Magnetics Business & Technology - July/August 2024 - 16

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
GKN Automotive & Magneti Ljubljana (Developer of New Filament for 3D Printing of Bonded
Magnets) Key Partners on Euro R&D Project for Sustainability e-Motor
Other partners in the consortium are Ikerlan, the University of
Nottingham, the University of Bologna and KU Leuven.
GKN Automotive with more than 20 years of experience in e-drivelines
is primary industry partner for manufacturing
A €4m research and development program to develop a lower
cost, more efficient and power dense permanent magnet emotor
for electric vehicles is being funded by the European
Community. Inspired by ambitious sustainability objectives, the
program is led by Mondragon University in Spain. Among the
consortium are leading e-drivetrain manufacturer GKN Automotive
and innovative magnetics company Magneti Ljubljana
which, separately, recently put on the market a novel magnetic
filament that enables three-dimensional printing of bonded
magnets.
The consortium of eight European partners are focused on a
circular strategy for rare earth critical raw materials in the motor
to be implemented through design and material innovation that
can be applied to mass production of next-generation electric
vehicles. The innovations aim at allowing magnets in the motor
to be smaller in size, contain less rare earth material, also be
eligible for reuse and recycling.
A long-term circular strategy for rare earth critical raw materials
is an important aspect of the effort, targeting a reduction in the
use of two key rare earth materials (neodymium and dysprosium)
of up to 80% and recycling more than 80% of any rare
earth material used. This is intended to conserve resources and
create increased resilience in the European supply chain.
Named HEFT (Highly Efficient Recyclable Motor) the project
includes a total of eight partners from Belgium, Italy, Slovenia,
Spain and the UK. GKN Automotive, a supplier to more than
90% of the world's automotive OEMs with more than 20 years
of e-drive experience, serves as a key industrial partner for
manufacturing and assembly, and ensuring the final motor design
meets industry needs and requirements. All the work from
GKN Automotive will be carried out from its facility in Zumaia,
Spain.
Magneti supplies the key magnetic material for the project.
Another industry participant is Sumitomo Bakeline Europe's
High Performance Materials (SBHPP) business whose factory
in Ghent produces Vyncolit thermoset molding compound.
16 Magnetics Business & Technology * July/August 2024
" The HEFT project is an exciting opportunity to develop the
next generation of eMotors that will be more sustainable and
efficient, while costing less to manufacture, " comments Aitor
Tovar, senior global manager of eMotor development at GKN
Automotive. " I believe development in these areas is key to the
future of electric mobility so I'm delighted that we can contribute
our expertise in eDrive innovation as an industrial partner, helping
to meet an industry need. "
" Minimising the environmental impact of manufacturing, particularly
through a reduction in the use of rare earth critical raw
materials, is an essential consideration in the development of
future products, so the implementation of a circular economy
strategy is another key motivation in our participation in this
project. "
Javier Poza, HEFT Project Coordinator
and Head of Electric Machines and
Drives research group at Mondragon University:
" The HEFT project will allow European
companies, research institutions
and universities to successfully position
themselves in the market, improving their
capabilities and know-how in highly efficient
and cost-effective eMotor design
and manufacturing. It will also promote
new job opportunities linked to magnet
Javier Poza, HEFT Project
Coordinator
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Magnetics Business & Technology - July/August 2024

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