Cambridge Mechatronics

About Cambridge Mechatronics

Cambridge Mechatronics Ltd. (CML) specializes in designing and developing compact, high-precision actuators and controller integrated circuits using its patented Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) platform technology. The company's core products provide precision motion for applications like smartphone camera autofocus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OIS), where its actuators can control movement with sub-micron accuracy.

Founded in 1995 by Cambridge academic Tony Hooley as 1-Limited, the company's initial focus was on creating advanced loudspeaker technology. A strategic pivot around 2013 led the company to sell its sound technology portfolio and rebrand as Cambridge Mechatronics, concentrating on SMA-based solutions for the smartphone market. A significant milestone was achieved when Huawei integrated CML's technology into the P30 Pro handset, marking its first high-volume commercial success. Co-Managing Director Andy Osmant, a Chartered Accountant, joined in 2001 as CFO and has been instrumental in the company's strategic evolution.

CML operates on a hybrid business model. Initially a pure-play intellectual property licensing firm, it earned revenue from royalties and engineering fees from manufacturing partners. Recently, the company transitioned to also being a fabless semiconductor company, developing and selling its own specialized controller ICs and firmware, which house its proprietary control algorithms. This dual approach allows CML to license its mechanical actuator designs and also sell the controller chips to the camera module makers who integrate the system.

Serving primarily the smartphone industry, CML's technology has been shipped in over 80 million devices. Its client base includes major smartphone manufacturers like Huawei, Xiaomi, and Honor. The company is expanding its reach into other markets that require compact and precise motion, such as AR/VR, haptics, medical devices like microfluidic patch pumps, automotive, and defense.