Lap transport system VACOMAX® 278 HR

HANAU – Since 2018, VACUUMSCHMELZE GmbH & Co. KG (VAC) has been working with partners from industry, research institutes and universities on improving the power density of electric motors for automotive and aircraft engines. In the project, which was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), groundbreaking results were achieved in the joint collaboration. Two components of the motors were considered – the rare-earth permanent magnets and cobalt-iron laminations. The size, weight and losses of electric drive systems should thus be reduced in order to establish more sustainable transport systems. VAC succeeded in achieving an energy density of 282 kJ/m3 in laboratory tests with the development of a new permanent magnet alloy based on SmCo. With this value, a new world record was achieved. In addition, a first batch of this new alloy VACOMAX® 278 HR was produced under series production conditions with promising results. The alloy is in the production transition stage, and further steps have been taken to increase quality and output. The magnets were installed by VAC in rotors that were further processed into electric motors by the project partner MACCON and are now being tested by the industrial partners Daimler AG and Lange Aviation.