Discover previously unimagined capabilities and areas of application for electric actuators with naXture

MetisMotion as a partner

Automation, robotics, digitisation – with you right at the centre!

With naXture, you set new standards in your industry and drive innovation that provides smarter and more sustainable solutions for your customers. Improve existing products and discover competitive advantages faster than others – with MetisMotion as your partner.

Areas of application

Compact solutions for big challenges

  • Solutions for clamping technology

    Clamping technology and clamping systems are an important basis for industrial production and manufacturing processes.

    The industrial standard for the actuators required for clamping elements and systems is often still based on mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic solutions.

    With significantly changing requirements in industry, particularly with regard to energy efficiency and Industry 4.0/5.0 and IIOT capability requirements, the electrification of drive solutions for (not only) clamping technology is taking on a new dimension.

    Unfortunately, conventional electromagnetic drives are often unable to adequately replace existing fluid powered solutions.

    naXture solves this problem: high forces and high speeds with low mechanical power requirements are now available in the smallest installation spaces and enable fast workpiece approach and rapid, yet controlled, force build-up.

    The mechanically configurable safety behavior (normally stay or moving to an end position in the event of a loss of power supply) enables the 1:1 replacement of existing fluid technology solutions without compromising on safety or installation space.

    This means, naXture has the ideal prerequisites for the electrification of the clamping technology of the future and, thanks to its unique technical properties, represents an important building block for opening up exciting potentials in a rapidly growing market for our customers.

    Advantages of the solution

    • Compact installation space
    • Fast workpiece approach
    • Minimal impulse during workpiece contact
    • Fast force build-up with high forces
    • Safe clamping despite loss of power
    • High robustness against demanding environmental conditions including strong shock and vibration effects
    • Low energy requirement for simple power supply, e.g. battery power or inductive charging

    Exemplary specifications

    • Active actuation in one or two directions
    • Configurable safety behavior (normally stay, extend or retract) in the event of power loss
    • Force range up to 10kN
    • Opening/closing speed 20mm/s
    • Stroke length up to 50mm

    Does your application fall outside these specifications? No problem – in addition to standardized solutions, naXture can easily implement individual requirements, e.g. with regard to higher forces and speeds. Contact us here!

    Application Examples – Clamping

    Automation solutions free of compressed air or hydraulics still seem difficult to imagine in many places today. In clamping and gripping applications in particular, the compactness of the fluid powered end-effector enables a high degree of design freedom and flexibility.

    In addition, the use of passive energy storage elements (springs, pressure accumulators) allows critical functions to be safeguarded in the event of a failing central infrastructure / pressure supply.

    At the same time, there is growing demand from customers for more sustainable and intelligent solutions that can be seamlessly integrated into modern automation environments.

    However, electrification is often challenging, especially when existing installation spaces may not be exceeded or special functional safety requirements exist.

    Here, naXture has proven to be an excellent solution for electrified clamping systems in many cases.

    Clamping systems that can be implemented with naXture cover different kinematics (e.g. swing clamps, toggle clamps, parallel clamps) and can often be implemented in a space-neutral manner compared with the fluid powered status-quo.

    Specific applications include clamping systems for test bench applications, tool changers for robots (also available with “peak power on demand” option for optimized cycle times), zero-point clamping systems or tool clamping systems in injection moulding machines.

    A popular feature here is the “guide” function. With this option, the actuator provides direct insight into the situation at the clamping interface. Is the workpiece securely clamped? Is the force changing? Here, naXture enables direct monitoring of the clamping module and process for intelligent automation solutions.

    Are you looking for the right solution for compact, electric drives for your clamping modules? Contact us here!

  • e.g. door locks

    For aircraft cabin doors requiring high levels of robustness, wide operating temperature ranges and exceptional reliability

    e.g. valve controls

    For the actuation of control valves that require high positioning accuracy despite high force requirements and strong vibrations – while reliably assuming a safe state in the event of a fault

  • e.g. riveting

    Monitor the specification compliance of the riveting process while the rivet is being set. Without additional sensors – for  continuous process control.

    e.g. status monitoring

    Gain insight into the condition of your system and acquire valuable information to plan service intervals more efficiently.

  • e.g. for production and manufacturing

    when working overhead or handling heavy and bulky objects

    e.g. prosthetics

    Bionic hand prostheses that require sensory capabilities to approximate the movement and gripping action of a human hand as closely as possible

  • Highly compact electrification in automation technology

    Solutions for clamping technology

    Clamping technology and clamping systems are an important basis for industrial production and manufacturing processes.

    The industrial standard for the actuators required for clamping elements and systems is often still based on mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic solutions.

    With significantly changing requirements in industry, particularly with regard to energy efficiency and Industry 4.0/5.0 and IIOT capability requirements, the electrification of drive solutions for (not only) clamping technology is taking on a new dimension.

