memetis and Fluid-o-Tech join forces

Memetis continues its path to become a technology leader in Shape Memory driven miniature valving – Fluid-o-Tech S.r.l. invests an undisclosed amount to support memetis’ growth and development

The Deep-Tech Start-Up memetis GmbH from Germany, which produces the world’s most compact and lightest commercially available valves driven by shape memory alloys, announces a new partnership with Fluid-o-Tech S.r.l., an Italian innovation and market leader in the field of fluid-pumps. “We see unique opportunities to build a technology leader in shape memory driven valving for the life sciences and industrial applications.” Christoph Wessendorf, one of the four memetis founders says.

memetis GmbH started as a Spin-Off from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), where  co-founders Hinnerk Oßmer, Christof Megnin, and Marcel Gültig spent several years researching different applications and properties of shape memory alloys with Prof. Manfred Kohl. “The material is the machine” states Dr. Hinnerk Oßmer when asked about the advantages of shape memory alloys. Thanks to the excellent miniaturization capabilities of this material, memetis is able to design the smallest and most powerful actuators based on this innovative and proprietary technology.

One of the most promising fields for this technology are miniature valves to handle fluids in the life science industry. “Similar to the way miniaturization has revolutionized the electronics industry, smaller and lighter actuation components as well as systems undergo an increasing demand in the life science sector.” tells Dr. Christof Megnin, head of valve production at memetis. To address this increasing demand, memetis decided to join forces with a strategic partner, thereby leveraging synergies and enabling new solutions for the next generation of compact microfluidic systems.   

“With Fluid-o-Tech, winning the Italian Innovation-award for companies three times in a row, we found the perfect partner for our ambitious goals.”, Dr. Marcel Gültig comments on the decision. “Developing products for the life science sector as well as the medical industry is a challenge, that is not easy to overcome as a small Start-Up”. By combining the innovative new technology of memetis with the production and business know-how of Fluid-o-Tech, fluid handling based on miniaturized shape memory valves will be taken to the next level. Customers of memetis develop PCR-Test devices, Peptide-Array-Synthesis and DNA-Analyzer, for example.

“The goal of the Fluid-o-Tech group is to not only provide individual components to customers, but provide them with fully integrated fluid-handling solutions.” states Diego Andreis, managing director of the family-owned company. With Dolphin Fluidics S.r.l., Fluid-o-Tech, already joined forces with a specialist for larger-scale shape memory valves. The extremely compact valves of memetis complement the portfolio in an ideal way. The latest significant investment in memetis by Fluid-o-Tech represents the unique opportunity to create a technology leader in shape memory driven smart fluidic handling systems. Francesco Butera, Managing Director of Dolphin Fluidics S.r.l. emphasizes that “with 30 years of experience and an extensive and strong patent portfolio we are the world leader group for digital valves based on Shape Memory technology from micro to macro.” Memetis’ existing shareholders, namely the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and a group of technology-affine angel investors fully share this vision and continue to support memetis’ growth and development.

About memetis

memetis develops miniature shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators and fluid-handling components and has built up strong expertise in their design and fabrication. These actuators are distinguished by their special two-dimensional geometries, offering a number of advantages over SMA wire-based actuators and allowing memetis to quickly adapt to market and customer requirements. Due to the broad range of applications, memetis SMA miniature actuators are used in a variety of innovative industries. memetis’ strategic focus particularly lies on commercializing miniature valves for active fluidic control systems, for instance in the diagnostic, analytical and medical sector.

About Fluid-o-Tech

Family-owned Italian company Fluid-o-Tech is a leader in the design and manufacture of positive displacement pumps and fluidic systems dedicated to accurately dosing and controlling fluids for the food service, automotive, medical, and other industrial sectors. With over seventy years of experience and with the passion the family is still conveying, Fluid-o-Tech has managed to build a strong reputation in fluid handling, thanks to its ability to anticipate market needs, the development of innovative solutions and ongoing investments in resources and innovation, becoming a recognized and affirmed global reality. The management adopts an open approach to innovation, developing cutting-edge solutions through strategic partnerships with customers, suppliers, research institutes, engineering companies and universities.

Contact memetis

memetis GmbH
Gablonzer Straße 27
76185 Karlsruhe
T: +49 721 47000240
info@memetis.com
www.memetis.com

Contact Fluid-o-Tech

Fluid-o-Tech S.r.l.
Via Leonardo Da Vinci, 40
20094 Corsico
T: +39 02 999 501
f.spinicci@fluidotech.it
www. fluidotech.it