The memetis company is located in a suburb of Karlsruhe, somewhat away from the public eye. Here, at the heart of the company, high-tech products made from shape memory alloys (SMA) are designed, tested, and manufactured.

On a sunny spring day, our hosts, Anna Vidina and Christof Megnin, give us a warm welcome. They guide us through the laboratories and tell us about the history of memetis products, ranging from intelligent actuators for miniature train couplings to fully SMA-controlled microfluidic systems for automated biomedical research in space.

Memetis was founded by three engineers who were passionate about bringing flat film FFL drive technology to market maturity. In 2017, memetis spun off from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) to explore the potential of these innovative actuator solutions. memetis's approach is unique: rather than using FGL wires from a roll, they design ultra-thin, two-dimensional actuator structures with high precision. For several years, the young company has received support from Fluid-o-Tech, an Italian family-owned company and renowned manufacturer of pumps and an innovation leader in fluid handling. Today, the team has over 20 members and maintains its research-oriented, creative startup spirit, where teamwork and a willingness to experiment are paramount.

Memetis specializes in flat actuators made of FGL because they are easier to integrate and offer a high degree of design freedom, unlike wire actuators. The force and stroke of the actuator are determined by its shape, thickness, width, and length, while the robust mechanical-electrical connection ensures reliable operation.

The first major series project was the introduction of FGL actuators for miniature train couplings by the long-established company Märklin. The flat raw material is structured using a specially developed laser cutting system and then undergoes special thermomechanical training – for consistent performance throughout its entire life cycle. As a result, memetis has been able to supply over 100,000 actuators for model railway couplings in recent years. These enable model railway enthusiasts to electrically uncouple trains at the touch of a button and with a short heating pulse.

Today, memetis supplies customers in the life sciences, medical technology, consumer goods, and aerospace industries with particularly compact valves and fluidic subsystems – thanks to smaller, lighter, and more energy-efficient FGL actuators.

Since their miniature valve measures only a fraction of the size of a caramel candy, the memetis team likes to use a 10x enlarged model for illustration purposes. Shape memory alloys – also known as “smart materials” – enable silent switching while offering the highest energy density compared to other actuator concepts. The cross-shaped actuator for the microvalves (MVL) weighs less than a milligram, but is capable of controlling several hundred kilopascals over more than ten million switching cycles.

These compact valves have been used in biological research setups sent into space, among other applications. Microgravity experiments provide novel insights into processes such as tissue development and organoid growth. Because weight and volume are decisive factors in space, memetis has designed a multi-valve unit with 24 valves that fits on the surface of a microscope slide. As part of the latest project, a prototype of a fluidic channel distributor and control electronics that allow for precise control of the individual valves within the compact housing were developed. In addition to such fluidic solutions for space applications, memetis has also designed mechanical release units that are used to open payloads in space after a rocket launch.

The team is proud of this new system solution – not least because it makes it easier for customers to get started with product testing. User-friendly electronic control units have been designed that allow switching at the touch of a button or execution of automated script sequences. A graphical user interface (GUI) enables intuitive control of pumps and valves via the screen. The team has expanded its expertise beyond FGL actuators. It now develops its own electronic components, manufactures polymer parts with submillimeter precision, and integrates microvalves into complex fluidic subsystems. These subsystems are optimized for test series with minimal reagent requirements and no manual intervention.

In parallel with the series production of miniature valves, memetis is working on a large number of customer-specific projects. Customers who want to leverage FGL potential are supported in the feasibility analysis, conception, and step-by-step implementation of their ideas. Various in-house prototyping processes are used for implementation. Once the design is finalized, small- to medium-sized production runs — sometimes involving tens of thousands of units — can start seamlessly.

Our hosts have a lot to show and tell, so the visit flies by. Looking ahead to the coming years, the team is determined to expand its presence further in the life sciences and aerospace industries and continuously increase the proportion of series-produced solutions. We wish memetis continued success and thank them for their warm hospitality!