PI Ceramic Blog

30 Years of PI Ceramic: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

On the Occasion of the Anniversary, Managing Director Dr. Patrick Pertsch Reviews the past Years, Takes a Look at the Company Today and Looks to the Future

2022 is a special year for PI Ceramic, as it is thirty years since the company was founded in 1992. This is the perfect time for the Managing Director, Dr. Patrick Pertsch to review past years, take a look at the company today, and talk about future challenges and chances.

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ELT: A Spectacular Eye on the Sky

PICA Stack Actuators from PI for Precise and Reliable Image Stabilization in the World’s Largest Telescope

In the Chilean desert, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) is currently building the largest telescope in the world - the ELT. It consists of five mirrors, with the main mirror having a diameter of 39 meters. The smallest mirror, the M5, is designed to compensate for aberrations and guarantee high image quality, thanks in part to eleven PICA stack actuators from PI Ceramic.

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Point-of-Care Testing: The Pocket Laboratory

Piezoceramics Enable Precise Liquid Handling in Point-of-Care Testing

In vitro diagnostics (IVD) is a requirement for recognizing diseases in blood, saliva, and urine samples. Some IVDs are used for analysis in laboratories, while point-of-care (PoC) tests are used close to the patient. However, all IVDs have one thing in common: Tiny liquid samples, in the milli- or picoliter range, are moved. For the handheld PoC devices, it is important for the components to be small and space-saving.

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Piezo versus Pandemic

Innovative Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures Based on Piezo Technology

What does piezo technology have to do with COVID-19? In the fight against the Corona virus, piezo components enable diagnosis and therapy procedures, from PCR tests to respirators.

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Analyzing the Surface Conditions on Mars

Supporting Research of the Red Planet with the Help of Multilayer Piezo Actuators in the Curiosity Mars Rover

The CheMin instrument of the Curiosity Mars Rover performs chemical and mineralogical analyses on Mars rocks. In order to analyze rock samples, the rock powder first has to be sorted. PICMA Stack multilayer piezo actuators from PI Ceramic qualified for this task. They carry out the oscillations required in material selection and supply at a defined frequency. Due to their all-ceramic insulation, they are ideal for long-term use in outer space conditions at a temperature close to the absolute zero and with extremely low ambient pressure.

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Smart Vaccine Patch Production with Piezo Elements

Fight Against COVID-19

In the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, modern vaccination technologies are gaining importance as they promise to protect the world population from future pandemics. Vaccine patches are one of these next generation applications and piezo components or actuators can be used to precisely dispense tiniest droplets on the microneedles.

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Ultrasonic Metering in Intensive Care Devices

Fight Against COVID-19

Viruses and other infections particularly affect people with pre-existing conditions such as renal or cardiovascular diseases. In regard to the treatment and therapy of such illnesses, the demands on the medical devices used are ever increasing. Piezo technology offers various possibilities to improve them: Using piezo transducers, for example, makes intensive care devices such as infusion systems smarter and facilitates vital patient monitoring.

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Piezo Technology for Medical Ventilators and Nebulizers

Fight Against COVID-19

Chronic respiratory diseases like mucoviscidosis, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but also bronchitis, influenza and lung diseases related to COVID-19 require extensive medical treatment. Medical ventilators and nebulizers have a significant part in improving patients’ clinical condition and treating their illnesses. Piezo-driven devices offer high precision and efficiency as well as hygienic advantages.

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Piezo Ceramics Enable Precise Liquid Handling for in Vitro Diagnostics

Fight Against COVID-19

In vitro diagnostics (IVD) opens up numerous possibilities for early diagnosis and detection of diseases. The requirements for fluid handling in IVD devices are extremely demanding: very small quantities of fluids with different properties must be dosed or moved with high precision. Piezoelectric components and actuators perform these tasks.

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"Arrived at the Right Place"

Patrick Pertsch Looks Back on One Year as Managing Director of PI Ceramic – and He Has Big Plans for the Future

In 2018, Dr. Patrick Pertsch took over the position of Managing Director of PI Ceramic. The new responsibility entailed some challenges, but also many successes. This much is certain: Pertsch has arrived at the right place. After one year he takes stock – and shares his vision for the future of the company.

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