SmartFlex®

B.SM

A.70

.6.1

4

Shape Memory Alloy Actuators

SmartFlex® is SAES Getters’ product line of shape memory alloy semi‐finished shapesand components. Shape memory alloys unique property to recover shape upon heating can be effectivelypackaged into compact, light, powerful and silent actuators to replace alternativetechnologies based on wax, DC motors and electrical motors. The unmatched energy density, degree of integration and simplicity in design makeshape memory alloys the new industry standard for linear and rotary actuators.

SMA actuators offer a full range of advantages:

Reliability

Compactness and flexibility

Reduced cost

Direct linear or angular movement

Noiseless operation

Compatibility with harsh environments

No EMI

SmartFlex actuator wires deliver state‐of‐the‐art performance for reliable actuators.

SmartFlex®

SAES® Getters Group and Shape Memory Alloys

The SAES® Getters Group, headquartered in Italy near Milan, is a leading supplier ofadvanced material solutions for scientific andindustrial applications worldwide. SAES manufacturesand sells metal alloy based active components for hightech industrial applications.

Continuous forefront research and innovationactivities, joint developments with customers, highvolume manufacturing capabilities and a worldwidesales and service network have been driving theGroup’s success over the last sixty years.

By leveraging the core competence in special metallurgy and with the support of itsaffiliated company Memory‐Metalle GmbH, SAES Getters offers a highly diversifiedproduct portfolio of shape memory alloy (SMA) semi‐finished shapes and components,serving any need around industrial and biomedical applications.

SmartFlex Actuatorwires can replacebulky competitive

products

Advanced shape memory

alloys

HIGHLIGHTSIn‐house vertically integrated process, from ingot toshape memory component manufacturing

100% on‐line actuator wires quality control (patentpending)

Full flexibility in product mix

Know‐how on shape memory componentimplementation in final devices

Dedicated R&D SMA department

ISO 14001 certified company ‐ for SMA components,quality management system conforming to ISO TS16949:2002 standard

Actuator wire mass production for high volume industrialapplications

Industrial ApplicationsThermal and electrical actuators

Sensors/actuators for air conditioners

Fire protection

Antiscald safety valves

Circuit brakers

Damping and vibration control devices

Eyewear

Biomedical ApplicationsOrthodontics

Surgical tools

Guidewires

Implantable devices

Orthopedics

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

The SAES Group manufacturing companies are ISO9001 certified and the Italian companies are also ISO14001 certified.Full information about certifications for each company of the Group are available on the corporate website at:www.saesgroup.com

© SAES Group. Printed in Italy. All rights reserved. SAES® and SmartFlex® are registered trademarks of SAES Group. SAES Group reserves the right tochange or modify product specifications at any time without notice.

SAES Groupwww.saesgroup.comsma@saes‐group.com

oupgroupgr

m a k i n g i n n o v a t i o n h a p p e n , t o g e t h e r

SMARTFLEX BROCHURE 2014_Layout 1 13/05/2014 09:28 Pagina 2

SmartFlex®

B.SM

A.70

.6.1

4

Shape Memory Alloy Actuators

SmartFlex® is SAES Getters’ product line of shape memory alloy semi‐finished shapesand components. Shape memory alloys unique property to recover shape upon heating can be effectivelypackaged into compact, light, powerful and silent actuators to replace alternativetechnologies based on wax, DC motors and electrical motors. The unmatched energy density, degree of integration and simplicity in design makeshape memory alloys the new industry standard for linear and rotary actuators.

SMA actuators offer a full range of advantages:

Reliability

Compactness and flexibility

Reduced cost

Direct linear or angular movement

Noiseless operation

Compatibility with harsh environments

No EMI

SmartFlex actuator wires deliver state‐of‐the‐art performance for reliable actuators.

SmartFlex®

SAES® Getters Group and Shape Memory Alloys

The SAES® Getters Group, headquartered in Italy near Milan, is a leading supplier ofadvanced material solutions for scientific andindustrial applications worldwide. SAES manufacturesand sells metal alloy based active components for hightech industrial applications.

Continuous forefront research and innovationactivities, joint developments with customers, highvolume manufacturing capabilities and a worldwidesales and service network have been driving theGroup’s success over the last sixty years.

