Industry Intelligence
Company news, event announcements, and magnetic industry briefs from AIC Engineering — timely updates on company activity and market information.
Geely & Renault's Horse Powertrain unveils 13-in-1 PHEV off-road drive system with 4920 Nm wheel torque
Horse Powertrain, a joint venture between Geely and Renault, has unveiled the 3DHT200, a 13-in-1 PHEV electric drive system with a 3-speed dedicated-hybrid transmission. The drive system will debut on the upcoming 830 kW (1,113 hp) Galaxy Cruiser 700, Geely’s first “boxy” SUV.
Chinese-German team develops levitating magnetic sensor
Researchers at Peking University in China and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany have developed the ultra-precise Levitated Magnet Magnetometer, or LeMaMa. The device operates at room temperature and can detect magnetic signals at the femtotesla level — billions of times weaker than Earth’s magnetic field.
Current heavy rare earths production outside China falls short of magnet demand: REA CEO - Fastmarkets
Explore the rising demand for rare earths in the magnet industry and their crucial role in future production.
Sensors Under Close Scrutiny — the New Baumer Innovation Lab; New Encoder Merges Optical & Magnetic Technologies
For a design engineer selecting a sensor for a product development effort, the most fundamental thing, of course, is to determine the correct type of sensor with the right capability. Then, however, there is the nagging question, what about reliability?
Goodbye Refrigerants, Hello Magnets: Scientists Develop Cleaner, Greener Heat Pump
Scientists have developed a magnetocaloric heat pump that matches conventional systems in cost, weight, and performance, eliminating harmful refrigerants. By optimizing materials and design, the pump achieves comparable power density, offering a greener and efficient alternative for heating and cooling.
New 'cloaking device' concept shields electronics from disruptive magnetic fields
University of Leicester engineers have unveiled a concept for a device designed to magnetically "cloak" sensitive components, making them invisible to detection.
New method tests magnet-powered braking for safer, more reusable spacecraft reentry
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have created a new system to test magnetohydrodynamic aerobraking for spacecraft reentering the atmosphere. Their platform generates intense magnetic fields with a powerful electromagnet as a miniature vessel is hit with a shock wave traveling at over seven kilometers per second (4.3 miles per second). The magnets reached far higher fields than previous work with permanent magnets and are a crucial stepping stone toward tests with real vessels in the atmosphere.
ATW unveils screen-printing solution for copper-metallized solar cell
China-based solar PV equipment manufacturer Wuxi Autowell Technology (ATW) has launched a screen-printing solution for copper paste and silver-coated copper paste. The new product line targets TOPCon, back-contact (BC), and next-generation solar cell technologies.
SpaceX starts in-house turbine blade manufacturing to boost gas-powered generator output for Elon's AI data centers — new manufacturing strategy cuts generator delays by 18 months | Tom's Hardware
Electricity supply in the U.S. is a limiting factor preventing AI data centers from coming online as quickly as possible. Because of this, many projects are turning to portable natural gas turbine generators to get the electricity they need and bypass long wait times to connect to the grid. This has driven demand for turbines, so Elon Musk said on X that SpaceX will bring turbine blade and vane casting in-house.
Ionic Rare Earths inks $140 million US magnet recycling deal - Mining.com.au
Ionic Rare Earths (ASX:IXR) has signed a joint venture term sheet with US Strategic Metals (USSM) to construct magnet recycling facilities in Missouri, US. The agreement supersedes a memorandum of understanding announced in November 2025. The proposed 50/50 JV aims to develop an integrated critical minerals production campus at USSM’s 728-hectare site near Fredericktown.
Japanese Engineers Tear Down Unitree G1 Robot, Admit They Can't Catch Up to China in the Short Term
Japanese Engineers Tear Down Unitree G1 Robot, Admit They Can't Catch Up to China in the Short Term Japan's Nikkei xTECH recently published a teardown video of China's Unitree Technology G1 humanoid robot, sparking widespread attention. Japanese engineers expressed amazement…
BYD advances Variable Flux Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor technology, patents unveiled
BYD had four patents detailing variable-flux permanent-magnet synchronous motor technology, published by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) recently, following their filing in May 2024. The filings, CN121055622A, CN121055630A, CN121055623A, and CN121055631A, describe mechanisms for adjusting rotor magnetic flux to improve efficiency across a range of operating speeds. These patents build on BYD’s prior work in variable flux motor technology and represent a technical evolution of the concept.
Electrification and Robotics to Drive Future Rare Earth Magnet Demand
Despite a year of critical material supply disruptions, technology mega-trends in decarbonization, electrification, automation and AI continue to fuel demand for high-performance rare earth magnets. IDTechEx forecasts that rare earth magnet demand will reach 332 ktpa by 2036 and breaks down usage and adoption trends in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and robotics growth markets.