    Unfortunately, conventional electromagnetic drives are often unable to adequately replace existing fluid powered solutions.

    naXture solves this problem: high forces and high speeds with low mechanical power requirements are now available in the smallest installation spaces and enable fast workpiece approach and rapid, yet controlled, force build-up.

    The mechanically configurable safety behavior (normally stay or moving to an end position in the event of a loss of power supply) enables the 1:1 replacement of existing fluid technology solutions without compromising on safety or installation space.

    This means, naXture has the ideal prerequisites for the electrification of the clamping technology of the future and, thanks to its unique technical properties, represents an important building block for opening up exciting potentials in a rapidly growing market for our customers.

    Advantages of the solution

    • Compact installation space
    • Fast workpiece approach
    • Minimal impulse during workpiece contact
    • Fast force build-up with high forces
    • Safe clamping despite loss of power
    • High robustness against demanding environmental conditions including strong shock and vibration effects
    • Low energy requirement for simple power supply, e.g. battery power or inductive charging

    Exemplary specifications

    • Active actuation in one or two directions
    • Configurable safety behavior (normally stay, extend or retract) in the event of power loss
    • Force range up to 10kN
    • Opening/closing speed 20mm/s
    • Stroke length up to 50mm

    Does your application fall outside these specifications? No problem – in addition to standardized solutions, naXture can easily implement individual requirements, e.g. with regard to higher forces and speeds. Contact us here!

    Application Examples – Clamping

    Automation solutions free of compressed air or hydraulics still seem difficult to imagine in many places today. In clamping and gripping applications in particular, the compactness of the fluid powered end-effector enables a high degree of design freedom and flexibility.

    In addition, the use of passive energy storage elements (springs, pressure accumulators) allows critical functions to be safeguarded in the event of a failing central infrastructure / pressure supply.

    At the same time, there is growing demand from customers for more sustainable and intelligent solutions that can be seamlessly integrated into modern automation environments.

    However, electrification is often challenging, especially when existing installation spaces may not be exceeded or special functional safety requirements exist.

    Here, naXture has proven to be an excellent solution for electrified clamping systems in many cases.

    Clamping systems that can be implemented with naXture cover different kinematics (e.g. swing clamps, toggle clamps, parallel clamps) and can often be implemented in a space-neutral manner compared with the fluid powered status-quo.

    Specific applications include clamping systems for test bench applications, tool changers for robots (also available with “peak power on demand” option for optimized cycle times), zero-point clamping systems or tool clamping systems in injection moulding machines.

    A popular feature here is the “guide” function. With this option, the actuator provides direct insight into the situation at the clamping interface. Is the workpiece securely clamped? Is the force changing? Here, naXture enables direct monitoring of the clamping module and process for intelligent automation solutions.

    Are you looking for the right solution for compact, electric drives for your clamping modules? Contact us here!

  • Actuators for special ambient conditions

    e.g. door locks

    For aircraft cabin doors requiring high levels of robustness, wide operating temperature ranges and exceptional reliability

    e.g. valve controls

    For the actuation of control valves that require high positioning accuracy despite high force requirements and strong vibrations – while reliably assuming a safe state in the event of a fault

  • naXture Guide exclusive
    Actuators for real-time insights into your application

    e.g. riveting

    Monitor the specification compliance of the riveting process while the rivet is being set. Without additional sensors – for  continuous process control.

    e.g. status monitoring

    Gain insight into the condition of your system and acquire valuable information to plan service intervals more efficiently.

  • Assistance systems

    e.g. for production and manufacturing

    when working overhead or handling heavy and bulky objects

    e.g. prosthetics

    Bionic hand prostheses that require sensory capabilities to approximate the movement and gripping action of a human hand as closely as possible

Working with MetisMotion

Expect exceptional results

With MetisMotion, you choose the partner who develops the customised solution for your specific requirements in partnership with you on an equal footing. Discover together with us how your system can develop efficiently and what possibilities our innovative actuator technology has in store for you. A highly motivated development and engineering team awaits you, who will work with you to develop solutions for demanding challenges.

Innovations at MetisMotion

Together we turn your visions into reality

Disruptive technology

naXture is based on a bio-inspired actuator concept with highly integrated microhydraulic circuits. This allows the advantages of conventional technologies to be combined with future requirements for efficiency, performance, robustness and miniaturisation.

Modular engineering

The modular design of our actuator systems allows them to be adapted to individual environments and performance requirements. Whether as pure replacement for fluidic actuators, in a sensitive closed loop system or as an IIOT device, as a source of force or speed, single-acting or double-acting – the combinations are as diverse as
their areas of application.

InnovationLab

In our competence centre, we combine decades of technological know-how with implementation expertise. Here, ideas mature in a creative environment – always with the aim of designing new concepts that can be quickly implemented and used in industry and that inspire their users.

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