Included Businesses
Linked subsidiary and portfolio-brand pages tied to this expansion milestone.
Technology platform
SPEC Sensors
Printed electrochemical gas sensor elements and modules designed for compact, battery-powered, and always-on products.
Year
2022
December 16, 2022
Gas-Sensing Expansion
Interlink expanded into electrochemical gas sensing through the acquisition of SPEC Sensors and KWJ Engineering, creating a broader operating platform across sensor elements, modules, analyzers, and application-driven gas solutions.
Eco Sensors and Sparrow Sensors are presented here as gas-portfolio brands tied to that expansion, rather than as separately dated acquisitions.
Strategic Theme
Gas-Sensing Expansion
Date Closed
December 16, 2022
Linked Brands
4
Included Businesses
Linked subsidiary and portfolio-brand pages tied to this expansion milestone.
Acquired business
SPEC Sensors
Electrochemical gas sensor elements and modules for OEM and IoT-focused gas-sensing programs.
Acquired business
KWJ Engineering
Gas-detection instrumentation, integration, and application support across safety and industrial programs.
Gas portfolio brand
Eco Sensors
Finished gas detectors and analyzers for ozone, indoor air quality, and environmental monitoring applications.
Gas portfolio brand
Sparrow Sensors
Connected environmental-sensing products focused on real-time visibility and safety alerting workflows.
Year
2023
March 17, 2023
Digital Interface Manufacturing
The acquisition of Calman Technology extended Interlink deeper into membrane keypads, graphic overlays, labels, interface assemblies, and printed electronics, strengthening the company’s industrial interface manufacturing capability.
Strategic Theme
Digital Interface Manufacturing
Date Closed
March 17, 2023
Linked Brands
1
Key Points
Expanded digital interface manufacturing capability
Added membrane keypads, overlays, labels, and printed electronics depth
Strengthened industrial and OEM interface-system support
Included Businesses
Linked subsidiary and portfolio-brand pages tied to this expansion milestone.
Acquired business
Calman Technology
Membrane keypads, graphic overlays, labels, and printed electronics for industrial and OEM interface systems.
Year
2024
December 20, 2024
Smart Textiles and Wearables
The acquisition of Conductive Transfers expanded Interlink into the patented conductive transfer process, stretchable printed electronics, e-textiles, wearable heating, textile sensing, and garment-integrated circuits.
Strategic Theme
Smart Textiles and Wearables
Date Closed
December 20, 2024
Linked Brands
1
Key Points
Added the patented conductive transfer process
Expanded into textile sensing, wearable heating, and smart garments
Extended Interlink into stretchable printed electronics and e-textiles
Included Businesses
Linked subsidiary and portfolio-brand pages tied to this expansion milestone.
Acquired business
Conductive Transfers
Printed stretchable electronics and smart textile technologies for medical, automotive, apparel, and wearable applications.