By leveraging the core competence in special metallurgy and with the support of itsaffiliated company Memory‐Metalle GmbH, SAES Getters offers a highly diversifiedproduct portfolio of shape memory alloy (SMA) semi‐finished shapes and components,serving any need around industrial and biomedical applications.

SmartFlex Actuatorwires can replacebulky competitive

products

Advanced shape memory

alloys

HIGHLIGHTSIn‐house vertically integrated process, from ingot toshape memory component manufacturing

100% on‐line actuator wires quality control (patentpending)

Full flexibility in product mix

Know‐how on shape memory componentimplementation in final devices

Dedicated R&D SMA department

ISO 14001 certified company ‐ for SMA components,quality management system conforming to ISO TS16949:2002 standard

Actuator wire mass production for high volume industrialapplications

Industrial ApplicationsThermal and electrical actuators

Sensors/actuators for air conditioners

Fire protection

Antiscald safety valves

Circuit brakers

Damping and vibration control devices

Eyewear

Biomedical ApplicationsOrthodontics

Surgical tools

Guidewires

Implantable devices

Orthopedics

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

The SAES Group manufacturing companies are ISO9001 certified and the Italian companies are also ISO14001 certified.Full information about certifications for each company of the Group are available on the corporate website at:www.saesgroup.com

© SAES Group. Printed in Italy. All rights reserved. SAES® and SmartFlex® are registered trademarks of SAES Group. SAES Group reserves the right tochange or modify product specifications at any time without notice.

SAES Groupwww.saesgroup.comsma@saes‐group.com

oupgroupgr

m a k i n g i n n o v a t i o n h a p p e n , t o g e t h e r

SMARTFLEX BROCHURE 2014_Layout 1 13/05/2014 09:28 Pagina 2

SmartFlex Product Portfolio

Alloy compositions: shape memory andsuperelastic (standard As ‐25 °C <T<120 °C)

Thermomechanical conditions: cold‐worked,straight annealed, shape annealed

Shapes:

Round wire (25 µm ÷ 5 mm)

Ribbon and strip (50 x 25 µm ÷ 10 x 0,76mm)

Thin sheet (down to 20 µm thickness and100 mm width)

Springs

Surface finish: electropolished, shiny black oxide,amber/brown oxide, ultra‐fine polished

SAES’ proprietary production route, involving avertical integrated manufacturing process from Ni andTi materials to final components, enables completeprocess control and flexibility in product mix.

For shape memory component manufacturing, SAESGetters is committed to adopting the qualitymanagement system conforming to ISO TS 16949:2002standard.

SmartFlex Actuator Wires

Wire thickness: 20 µm< d <500 µm

Maximum stroke: 5.5%

Force @ 150 MPa: from 5 to 3,000 g

Number of cycles: > 200,000 (at 150 MPa, 3.5% stroke)

Transition temperatures (at 200 MPa load):

AS > 90 °C

Mf > 65 °C

Availability of wires with electrical crimps

Availability of NiTi wire in silicon sleeve

For light,powerful,

reliableactuators

Advantages of SMA Actuators

SAES SmartFlex shape memory alloy wires have been specifically developed foractuators.For linear movements of a few millimeters or angular movements of just a few degrees,use of a motor rotating at thousands of rpm coupled with gears, clutches and reducers iscertainly not the best solution.Replacement of small motors or solenoids can be effectively done with SmartFlexactuator wires. Since shape memory alloy wires presents a very high specific workingdensity, a number of new products and improved designs on existing products can bedeveloped.Use of “smart materials” for actuation represents a technological opportunity fordevelopment of electro‐mechanical components: the typical characteristic of shapememory alloy wires of obtaining mechanical actions if stimulated with electrical currentpromotes development of simple, very compact, reliable actuators.Component makers can use SMA materials to simplify products, add new functions,upgrade performance, improve reliability and cut down component costs, whilesignificantly reducing mechanical complexity and size.

