Start of joint activities in the production and development of ultra-fine wires made of shape memory alloys
The Bender Group and Ingpuls are pleased to announce the start of a strategic cooperation. In July 2024, the managing directors of both companies signed a development and cooperation agreement that creates the basis for close cooperation in the production and further development of highly specialized shape memory alloy wires.
Focus on high-purity wires and sustainable technologies for the future
Over the past two years, close cooperation has developed at various levels between the two companies’ materials and production experts. In future, this successful partnership will encompass other areas such as marketing, sales, digitalization and organizational development. The common goal: to pool expertise and experience in order to optimally prepare for the increasing demands of the future and thus offer both companies and their customers long-term added value.
A particular focus of the cooperation is on the development and production of ever finer, high-purity wires made from nickel-titanium shape memory alloys. These are already widely used in modern applications such as autofocus systems in smartphones and neurovascular stents for the treatment of aneurysms in medical technology. The companies are also working on special quaternary shape memory alloys that are intended to offer a sustainable alternative for heat pumps and refrigeration systems through elastocaloric effects.
Ingo Bender, Managing Partner of the Bender Group and Hagener Feinstahl GmbH, explains:
“In Ingpuls, we have found a partner whose expertise in the field of shape memory alloys is groundbreaking worldwide and, together with our process knowledge, will lead to new milestones in wire technology. We are also united by our regional ties to the southern Ruhr area and the desire to be part of the structural change in our region.”.
Dr. Burkhard Maaß, founder and Managing Director of Ingpuls, adds:
“”From the user side, we are seeing a steady increase in demand for wires with diameters well below 100 µm. Especially in the field of actuators, smaller cross-sections mean higher dynamics for the applications, which greatly increases the technical possibilities and fields of application. If we now look at the Bender Group with its long tradition and enormous experience in wire drawing, the stainless steel wire experts ‘on our doorstep’ are the ideal development and production partner from whose wealth of experience we can benefit incredibly.”.
This partnership brings together two innovative and regionally rooted companies that want to open up new opportunities through their combined expertise in materials science and production technology – for the region and for the future.
