Industry Intelligence

Johnson Matthey (West Chester, PA, USA) has signed a letter of intent to purchase all the stock of Shape Memory Applications Inc. (SMA; San Jose, CA, USA), a supplier of tubing, wire, sheet, and fabricated components using nickel titanium. "Our expertise in precious metal alloys and micromachining is a perfect fit with SMA's nitinol knowledge base," says Alan Myers, director, noble metals, at Johnson Matthey. "We share the same customer base and will be able to offer our clients expanded development solutions and procurement efficiences," he adds.

Nickel titanium, commonly referred to as nitinol, has a number of properties that are of interest to device manufacturers, including the shape memory effect, elasticity, and high damping capability. The properties can be modified by introducing changes in alloy composition, mechanical processes, and heat treatment.

Memory Metalle GmbH (Weil am Rhein, Germany), which handles European sales for SMA, will continue to represent the nitinol product line in Europe. Sales in the rest of the world will be folded into Johnson Matthey's operations.

For further information, contact Johnson Matthey Inc., Precious Metals Div., 1401 Kings Rd., West Chester, PA 19380, USA; phone: +1 610 6488000; fax: +1 610 6488105; Internet: http://www.jmmedical.com.

—Norbert Sparrow