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Magnet-free electric motor tech is award winner

BorgWarner won an R&D 100 Award in partnership with the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Lab for their work on new motor technology. The project powers an electromagnet-based rotor, eliminating the need for rare earth magnets, and does away with some other traditional components too.
Read the full article.

Key factors for ball screw applications

Learn the six key factors that should be considered when specifying ball screw assemblies in motion control applications. PCB Linear gathered a panel of experts in the field of linear motion to concentrate on this important topic -- particularly when it comes to the company's miniature ball screw product line. Learn about precision and accuracy, orientation, speed and acceleration, duty cycle, linear motion travel, and load capacity. Podcast available too.
Read the PCB Linear blog.

Brushed DC motors for higher temps

Traditionally, operating temperatures up to 200 C were exclusively the domain of brushless motors. maxon has changed this with the new DCX22S HT brushed DC motor, which uses a high-temp-grade Neodymium magnet, a customized winding, and a newly designed cover made of a high-temp-capable material. Works with the GPX22 and GPX26 gearbox ranges.
Learn more.

Structural beam-type linear motion guide

THK's LM Guide JR is a structural beam-type linear motion guide designed to serve as both a linear guide and a machine structural component. With its high rigidity rail design and four-way equal load capacity, LM Guide JR supports stable, precise motion while helping simplify machine structures and reduce overall system complexity. Since the LM rail's cross-section center is slightly thinner, it can absorb parallelism errors between two rails by bending inward or outward. Its cross-sectional shape provides high flexural rigidity, though, allowing it to serve as a structural component.
Learn more.

Machine shops: Automation provides more for less

Siemens is pushing machine-tool automation forward with a new partnership that pairs a digital twin of its SINUMERIK 828 CNC with a KUKA robot. The system, with the robot arm integrated into the CNC, streamlines part-handling tasks and simplifies both operation and programming, giving small and mid-sized shops a practical, high-impact automation upgrade. Lots of new capabilities here.
Read the full article.

Master motor control: Resource hub for engineers

Mouser Electronics is helping engineers stay ahead in motor control design with a robust online resource center packed with high-value content. Its technical team and leading manufacturer partners have assembled a deep library of articles, blogs, eBooks, and product insights. Engineers can explore advanced motor technologies, compare the latest options, and learn optimization strategies for a wide range of applications. A smart bookmark for any designer.
Check out the Mouser motor control resource center.

Micro rotary encoder for robotics, aero, and more

Electromate now offers the Netzer Precision VLP-13, a miniature absolute rotary encoder for space-constrained motion systems. Its ultra-compact design and high-resolution feedback bring precise, reliable position sensing to robotics, aerospace, medical, and automation equipment. The contactless capacitive architecture delivers long-term stability and durability for mission-critical, long-service-life applications.
Learn more.

Autonomous mobile robot with lots of options

With the ReBeLMove Pro, igus has launched a modular autonomous mobile robot (AMR) that is easy to customize -- from small load carrier to full-on robot solutions. Based on a compact, rectangular transport on four wheels with an electric drive, it can be integrated into company processes without any previous experience. ReBeLMove Pro can navigate autonomously at a speed up to 2 m/s, carry up to 250 kg, or pull up to 900 kg in material handling -- and it is about 25% more cost effective than most competitor models.
Learn more.

Next-gen palletizing aims to transform manufacturing

Universal Robots (UR) and Robotiq unveiled a ground-breaking robotic palletizing solution at CES 2026 in collaboration with Siemens. The joint demonstration in Las Vegas highlighted how advanced robotics and digital twin technology can accelerate industrial transformation for manufacturers worldwide. The solution combines Robotiq's PAL Ready palletizing cell with a UR20 robot arm, integrated into Siemens' automation hardware and new Digital Twin Composer software.
Learn more.

Large aperture air bearing rotation stage made in the USA

The A-688 rotary air bearing stage from PI delivers nanometer-level precision, frictionless motion, and long-term reliability for metrology, optics, photonics, and semiconductor applications. Its 260-mm clear aperture supports large optical or mechanical payloads, while the ironless direct-drive motor and high-resolution encoders achieve 0.0015 µrad angular resolution with minimal wobble and runout. With no wear or lubrication, it offers cleanroom-ready, particle-free performance for ultra-precision alignment, inspection, and scanning systems.
Learn more.

New Exlar food-grade actuator

Curtiss-Wright's Actuation Division has expanded its Exlar line with hygienic electric actuators using FDA-approved materials and finishes. Designed for food, beverage, packaging, and pharmaceutical automation, the new GTF unit enables economical USDA, 3-A, BISSC, and EHEDG certification. Its IP69K washdown option, inverted roller screw, and compact servo-driven design deliver reliable, high-performance motion for hygienic machinery.
Learn more.

NORD electric motors: Reliable, versatile, energy efficient

NORD DRIVE-SYSTEMS offers a range of powerful, energy-saving electric motors including asynchronous, synchronous, explosion protected, and smooth-body versions. These motors are built in-house for high availability, deliver high efficiency, and meet all common global efficiency regulations and standards. Thanks to the modular design, they are compatible with the full NORD gear unit and variable frequency drive portfolio and can also be used as stand-alone motors.
Learn more and see all your options.

