For 5 years now, memetis produces ultra-compact valves for Life Sciences to realize complex fluidic systems in small dimensions, e.g. for Organ-on-a-Chip or 3D cell culture fluidic periphery. These valves are driven by a proprietary shape memory alloy (SMA) actuation technology.
Together with other components manufactured in-house (e.g. customized manifolds) and memetis’ B2B partners, the company provides industries in need of a complex and active microfluidic solution with an innovative architecture designed for a smooth and easy liquid handling.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
MEMETIS: memetis has two main areas of activity: on the one hand we offer micro components like valves and fluidic accessories especially for the life science industry. In this area, our proprietary technology enables a strong differentiation to conventional micro valves by decreasing the valves’ overall size and weight, as well as heavily reducing energy consumption. On the other hand, we provide our customers with solutions for customer-specific SMA actuation, accompanying them from ideation to series production. These custom solutions are mainly focusing on fluidic or optical applications as well as the space industry.
E.E: What’s the news for 2021 about new products?
MEMETIS: Customers in need of an active (micro)fluidic system are generally looking for a flexible service, advantageous and easy-to-integrate products, an innovative technology and customized solutions to suit their individual applications. This is what drives our motivation, is our vision, our mission. Day to day we try to improve our products, and enjoy the challenge of finding new, creative ways to enhance our customers´ daily business.
Concerning our product portfolio, top 2021 we officially launched our Normally-Closed (NC) Valve – Series09, which provides the same performance level than relevant microvalves of our competitors – but with the overall dimensions of half a sugar cube and below 1g of weight. Its silent switching makes the valves also suitable for near-patient applications, whereas the broad material choice allows for biocompatible valve variants.
Further, we just started the development of our bistable valve BV1101, which seconds all the advantages of the Series09 NC valve, but additionally has the advantage of being especially power saving, because it only requires power to switch between the open and close state. Both positions can be held without requiring current. The switching takes 75mJ of power. Thereby even battery-operation becomes possible.
Just recently we launched an online shop where we offer, for instance, new evaluation kits for those who would like to test our products and their suitability for their applications first, before buying larger quantities.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
MEMETIS: We offer different types of valves (monostable and bistable, 2/2 and 3/2 valves), which all can come in different variations in material (e.g. PPS or PEEK for the housing, as well as FKM or EPDM as membrane material).
Yet, whereas the 2/2 valves are already available in monostable and bistable versions in different material combinations, the 3/2 way bistable valve is in a beta phase. Selected customers already use and test this new valve. We plan to launch it to all customers in 2022. On the one hand, via our online shop (smaller units), and on the other hand, in larger quantities for system integration. Then we sell major accessories to the valves (electronic control units (ECU), fluidic adaptors, manifolds).
Plus, driven by our core technology, our innovative SMA actuators, we also do customized actuator development/ projects. Yet, this is a very customer-driven field of activity, where we only offer very particular components or customized solutions.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
MEMETIS: With our valves we currently focus on selected industries like medical technology and bio-analytics, in particular Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) and 3D cell culture analysis, where we see strong double-digit growth in a dynamic market environment. Several new applications in these fields are emerging, and we provide the right solutions to allow for an automation and implementation of a commercializable device.
Additionally, in the field of actuation, our SMA-technology offers a clear value for many other different industries where size and weight are critical, but still movement with relatively large forces and displacement needs to be realized, such as optics, robotics or aerospace. In these fields as well we clearly see huge potential for memetis.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
MEMETIS: We offer a product and technology that seem to have a clear USP for those who actively handle small volumes of fluids with their devices and systems.
We see us as an enabler, as we respond to specific requirements demanded on our key markets by providing suitable products and services.
The current trend on our relevant markets shows that a higher degree of automation and mobility/ portability of devices is increasingly asked for, and it is exactly in this field where active components like our microvalves, which on the one hand enable active fluid control, and on the other hand, have the advantage of being light, small, energy-efficient (possible battery-operation) and silent, thereby facilitating mobile use, clearly add value.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
MEMETIS: Our Bistable Valve BV1101 is for sure standing out compared to available micro valves on the market. With its unique SMA-driven actuator mechanism one can control fluids in a highly energy-efficient way, as energy is only needed to change switching position. In order to hold a switching state, no energy is needed, thereby bringing energy consumption down to 75mJ per switching.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2021?
MEMETIS: Microfluidics is developing quickly and will continue to do so. It will also further evolve from mostly using passive structures to integrable active components. We are confident that we can continue to participate at this development, and with our enabling products continue to provide value, and thus, increase our growth significantly. We are convinced of this evolution – for 2021 and beyond.
MEMETIS GMBH
