ACTUATOR 2026 , International Conference and Exhibition on New Actuators and Drive System is the 20th in a series of biennial conferences which will be held for the second time in Wiesbaden, Germany.

In 2022, Rosengarten Mannheim passed on the organisation of the ACTUATOR Conference to the VDE Association for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies. Within VDE, the GMM Society for Microelectronics, Microsystems and Precision Engineering will from that date on be responsible for the organization and the economic success of the conference. According to GMM’s business practice, the conference management will be in the hands of our members on voluntary basis.

Our target audience

leading experts, suppliers and users in the field of new actuators and low-power electromagnetic drives from all over the world. The invitation to attend ACTUATOR is directed at executives and researchers from industrial companies as well as institutes, colleges and universities, who are interested in the transfer of R&D results into innovative actuator applications and drive technologies.

Since 1992 the conference has focused on

• actuators based on smart materials and miniaturised electromagnetic drives.
• At that time, silicon was found to be the basic material for a new promising trend: integrated systems including sensors and actuators based on semiconductor technology. Microsystem technology / MEMS had been born.
• Thus, there was a need for new thin film micro actuators based on smart materials like e. g. piezoelectric crystals, shape memory alloys, giant magnetostrictive materials.

ACTUATOR provides ...

• a forum for the presentation and the exchange of RTD results. Lots of new products have been presented in the meantime, showing a huge performance in a minimum volume, designed for industrial as well as home applications.
• Well-known examples are the autofocus lenses for cameras as well as the fuel injection systems, both based on piezo actuators.
• Karl Lubitz of SIEMENS AG summed up the role of ACTUATOR in this concern concisely:
  “ACTUATOR creates visions! Without the visions presented at previous ACTUATOR we would not have been able to manage the development of this product”.  

Important dates for authors!

Technological Topics

• Electromagnetic actuators
• Piezoelectric actuators / piezoelectric motors
• Thermal / magnetic shape memory actuators
• Magnetostrictive actuators
• Magnetoelectric actuators
• Micro / nano actuators
• Actuators based on ER / MR fluids
• Polymer actuators
• Electroactive polymer devices
• Cooperative / multistable actuators
• Emerging principles / tensegrity / robogami
• Actuator control and electronics
• Pneumatics / hydraulics
• Photonic actuators
• Bio actuators
• AI-based actuator design

Application-oriented Topics

• Active vibration / active noise control
• Aerospace / aviation
• Automation
• Robotics / micro robotics / soft robotics
• Automotive
• Haptic / tactile devices
• Medical devices / medical engineering
• Microfluidic handling
• Micro / nano manipulation and positioning
• Microscopy / scanning probe microscopy
• Information technology
• Manufacturing / micro assembly
• Process engineering
• Biotechnology
• Optics / laser
• Precision engineering
• AI-supported actuator applications

ACTUATOR 2026 Conference Chair

Kohl, Manfred | Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, Germany

Committee Members 2026

We appreciate the support of the following experts:

Steering Committee Members

Kohl, Manfred | Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, Germany
Maas, Jürgen | Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
Vander Poorten, Emmanuel | Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
Wallrabe, Ulrike | University of Freiburg, Department of Microsystems Engineering – IMTEK, Germany
Yamanishi, Yoko | Kyushu University, Japan

Program Committee Members

Biedermann, Miriam | Bürkert Werke GmbH & Co. KG, Karlsruhe, Germany
Chikhaoui, M. Taha | Université Grenobles-Alpes, France
Choi, Seung-Bok | The State University of New York, Korea (SUNY Korea), Incheon, South Korea
Claeyssen, Frank | CEDRAT Technologies S.A., Meylan, France
Goldasz, Janusz | BWI Beijing West Industries Technical Center Kraków, Poland
Jager, Edwin | Linköping University, Sweden   
Kanda, Takefumi | Okayama University, Japan
Kohl, Manfred | Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, Germany
Lötters, Joost | Bronkhorst High-Tech B.V., Ruurlo, Netherlands
Maas, Jürgen | Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
Manfredi, Luigi | University of Dundee, Great Britain
Marienfeld, Peter | ContiTech Deutschland GmbH, Hannover, Germany
Merlo, Sabina | University of Pavia, Italy
Milana, Edoardo | University of Freiburg, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK)
Monner, Hans Peter | German Aerospace Center (DLR), Braunschweig, Germany
Morishima, Keisuke | Osaka University, Yamadaoka, Japan
Morita, Takeshi | The University of Tokyo, Japan
Müller, Bert | University of Basel, Switzerland
Nienhaus, Matthias | Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken, Germany
Pagounis, Emmanouel | ETO MAGNETIC GmbH, Stockach, Germany
Pané i Vidal, Salvador | Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Switzerland
Pott, Peter | University of Stuttgart, Germany
Price, Aaron | The University of Western Ontario, Canada
Renaud, Pierre | Institut National des Sciences Appliquées Strasbourg INSA,
Strasbourg, France
Schubert, Franz | PI Ceramic GmbH, Lederhose, Germany
Seelecke, Stefan | Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken, Germany
Spomer, Waldemar | Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KG, Karlsruhe, Germany
Takasaki, Masaya | Saitama University, Japan
Uchino, Kenji | The Pennsylvania State University, USA
Ugurlu, Barkan | Ozyegin University, Çekmeköy - Istanbul, Turkey
Vander Poorten, Emmanuel | Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
Vergani, Giorgio | SAES Getters S.p.A., Lainate, Italy
Vorrath, Markus | Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
Wallrabe, Ulrike | University of Freiburg, Department of Microsystems Engineering – IMTEK, Germany
Wapler, Matthias | Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany
Yamanishi, Yoko | Kyushu University, Japan

Take a look: The ACTUATOR Conference Program 2026 is now available!

