MeKo MedTech Insights - 2025 Q2

04.06.2025

Dear Reader,

This quarter is all about Nitinol, the super-elastic material with an almost magical shape memory ability that is behind some of today’s most advanced medical devices. At MeKo, we live and breathe Nitinol. Over the last decade we have built dedicated processes around it and helped bring countless components to life — from next-generation stents to complex heart valve frames.

We’re also part of a new strategic initiative to strengthen the Nitinol supply chain and make it more reliable for customers around the world. And while we’ve been out at global trade shows sharing insights and learning from others, we’ve taken a moment to reflect on something else: flexibility. Not just in materials, but in how we think, plan, and collaborate.

Enjoy the read!

Jakob Dohse 
CEO, MeKo Manufacturing e.K.

Insights Q2 Topics

• Spotlight | PRIME – Next-Generation Nitinol

• Tech Facts | Nitinol Processing

• Conference Highlights

• Team Insights | Flexibility in Every Step

 PRIME 
Next-Generation Nitinol for a Reliable Future

In recent years Nitinol has been in short supply, with long lead times and increased prices that have only recently begun to improve. Growing demand and evolving regulatory standards make securing reliable access to high-performance Nitinol more critical than ever. That’s why five leading players across the Nitinol value chain have joined forces in an open, strategic initiative: PRIME (PRoficient Ingot Material Evaluation).

From melting by Fort Wayne Metals, tube drawing by Euroflex and Vascotube, to component manufacturing by Admedes and MeKo, the PRIME project spans the entire process chain. The aim: a verified, transparent, and high-quality material source to meet today’s and tomorrow’s device requirements.

Ready to rethink Nitinol? Learn more at: www.meko.de/prime

Tech Facts

Nitinol Processing at MeKo

At MeKo, we understand the unique challenges of working with Nitinol from its shape memory behavior to its superelasticity and sensitivity to temperature changes. That’s why, years ago, we built our expertise and an entire production area specifically for this material.

But our support doesn’t stop at production. We work with you to make sure your component design actually fits the process so it can be manufactured efficiently, without compromising on quality, geometry, or function.

Over the years, we’ve developed dedicated equipment for:

• Laser cutting with optimized focus control for ultra-fine geometries
• Shape setting with stable, repeatable heat profiles
• Electropolishing tailored to Nitinol’s unique surface characteristics
• Design optimization through simulation and in-house testing in our MeKo MedLab

With over 30 years of experince, we deliver tight tolerances and consistent quality for components like stents, valve frames, neurovascular implants, and custom hypotubes.

Looking to bring your Nitinol design to life? We help you avoid costly detours and keep your timeline under control.

Conference Highlights

DeviceTalks Boston, SMST and EuroPCR

This spring, our team attended three standout events where Nitinol and minimally invasive devices took the spotlight.

In Boston, we connected with the local medtech community while showcasing our latest manufacturing innovations at DeviceTalks. It was a perfect opportunity for us and our US-based representatives to engage with current and future collaborators in one of the industry's most dynamic hubs.

At the SMST Conference in Ireland, entirely dedicated to the science and application of shape memory materials, we exchanged insights on next-generation Nitinol design and fatigue resistance. Our conversations reflected what we see every day: growing complexity, rising expectations, and zero margin for error. With expanding applications in neurovascular, structural heart, and orthopedic devices, the demand for precision in Nitinol processing continues to rise, and MeKo is right at the forefront.

Our visit to EuroPCR in Paris rounded out the month – with valuable exchanges on coronary and peripheral interventions, evolving stent geometries, and future needs in component manufacturing. As intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) gains momentum, especially in treating calcified lesions, there’s renewed demand for Nitinol-based designs that offer both flexibility and durability.

Three cities, one mission: Delivering precision and partnership to shape the future of MedTech. Did you miss us? Click below to stay updated:

Team Insights

Flexibility in Every Step

In the last edition we shared how we support health and fitness through different programs, now it’s all about our MeKo Sport-Teams.

At the Hannover Marathon, it was all about pace times, blisters, and whether you'd make it to the finish line without walking breaks. Colleagues from different departments signed up for the city’s biggest run, tackling distances from 5K in the relay race to a half marathon. What united us wasn’t just the goal, but the shared motivation to stay active and do something outside the daily routine.

“Running teaches discipline, mental strength and teamwork. That’s exactly what counts in our everyday work,” says our project manager Alexander Kleiner-Bley, world champion runner and coach of MeKo’s internal running group.

The next activity is already underway: Stadtradeln, a national campaign to encourage bike commuting. For many, it’s a fun way to rack up kilometers. For others, it’s just the usual ride to work, now with a tracking app and a bit of friendly competition. And there’s more ahead: Our MeKo soccer team, already 20 strong, is looking forward to possible tournaments this summer.

One thing’s certain – the flexibility Nitinol is known for shows up in more ways than one around here.

Want to know more about MeKo? Follow us on Social Media

We look forward to your feedback and are always available for questions and suggestions. Stay tuned for more updates and innovations from the world of medical technology at MeKo!