Fraunhofer Research Institution for Materials Recycling and Resource Strategies IWKS
Fraunhofer Research Institution for Materials Recycling and Resource Strategies IWKS

SMARTer

The Future of cooling – sustainable, efficient, and gas-Free

Refrigeration has become an indispensable part of modern life—whether for food in supermarkets, in data centers, or for medical products. But conventional refrigeration systems have a problem: they mostly rely on environmentally harmful gases that contribute significantly to climate change. The SMARTer (Sustainable Magnetic Materials for Advanced Refrigeration Technology) project is revolutionizing this technology through the use of magnetocaloric cooling.

How does it work?

Instead of harmful refrigerants, this innovative technology uses special magnetic metal alloys and water. When these metals are exposed to a magnetic field, they heat up; when the field is removed, they cool down. This process is not only free of direct greenhouse gas emissions but also up to 35% more energy-efficient than conventional gas compression systems.

Fraunhofer IWKS: The driving force behind industrial implementation

A key factor in SMARTer’s success is the transition from laboratory research to commercial production. Here, Fraunhofer IWKS plays a decisive role and serves as a bridge to industrial application.

Fraunhofer IWKS leads the work package on material upscaling and ensures that the required high-performance alloys (based on lanthanum-iron-silicon, or LaFeSi for short) are available in large quantities and of consistently high quality. The experts at Fraunhofer IWKS leverage their unique expertise and infrastructure to achieve this:

  • Production scaling: In the metallurgical pilot plant, the so-called strip casting process is optimized to produce alloys on a kilogram scale.
  • Precision powder technology: Using modern jet mills, Fraunhofer IWKS produces ultrafine powders that form the basis for the highly efficient cooling elements.
  • Safety and handling: Since these special powders can be highly reactive, Fraunhofer IWKS develops safe protocols for handling and transport under oxygen-free conditions to ensure compliance with industrial safety standards.

Through these services, Fraunhofer IWKS enables the cost-effective production of the magnetic materials that are essential for the technology’s widespread market adoption.

Strong Partners for Europe

Under the coordination of MAGNOTHERM Solutions GmbH, Fraunhofer IWKS is collaborating with TU Darmstadt and the University of Bordeaux to establish Europe as a leader in clean cooling technology. By the end of 2027, the goal is to have a market-ready solution that sustainably reduces the global environmental footprint of the cooling industry.