00,511,522,533,544,55

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Wire heating

Wire cooling

AsAfMsMf

AsAfMsMf

100

AsAfMsMf

50 100 150 200 250 300

120

100

80

60

40

200

0

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

A full range ofSMA

semifinishedshapes and

components

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

Temperature (°C)

Smar

tFle

x w

ire st

rain

(%)

Applied load (MPa)

Tem

pera

ture

(°C)

Load effect onhysteresis

SmartFlex wirehysteresis

0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3

3,5

4

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

180 mA 200 mA

220 mA 240 mA

260 mA 280 mA

300 mA 320 mA

340 mA 360 mA

SmartFlex 100 µm wire

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3

3,5

4

0 50.000

100.000

150.000

200.000

250.000

300.000

0

Hot wire length

Cold wire length

Time

Smar

tFle

x w

ire st

rain

(%)

Cycles

Wire

stra

in (%

)

SmartFlex wire lifetime

SmartFlex actuation:effect of feed current

£

£

SMARTFLEX BROCHURE 2014_Layout 1 13/05/2014 09:26 Pagina 1

SmartFlex Product Portfolio

Alloy compositions: shape memory andsuperelastic (standard As ‐25 °C <T<120 °C)

Thermomechanical conditions: cold‐worked,straight annealed, shape annealed

Shapes:

Round wire (25 µm ÷ 5 mm)

Ribbon and strip (50 x 25 µm ÷ 10 x 0,76mm)

Thin sheet (down to 20 µm thickness and100 mm width)

Springs

Surface finish: electropolished, shiny black oxide,amber/brown oxide, ultra‐fine polished

SAES’ proprietary production route, involving avertical integrated manufacturing process from Ni andTi materials to final components, enables completeprocess control and flexibility in product mix.

For shape memory component manufacturing, SAESGetters is committed to adopting the qualitymanagement system conforming to ISO TS 16949:2002standard.

SmartFlex Actuator Wires

Wire thickness: 20 µm< d <500 µm

Maximum stroke: 5.5%

Force @ 150 MPa: from 5 to 3,000 g

Number of cycles: > 200,000 (at 150 MPa, 3.5% stroke)

Transition temperatures (at 200 MPa load):

AS > 90 °C

Mf > 65 °C

Availability of wires with electrical crimps

Availability of NiTi wire in silicon sleeve

For light,powerful,

reliableactuators

Advantages of SMA Actuators

SAES SmartFlex shape memory alloy wires have been specifically developed foractuators.For linear movements of a few millimeters or angular movements of just a few degrees,use of a motor rotating at thousands of rpm coupled with gears, clutches and reducers iscertainly not the best solution.Replacement of small motors or solenoids can be effectively done with SmartFlexactuator wires. Since shape memory alloy wires presents a very high specific workingdensity, a number of new products and improved designs on existing products can bedeveloped.Use of “smart materials” for actuation represents a technological opportunity fordevelopment of electro‐mechanical components: the typical characteristic of shapememory alloy wires of obtaining mechanical actions if stimulated with electrical currentpromotes development of simple, very compact, reliable actuators.Component makers can use SMA materials to simplify products, add new functions,upgrade performance, improve reliability and cut down component costs, whilesignificantly reducing mechanical complexity and size.

00,511,522,533,544,55

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Wire heating

Wire cooling

AsAfMsMf

AsAfMsMf

100

AsAfMsMf

50 100 150 200 250 300

120

100

80

60

40

200

0

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

A full range ofSMA

semifinishedshapes and

components

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

Temperature (°C)

Smar

tFle

x w

ire st

rain

(%)

Applied load (MPa)

Tem

pera

ture

(°C)

Load effect onhysteresis

SmartFlex wirehysteresis

0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3

3,5

4

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

180 mA 200 mA

220 mA 240 mA

260 mA 280 mA

300 mA 320 mA

340 mA 360 mA

SmartFlex 100 µm wire

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3

3,5

4

0 50.000

100.000

150.000

200.000

250.000

300.000

0

Hot wire length

Cold wire length

Time

Smar

tFle

x w

ire st

rain

(%)

Cycles

Wire

stra

in (%

)

SmartFlex wire lifetime

SmartFlex actuation:effect of feed current

£

£

SMARTFLEX BROCHURE 2014_Layout 1 13/05/2014 09:26 Pagina 1

SmartFlex Product Portfolio

Alloy compositions: shape memory andsuperelastic (standard As ‐25 °C <T<120 °C)

Thermomechanical conditions: cold‐worked,straight annealed, shape annealed

Shapes:

Round wire (25 µm ÷ 5 mm)

Ribbon and strip (50 x 25 µm ÷ 10 x 0,76mm)

Thin sheet (down to 20 µm thickness and100 mm width)

Springs

Surface finish: electropolished, shiny black oxide,amber/brown oxide, ultra‐fine polished

SAES’ proprietary production route, involving avertical integrated manufacturing process from Ni andTi materials to final components, enables completeprocess control and flexibility in product mix.

