About Us
Our Company,
Our Mission
mateligent nititec was founded to bring disruptive SMA technology to industrial scale.
We pioneer fully electric gripping solutions that eliminate the need for pneumatics. Our patented SMA technology enables lightweight, silent, and energy-efficient systems designed for maximum flexibility and performance.
Our team of engineers and technologists combines deep expertise in materials science, mechatronics, and automation, making nititec the ideal development partner for advanced handling solutions. From prototyping to industrial-scale production, we deliver the technology and processes to bring next-generation automation applications to market.
When mateligent nititec was established, a new era of actuators and drives began.
Building on a decade of research and development, and backed by helpful investments from leading research institutions (iMSL) and industrial partners, we combine deep technical expertise with proven industrial know-how.
This allows us to deliver e.g. disruptive gripping solutions that replace pneumatics with fully electric, lightweight, and energy-efficient technology – ready to transform industrial automation.
-> nititec-gripper.de/
From our founding facilities in Saarbrücken, Germany, mateligent with its daughter companies mateligent iDEAS and mateligent nititec is shaping the future of smart material systems.
We serve businesses of all sizes – from visionary start-ups to established global brands – with our disruptive, fully electric actuators and sensor technology. Designed for OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, f.e. our solutions eliminate pneumatics and deliver lightweight, energy-efficient, and sustainable performance.
We are currently building our production capabilities, aiming to start full-scale manufacturing in the Saarland, Germany, by 2026. Already today, we supply leading OEMs and Tier 1 partners with first pre-series prototypes for validation and testing.
Beyond gripping and automation, our expertise covers system integration, electronics development, prototyping, and application-specific customization – providing customers with complete, tailored solutions.
Our Vision,
Our Commitment
We value your time and investment.
If another technology fits better, we will say so. Every project carries technical and economic risks, which we help manage through phased development with clear testing and validation. Early stages focus on proof-of-concept and low investment, ensuring feasibility before scaling to full solutions.
With our modular SMA actuators we are able to create many customized drives or actuators. The vacuum gripper from nititec vacuum gripper is just the beginning of the journey:
- Vacuum gripping
- Parallel gripping
- Stoppers
- Automation linear drives
- Rotary drives
- Valves
- … your ideas?
nititec vacuum gripper delivers the enabling technology that makes new ideas in automation possible.
We invite our customers to think big and challenge us – together we turn bold concepts into reality.
History
The Origin of nititec systems and technology: Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) research has been advancing at the Institute for Mechatronic Systems in Lightweight Construction (iMSL) under Prof. Stefan Seelecke for more than a decade. What started as fundamental research evolved into award-winning prototypes and, eventually, into patented applications.
First Prototype Award
The very first SMA-based prototype vacuum gripper, developed at iMSL, received a prize for innovation.
A new prototype was patented, marking the technological foundation for disruptive vacuum gripping without pneumatics.
Established to industrialize SMA and EAP smart material technologies, creating the basis for future spin-offs.
With a dedicated focus on gripper technology, mateligent nititec GmbH was launched as the next step toward commercialization.
Backed by strong investor support, nititec vacuum gripper GmbH was established to bring the disruptive, pneumatic-free vacuum gripper technology into industrial practice. Series production is targeted for 2026 in the Saarland, Germany.
Delivery of release samples to OEMs and Tier 1 partners.
Production build-up and approvals, continued sample deliveries to development
2027 Ramp-up of full-scale production.
Mateligent Group
mateligent nititec GmbH is part of the Mateligent Group, headquartered in Saarbrücken, Germany.
The Group is a leading developer of smart-materials-based products, rooted in the research of iMSL – the Intelligent Material Systems Lab at Saarland University – and ZeMA, the Center for Mechatronics and Automation Technologies.
While nititec vacuum gripper focuses on disruptive, fully electric vacuum gripping systems, we benefit from the Group’s broader expertise in electroactive polymer sensing, shape memory alloys, and elastocaloric heating and cooling technology.
Through our colleagues at the Mateligent Group and our strategic research partner iMSL, we have access to a deep pool of talent and advanced facilities. Depending on project requirements, we can draw on the skills of undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral engineers, as well as laboratory technicians – covering disciplines from mechanical and electrical engineering to material science, modeling & control, and technical prototyping.
nititec vacuum gripper Team
and of nititec vacuum gripper GmbH
General Manager
Co-Founder
Co-Founder
Co-Founder
