About Us
2SMArtEST Srl
(Shape Memory Alloy-based SMArt Engineering Solutions and Technologies)
Our History
2SMArtEST is an innovative startup and spinoff company of University of Calabria – UniCal (Rende, IT) formally supported by the European Center for Nuclear Research – CERN (Geneva, CH). The company was established in 2019 based on a business idea coming from an R&D collaborative project between UniCal and CERN, started in 2014. This project is supported by the Vacuum, Surface and Coatings group of the Technology Department (TE-VSC) at CERN and by the Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering (DIMEG) at University of Calabria (https://home.cern/news/news/engineering/shape-memory-material-provides-solution-hl-lhc).
Our Business
Our core business consists in the development and industrialization of novel/SMART leak tight pipe-coupling systems, based on shape memory alloys (SMAs). Besides this main business, 2SMArtEST can offer B2B support to several industrial sectors, within the context of Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0, through design, manufacturing, testing and validation of custom based SMART solutions, exploiting the unique features of SMAs.
Our Product
Novel leak tight pipe couplers to be used in a wide range of pressures, from ultra high vacuum (UHV) to high pressure (HP) applications. These systems exploit the unique SMART features of SMAs, coupled with exceptional mechanical response and corrosion resistance, allowing their use in critical/harsh environments. Thanks to the thermal activation of SMAs these systems can be operated remotely, that is with limited or no human intervention.
Our First Application
Working UHV prototypes on a 1: 1 scale validated both by laboratory experiments and in real operational environment (TRL 7/8). Sealing performance has been verified by long time exposure in radioactive areas of the accelerator complex LHC (Large Hadron Collider) at CERN.
The Storyline

In 2014, Unical established a R&D project with CERN (Geneva) with the aim to develop smart pipe coupling technology for Ultra-High-Vacuum systems
Design and testing of UHV
couplers

First prototypes installed
in LHC @ CERN

installed in LHC @ CERN

Bimetallic Steel-Titanium joints for the LHC dump vacuum windows
Team

Carmine
Maletta
CEO
Co-Founder
Professor @ University
of Calabria ( IT )
Cooperation associate @ CERN, Geneva ( CH )

Fabrizio
Niccoli
CTO
Co-Founder
PJAS @ CERN,
Geneva ( CH )
Researcher @ University
of Calabria ( IT )

Pietro
Magarò
R&D Specialist
Co-Founder
Researcher @ University
of Calabria ( IT )

Emanuele
Sgambitterra
COO
Co-Founder
Researcher @ University
of Calabria ( IT )