For shape memory component manufacturing, SAESGetters is committed to adopting the qualitymanagement system conforming to ISO TS 16949:2002standard.

SmartFlex Actuator Wires

Wire thickness: 20 µm< d <500 µm

Maximum stroke: 5.5%

Force @ 150 MPa: from 5 to 3,000 g

Number of cycles: > 200,000 (at 150 MPa, 3.5% stroke)

Transition temperatures (at 200 MPa load):

AS > 90 °C

Mf > 65 °C

Availability of wires with electrical crimps

Availability of NiTi wire in silicon sleeve

For light,powerful,

reliableactuators

Advantages of SMA Actuators

SAES SmartFlex shape memory alloy wires have been specifically developed foractuators.For linear movements of a few millimeters or angular movements of just a few degrees,use of a motor rotating at thousands of rpm coupled with gears, clutches and reducers iscertainly not the best solution.Replacement of small motors or solenoids can be effectively done with SmartFlexactuator wires. Since shape memory alloy wires presents a very high specific workingdensity, a number of new products and improved designs on existing products can bedeveloped.Use of “smart materials” for actuation represents a technological opportunity fordevelopment of electro‐mechanical components: the typical characteristic of shapememory alloy wires of obtaining mechanical actions if stimulated with electrical currentpromotes development of simple, very compact, reliable actuators.Component makers can use SMA materials to simplify products, add new functions,upgrade performance, improve reliability and cut down component costs, whilesignificantly reducing mechanical complexity and size.

00,511,522,533,544,55

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Wire heating

Wire cooling

AsAfMsMf

AsAfMsMf

100

AsAfMsMf

50 100 150 200 250 300

120

100

80

60

40

200

0

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

A full range ofSMA

semifinishedshapes and

components

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

Temperature (°C)

Smar

tFle

x w

ire st

rain

(%)

Applied load (MPa)

Tem

pera

ture

(°C)

Load effect onhysteresis

SmartFlex wirehysteresis

0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3

3,5

4

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

180 mA 200 mA

220 mA 240 mA

260 mA 280 mA

300 mA 320 mA

340 mA 360 mA

SmartFlex 100 µm wire

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3

3,5

4

0 50.000

100.000

150.000

200.000

250.000

300.000

0

Hot wire length

Cold wire length

Time

Smar

tFle

x w

ire st

rain

(%)

Cycles

Wire

stra

in (%

)

SmartFlex wire lifetime

SmartFlex actuation:effect of feed current

£

£

SMARTFLEX BROCHURE 2014_Layout 1 13/05/2014 09:26 Pagina 1

SmartFlex®

B.SM

A.70

.6.1

4

Shape Memory Alloy Actuators

SmartFlex® is SAES Getters’ product line of shape memory alloy semi‐finished shapesand components. Shape memory alloys unique property to recover shape upon heating can be effectivelypackaged into compact, light, powerful and silent actuators to replace alternativetechnologies based on wax, DC motors and electrical motors. The unmatched energy density, degree of integration and simplicity in design makeshape memory alloys the new industry standard for linear and rotary actuators.

SMA actuators offer a full range of advantages:

Reliability

Compactness and flexibility

Reduced cost

Direct linear or angular movement

Noiseless operation

Compatibility with harsh environments

No EMI

SmartFlex actuator wires deliver state‐of‐the‐art performance for reliable actuators.

SmartFlex®

SAES® Getters Group and Shape Memory Alloys

The SAES® Getters Group, headquartered in Italy near Milan, is a leading supplier ofadvanced material solutions for scientific andindustrial applications worldwide. SAES manufacturesand sells metal alloy based active components for hightech industrial applications.

Continuous forefront research and innovationactivities, joint developments with customers, highvolume manufacturing capabilities and a worldwidesales and service network have been driving theGroup’s success over the last sixty years.

By leveraging the core competence in special metallurgy and with the support of itsaffiliated company Memory‐Metalle GmbH, SAES Getters offers a highly diversifiedproduct portfolio of shape memory alloy (SMA) semi‐finished shapes and components,serving any need around industrial and biomedical applications.

