Magnetics Business & Technology - January/February 2021 - 10

FEATURE ARTICLE

Linear Labs Rolls Toward Production of Its Magnetic Flux Tunnel Motors

Linear Labs, a startup company based on a novel design
for magnetic flux tunnel motors is moving toward building its
enterprise to a stage of mass production. In October, it raised
an additional $6 million in venture capital to further develop
manufacturing capabilities and grow its employee base. The
new funding comes shortly after lining up a $68.9 million incentive package with the City of Fort Worth, Texas to develop an
advanced manufacturing facility and hire staff.
The company says that its patented HET motor technology is
an entirely new class of electric machine, producing up to twice
the torque of competitor motors, or the same torque in half the
size, which can be made using rare-earth or ferrite magnets.
The design is based upon a magnetic flux tunnel featuring both
dual axial flux and dual radial flux rotors tied together around
one stator, meaning it is effectively four motors working as one.
The initial phase of production will include the 200 series motor,
which the company says can provide twice the amount of peak
torque of its closest competitor, at 108 Nm with bursts up to 140
Nm. The motors are also 1.7 kg lighter than competitors, with
average efficiency over the RPM range of 88 percent versus the
competitions' 59 percent, and with Linear Labs' motors offering
peak efficiency of 92 percent.
With the city funding, Linear Labs plans to secure a
500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and build a workforce to produce electric motors for EVs, robotics, HVAC, lastmile micromobility and industrial applications. Along with the
new financing round, the funding will be used to expand manufacturing expertise, supply chain infrastructure and logistics, as

Magnetics Business & Technology * January/February 2021

well as advanced automation and robotics engineering.
The company says that it plans to meet signed customer needs
of producing 100,000 units in 2021 with a target of 1,000,000
units the following year. While it has not named any clients,
they include global OEMs in automotive, micro-mobility, industrial pump and applications, as well as residential and light
commercial HVAC, it says.
In another recent development the company's
co-founders Brad and
Fred Hunstable have
been named by Ernst
& Young as Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020
Southwest Award winners. " My father Fred
and I started Linear Labs
with the goal of bringing electricity and clean
water to underdeveloped
nations, so societal impact through innovation
is part of the foundation
of Linear Labs, " said
Brad Hunstable. He is
chief executive officer
of the company and his
father is chief technology officer.

Linear Labs co-founders, Brad and Fred
Huntsable
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Magnetics Business & Technology - January/February 2021

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