Wednesday, April 22, 2026

[Start-Up] TouchyFinger®: the “augmented finger” revolutionizing the sensory experience of packaging

What motivated Tactinnov to participate in Édition Spéciale by LUXE PACK this year?

We had already taken part in this event and established very strong connections, which naturally encouraged us to return this year. Today, our participation reflects a strong commitment to supporting packaging stakeholders in developing solutions that are both more sustainable and more demanding in terms of sensory and emotional impact.

Materials are evolving rapidly (recycled materials, bio-based alternatives, new textures), but their tactile perception remains a key challenge—particularly in ultra-personalized products and in the luxury sector.

How do Tactinnov’s tactile innovations enhance the sensory experience in brand packaging?

Today, designers and manufacturers are working with increasingly complex materials—leather, textured papers, natural or composite materials—whose sensory properties are still difficult to characterize using conventional technologies.

Evaluation still relies heavily on human panels. However, this method is time-consuming, costly, and above all purely subjective. Two fundamental gestures structure this tactile perception.

Horizontal palpation, linked to the sliding motion of the finger, makes it possible to assess surface properties (softness, roughness, slipperiness, adhesion) through the micro-vibrations perceived by mechanoreceptors.

It is on this principle that TouchyFinger® is based—our “augmented finger,” capable of reproducing this natural gesture and objectively measuring its physical parameters. Vertical palpation, corresponding to perpendicular pressure, makes it possible to assess the mechanical properties of a material. This principle lies at the core of ADHELASKIN®, which applies a standardized force and measures the mechanical response (firmness, elasticity, compressibility, adhesion).

By combining these two approaches, TACTINNOV transforms tactile perception into objective data that can be directly leveraged by R&D, design, and marketing teams.

How does Tactinnov integrate sustainability challenges into the development of its tactile solutions and materials?

In the world of packaging and luxury, the perceived quality of a product relies heavily on touch. However, new materials—recycled papers, alternative leathers, bio-based or composite materials—often exhibit different tactile properties, sometimes less controlled.

TACTINNOV’s approach is to scientifically objectify the tactile quality of these materials. By making tactile quality measurable, our technologies enable designers and R&D teams to compare, adjust, and optimize more environmentally friendly solutions.

Which innovation or technology is Tactinnov particularly proud to present to visitors at this event?

We are particularly highlighting TouchyFinger® (Cosmetic Valley Award), our “augmented finger” capable of quantifying touch through a natural gesture. Initially developed for the cosmetics industry, this technology is perfectly suited to packaging materials.

By faithfully reproducing the movement of the finger, it allows for the objective measurement of sensations perceived during human touch. These sensations result from the activation of mechanoreceptors in the skin (Meissner corpuscles, Pacinian corpuscles, Merkel discs, Ruffini endings), which are sensitive to vibrations, pressure, and deformation.

By capturing the micro-vibrations generated during palpation as well as contact forces, TouchyFinger® reproduces this sensory information with high precision. It makes it possible to characterize key dimensions such as softness, adhesion, slipperiness, and fine surface texture.

Beyond measurement, the goal is to transform these perceptions into actionable data to help R&D, design, and marketing teams compare materials, optimize their choices, and ensure the sensory consistency of a product—particularly in a context of eco-design and material innovation.