Smart Material Corp. was founded in 2000 and its affiliate Smart Material GmbH at Dresden in 2002, and since then they’ve grown to serve customers in numerous countries over the world. The company’s core focus is on innovative piezo ceramic composites, all designed and manufactured right here in Dresden, Germany. These materials offer outstanding performance and durability, and the team of application engineers – real experts in piezo technology – works hand-in-hand with customers to help design custom transducers.
Interview with Bill Esler, CEO of Smart Material.
A brief description of the company and its activities.
Bill Esler: We’re proud to collaborate with Fraunhofer IKTS and maintain a strong global presence, combining research, innovation, and a team that’s passionate about pushing the boundaries of what piezo composites can do.
What are the main areas of activity of the company?
B.E: Our product portfolio is centered on three key areas: Macro Fiber Composites™, 1-3 Arrange & Fill (fiber) composites, and 1-3 Dice & Fill composites. We are the only company worldwide producing MFCs.
MFCs are fascinating – they were originally developed by NASA. At Smart Material, we hold exclusive rights to manufacture them. When you attach an MFC to a surface, it can act as an actuator, generating significant bending forces, or as a sensor, detecting even tiny surface movements with remarkable precision. And they can also harvest energy.
Our 1-3 Arrange & Fill fiber composites are unique because we’ve developed processes to create straight piezo fibers. This reduces unwanted radial frequencies and cross-coupling while boosting efficiency across a frequency range from 40 kHz up to 5 MHz. These fiber composites offer excellent performance, particularly at lower frequencies. And our 1-3 Dice & Fill composites excel at higher frequencies, performing reliably up to 15 MHz. Together, these products cover a wide spectrum of applications in many industries.
What’s the news about new products/services?
B.E: We’re constantly working to improve our products’ performance. Right now, we’re working on high-temperature composites, trying out different piezo and fill materials, and experimenting with new designs. Over the next year, we plan to roll out several new variants with improved performance.
We’re also preparing for applications in the medical device sector, where reliability and compliance are critical. And yes, there are soft mold technologies and other innovations in the pipeline – things that open up new possibilities for our customers.
What are the ranges of products/services?
B.E: Beyond the materials themselves, one of our real strengths is engineering support. With decades of experience in piezoelectric technology, we help customers build high-performance ultrasound transducers for sonar, air, medical, and non-destructive testing.
From the very first design sketches all the way to final testing, we work closely with customers to optimize performance, integration, and reliability – even under challenging conditions. Our advanced 1-3 composites often make the difference between a good device and an outstanding one.
What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
B.E: The piezo composites market has been steadily growing, and we see continued expansion. Many of our customers’ businesses have grown alongside ours. Interestingly, while many ultrasound transducer makers still use bulk piezoceramics, they turn to our composites when they want that extra level of performance.
We operate in both mature and emerging markets. In established sectors, our goal is to continually push the performance of our components. In research and development markets, we work with universities and institutes worldwide, which keeps us close to the latest innovations and allows us to provide advisory support that often shapes entirely new applications.
What can you tell us about market trends?
B.E: There’s a clear trend toward higher performance, miniaturization, and multifunctional devices. Customers increasingly want materials that can sense, actuate, and/or even harvest energy—all in one. Sustainability and long-term reliability are also important criteria, which is why we’re investing in high-temperature and specially-filled composites that meet these needs.
What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
B.E: We’re always working to improve our 1-3 composites and bring new capabilities through our MFCs. Many of our customers gain a real competitive edge thanks to these innovations. While we can’t share all the details because some applications are confidential, it’s incredibly satisfying to see our technology enabling breakthroughs across industries – from medical devices to robotics and beyond.
What estimations do you have for the second half of 2025?
B.E: We’re planning to keep investing—both in new products and in expanding our production capacities with advanced machinery. Our goal is to continue supporting our customers with innovative, high-performance piezo composites. Looking ahead, we’re optimistic about growth and excited about the new applications and markets we’ll be part of.