SmartFlex Actuatorwires can replacebulky competitive

products

Advanced shape memory

alloys

HIGHLIGHTSIn‐house vertically integrated process, from ingot toshape memory component manufacturing

100% on‐line actuator wires quality control (patentpending)

Full flexibility in product mix

Know‐how on shape memory componentimplementation in final devices

Dedicated R&D SMA department

ISO 14001 certified company ‐ for SMA components,quality management system conforming to ISO TS16949:2002 standard

Actuator wire mass production for high volume industrialapplications

Industrial ApplicationsThermal and electrical actuators

Sensors/actuators for air conditioners

Fire protection

Antiscald safety valves

Circuit brakers

Damping and vibration control devices

Eyewear

Biomedical ApplicationsOrthodontics

Surgical tools

Guidewires

Implantable devices

Orthopedics

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

The SAES Group manufacturing companies are ISO9001 certified and the Italian companies are also ISO14001 certified.Full information about certifications for each company of the Group are available on the corporate website at:www.saesgroup.com

© SAES Group. Printed in Italy. All rights reserved. SAES® and SmartFlex® are registered trademarks of SAES Group. SAES Group reserves the right tochange or modify product specifications at any time without notice.

SAES Groupwww.saesgroup.comsma@saes‐group.com

oupgroupgr

m a k i n g i n n o v a t i o n h a p p e n , t o g e t h e r

SMARTFLEX BROCHURE 2014_Layout 1 13/05/2014 09:28 Pagina 2

SmartFlex®

B.SM

A.70

.6.1

4

Shape Memory Alloy Actuators

SmartFlex® is SAES Getters’ product line of shape memory alloy semi‐finished shapesand components. Shape memory alloys unique property to recover shape upon heating can be effectivelypackaged into compact, light, powerful and silent actuators to replace alternativetechnologies based on wax, DC motors and electrical motors. The unmatched energy density, degree of integration and simplicity in design makeshape memory alloys the new industry standard for linear and rotary actuators.

SMA actuators offer a full range of advantages:

Reliability

Compactness and flexibility

Reduced cost

Direct linear or angular movement

Noiseless operation

Compatibility with harsh environments

No EMI

SmartFlex actuator wires deliver state‐of‐the‐art performance for reliable actuators.

SmartFlex®

SAES® Getters Group and Shape Memory Alloys

The SAES® Getters Group, headquartered in Italy near Milan, is a leading supplier ofadvanced material solutions for scientific andindustrial applications worldwide. SAES manufacturesand sells metal alloy based active components for hightech industrial applications.

Continuous forefront research and innovationactivities, joint developments with customers, highvolume manufacturing capabilities and a worldwidesales and service network have been driving theGroup’s success over the last sixty years.

By leveraging the core competence in special metallurgy and with the support of itsaffiliated company Memory‐Metalle GmbH, SAES Getters offers a highly diversifiedproduct portfolio of shape memory alloy (SMA) semi‐finished shapes and components,serving any need around industrial and biomedical applications.

SmartFlex Actuatorwires can replacebulky competitive

products

Advanced shape memory

alloys

HIGHLIGHTSIn‐house vertically integrated process, from ingot toshape memory component manufacturing

100% on‐line actuator wires quality control (patentpending)

Full flexibility in product mix

Know‐how on shape memory componentimplementation in final devices

Dedicated R&D SMA department

ISO 14001 certified company ‐ for SMA components,quality management system conforming to ISO TS16949:2002 standard

Actuator wire mass production for high volume industrialapplications

Industrial ApplicationsThermal and electrical actuators

Sensors/actuators for air conditioners

Fire protection

Antiscald safety valves

Circuit brakers

Damping and vibration control devices

Eyewear

Biomedical ApplicationsOrthodontics

Surgical tools

Guidewires

Implantable devices

Orthopedics

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

The SAES Group manufacturing companies are ISO9001 certified and the Italian companies are also ISO14001 certified.Full information about certifications for each company of the Group are available on the corporate website at:www.saesgroup.com

© SAES Group. Printed in Italy. All rights reserved. SAES® and SmartFlex® are registered trademarks of SAES Group. SAES Group reserves the right tochange or modify product specifications at any time without notice.

SAES Groupwww.saesgroup.comsma@saes‐group.com

oupgroupgr

m a k i n g i n n o v a t i o n h a p p e n , t o g e t h e r

SMARTFLEX BROCHURE 2014_Layout 1 13/05/2014 09:28 Pagina 2