Dr. Buchalla, why is ACTUATOR 2026 such an important event for Ingpuls Dynamics?

The event is of great importance to us because it provides an opportunity to demonstrate to a highly qualified professional audience that SMA-based actuator solutions have matured into a viable industrial technology and now represent a genuine alternative to established actuator technologies.

Ingpuls Dynamics positions itself as the link between materials expertise and industrial applications. How is your company positioned along the value chain for shape memory alloys?

Ingpuls Dynamics bridges the gap between materials science and the industrialization of turnkey actuator systems based on shape memory alloys (SMAs). This creates a fully integrated value chain in Germany – from melting and material production to professionally developed and manufactured serial products.

What types of actuator solutions do Ingpuls Dynamics develop, and what advantages do they offer compared to conventional technologies?

In principle, we distinguish between “passive systems,” where the thermal energy required for material transformation is provided by a surrounding fluid (e.g., thermostatic valves), and “active systems,” where an SMA actuator element is energized by an electric current and heated through its electrical resistance (e.g., latching systems, hold-and-release applications, positioning systems, etc.).

There are virtually no limitations regarding application areas. However, from the very first discussions with potential customers, we carefully evaluate whether the application requirements and the technical characteristics of the technology are a good match.

SMA actuator elements offer one of the highest force-to-weight and force-to-volume ratios of any actuator technology. They are silent, robust, resistant to harsh environments and media, and – when properly designed – capable of withstanding extremely high cyclic loads.

Activation can be highly dynamic. Since these are thermally activated elements, achievable cycle times depend on the heat capacity of the SMA element and the ambient temperature. The achievable stroke is primarily determined by the available installation space.

In short: the application must fit the technology (and vice versa). When that is the case, the resulting solution is simply unmatched.

What challenges and innovation opportunities currently shape the actuator industry?

One of the major challenges for actuator technologies is keeping pace with the groundbreaking transformations taking place in information technology.

The key challenge is the development of robust and cost-effective actuator systems capable of translating the possibilities of the virtual world into real-world motion, particularly in robotics. Robotics is also where we currently see the greatest innovation potential.

Which technological trends will have the greatest impact on actuator development in the coming years?

Miniaturization and cost-efficient industrialization: highly capable and affordable actuator systems.

What message would you like to convey to the professional community at ACTUATOR 2026?

We want to demonstrate that shape memory alloys have become a serious and highly credible solution for actuator systems.

Furthermore, it is now possible to implement SMA-based systems without necessarily being an SMA expert. We provide turnkey system solutions that make this technology accessible to a much broader range of users and applications.

Which topics will be the main focus for your team during the event?

Naturally, everything related to SMAs will be of interest to us. At the same time, we are looking forward to identifying potential synergies with other technologies and applications.

What can visitors expect at your booth?

Expert knowledge, honest insights into our technology, and a globally unique SMA demonstrator that visitors can take home with them.

What role do events such as ACTUATOR play in fostering exchange between research, development, and industrial application?

They play a very important role because they bring together a tremendous concentration of expertise. For us, this creates a high probability of discovering additional challenges and application opportunities that can be addressed with our solutions.

Finally, what message would you like to leave with potential users of shape memory alloys?

Bring your application ideas to our booth or get in touch with us. With minimal effort on both sides, you will quickly find out whether SMA technology is suitable for your application.

We are happy to support you from the initial feasibility assessment through development and all the way to serial production. Our goal is to make this technology as accessible as possible and to work together with our customers to develop the best possible solution for their specific application.

Felix Manhart
Head of Marketing & Communication
 

CEDRAT Technologies' Training sessions - please see the document in the download section for registration.

A special session is devoted to the Priority Program SPP 2206 of the German Science Foundation (DFG) 'KOMMMA'.

Within 2019-2026, KOMMMA addresses the understanding and use of the complex coupling and synergy effects in cooperative multistage multistable microactuator systems.

In the download section you will find a map with suggestions for your accommodation and sightseeing options in Wiesbaden. 
Please remember to make your hotel reservations in good time.
You can either book directly with the hotel or use the booking links in the download section.

Our recommendations for your accommodation in Wiesbaden:

Dorint Pallas Wiesbaden (pls. book directly with the hotel)
Oranien Hotel & Residences
Radisson Blu Schwarzer Bock (pls. book directly with the hotel)
Best Western Hotel Wiesbaden

Please contact GMM-Office for questions concerning the conference.

You would like to be informed about the next steps concerning this conference? So please register as prospective customer.