Tech Tip: How to keep heavy loads balanced

Some Thomson smart linear actuators have a position-based synchro-nization option to help manage unbalanced loads when using multiple units. The system adjusts the speed of each actuator to keep them starting, moving, and stopping synchronously, regardless of their respective load distribution. So useful. So smart.
Learn all about this feature.

More precision, less friction: Strain wave gearheads

With the new Strain wave gearheads, maxon expands its portfolio, especially for applications with high demands on precision in torque transmission. The backlash-free design ensures exact motion control in minimal installation space -- ideal for robotic arms, surgical instruments, or optical applications. In combination with maxon drives, this results in a perfectly matched drive system from a single source. Available in diameters of 55 mm and 62 mm. Additional sizes and variants on the way.
Learn more.

Micro-brakes for precise motion control applications

The ultra-compact 112 Model Electro-magnetic Micro-Brakes from Miki Pulley ensure fast response in high-torque, demanding applications. The simple design features a stator with integrated mounting flange, proprietary composite friction liner, and armature complete with ring plate spring and hub. These brakes halt rotation mechanically by utilizing an electromagnetic field to create mechanical friction. With fast response, the brake's armature engages the stator when the coil is energized. A constant-force plate spring transfers torque to the rotating brake body, halting all motion.
Learn more.

New single-process carbon-conversion technology could turn emissions into jet fuel

By Will Wright, The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

Researchers at The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia have developed a carbon-conversion technology that may one day help turn industrial emissions into jet fuel -- by simplifying how carbon dioxide is recycled.

The system combines carbon removal and conversion into a single process, reducing the energy use and complexity that limits many existing approaches. The technology is designed with real-world industrial settings in mind.

Dr. Lei Zhang, Distinguished Professor Tianyi Ma, and Dr. Peng Li (left to right) in the RMIT University lab, with Professor Ma holding a key component of the team's 3-kW carbon-conversion prototype device. [Credit: Will Wright, RMIT University]

Distinguished Professor Tianyi Ma from RMIT's School of Science said carbon conversion had traditionally been treated as separate steps, increasing cost and slowing progress.

"Current approaches had often been inefficient and energy intensive," Ma said. "By bringing the steps of conversion together, we have been able to simplify the process and reduce unnecessary energy losses."

The technology turns carbon dioxide from industrial exhaust gases into basic chemical building blocks that can be used to make jet fuel and other products that are currently made mostly from fossil resources.

The new system does not directly produce jet fuel but converts carbon dioxide into ingredients that can be upgraded into low-emissions jet fuel and other carbon-based products using established industrial processes.

A practical role in aviation's transition
Aviation remains one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize. Battery-powered aircraft are unlikely to serve long-distance routes at scale, and demand for sustainable aviation fuel continues to exceed global supply.

Rather than replacing existing fuel technologies, the RMIT system is positioned as a complementary option. It offers another pathway to generate the materials needed for low-emissions jet fuel and other carbon-based products, particularly near large and difficult-to-abate sources of industrial emissions.

Dr. Peng Li, lead author of the study, said the research focused on improving efficiency and practicality.

"Our approach has reduced the number of processing steps and lowered energy demand compared with conventional systems," Li said. "The RMIT system operates without the need for highly purified carbon dioxide, which is important in real industrial environments."

The research, published in the international journal Nature Energy, outlines a complete carbon-conversion system. Independent expert Dr. Federico Dattila, from the Polytechnic University of Turin (Italy), wrote in Nature Energy that the team's advances brought industry a step closer to low-energy systems that can convert CO2 in a fully integrated process.

Scaling up with industry partners
To ensure the technology can operate outside the lab, the team has been working on scaling it up. They have designed and completed a 3-kW prototype system to test performance under industrial conditions.

The next step is to build a 20-kW pilot system to further validate the technology and demonstrate how it integrates with real industrial carbon-emission sources.

This scale-up effort is supported by growing industry engagement. The team is partnering with Viva Energy, Hart Bioenergy, T-Power, Aqualux Energy, CO2CRC, ViPlus Dairy, and CarbonNet on pilot-scale development and future deployment pathways, helping ensure the technology aligns with emissions reduction goals and existing industrial infrastructure.

Close-up of the team's smaller carbon conversion device during testing in the RMIT University lab. [Credit: Will Wright, RMIT University]

Ma said collaboration was essential to moving from research to impact.

"Scaling up has to happen hand in hand with industry," he said. "That is the only way to understand what would work in practice and what still needs improvement."

The research team aims to develop a 100-kW demonstration system within the next five years and achieve commercial-scale readiness in around six years. This timeline reflects a staged and realistic pathway for validating performance, cost, and durability before wider deployment.

Hart Bioenergy's chief executive Doug Hartmann said the technology offered both environmental and operational benefits.

"This innovation has shown how emissions reduction could go alongside cost efficiency and better energy use," he said. "It points to production processes that can benefit the environment without ignoring economic realities."

Realistic next steps
With strong support from industry partners and growing interest from investors, the team is progressing with a spin-off company from RMIT to explore commercial pathways for the technology.

Future development will focus on demonstrating performance at larger scale and assessing how the system could contribute to producing jet fuel, industrial chemicals, and materials using converted carbon.

Ma said the work should be viewed as one part of a broader transition.

"This is not a silver bullet," he said. "It is about developing practical tools that could help industries and governments reduce emissions while making use of existing systems during the transition to cleaner fuels."

Organizations that want to partner with RMIT researchers can contact research.partnerships@rmit.edu.au.

Published February 2026

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