Richardson Electronics Partners with C-Motive to Accelerate Commercial Production of ZeroMag® Electrostatic Motor Technology
Richardson Electronics, Ltd. (NASDAQ: RELL), a global leader in engineered power, microwave, and energy storage solutions, has announced a strategic manufacturing partnership with C-Motive Technologies to support the commercialization of the company’s groundbreaking ZeroMag® electrostatic motor platform and Cascade H-Bridge medium-voltage drive system. The collaboration marks an important milestone in the advancement of next-generation industrial motor technology that eliminates the need for permanent magnets while offering improved efficiency, reduced material costs, and a more resilient supply chain.
Under the agreement, Richardson Electronics will provide comprehensive manufacturing and engineering services to help transition C-Motive’s innovative motor technology from prototype development to full-scale commercial production. The partnership includes design-for-manufacturing (DFM), engineering optimization, Alpha and Beta pilot production, production test development, quality assurance planning, regulatory compliance support, and high-volume manufacturing capabilities. Commercial production of the proprietary motor drive controller is expected to begin in 2027.
Supporting the Next Generation of Industrial Motors
As industries worldwide seek more efficient and sustainable alternatives to conventional electric motors, C-Motive’s ZeroMag® technology represents a significant breakthrough. Unlike traditional electric motors that rely on permanent magnets and substantial amounts of copper to generate torque, ZeroMag motors utilize electrostatic forces. This unique operating principle removes the dependence on rare-earth magnetic materials, which are often expensive, subject to geopolitical supply risks, and environmentally challenging to source.
The elimination of permanent magnets also substantially reduces copper requirements while maintaining the performance expected from high-efficiency direct-drive motor systems. This innovative approach provides industrial customers with an attractive alternative that combines operational efficiency, lower material costs, and improved long-term supply chain stability.
The ZeroMag platform has been specifically engineered for stationary industrial applications where high torque and low-speed operation are essential. These include direct-drive conveyor systems used in manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and mining, as well as high-volume, low-speed (HVLS) industrial fans commonly installed in factories, distribution centers, agricultural facilities, and large commercial buildings.
Industry analysts estimate the addressable market for high-torque, low-speed industrial motors used in material handling and conveyance applications to be worth nearly $3 billion, highlighting the significant commercial opportunity for the technology.
Richardson Electronics to Lead Manufacturing Readiness
Manufacturing activities for the project will primarily take place at Richardson Electronics’ headquarters and advanced manufacturing facility in LaFox, Illinois. The site will leverage decades of expertise in electro-mechanical assembly, advanced power electronics manufacturing, production engineering, automated testing, and global supply chain management.
Richardson Electronics will play a critical role in preparing C-Motive’s technology for commercial deployment by developing scalable manufacturing processes capable of supporting increasing production volumes as customer demand grows. This includes creating production-ready quality management systems, validating manufacturing procedures, and designing comprehensive testing processes that ensure every motor controller meets stringent performance and reliability standards.
The company’s experience in transitioning advanced technologies from engineering prototypes into commercial products makes it well-positioned to support C-Motive during this important growth phase.
Driving Innovation Through Engineering Collaboration
The partnership extends beyond manufacturing and reflects a collaborative engineering effort focused on optimizing product design for large-scale production. Richardson Electronics’ design-for-manufacturing expertise will help streamline production methods, improve manufacturability, reduce production complexity, and ensure consistent product quality while maintaining the advanced performance characteristics of the ZeroMag motor system.
By combining Richardson Electronics’ manufacturing capabilities with C-Motive’s proprietary electrostatic motor technology, both companies aim to accelerate commercialization timelines and provide industrial customers with a new generation of reliable, high-performance motor solutions.
Leadership Highlights Strategic Partnership
Greg Peloquin, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Richardson Electronics’ Power & Microwave Technologies and Green Energy Solutions groups, emphasized the importance of the collaboration in bringing innovative industrial technologies to market.
He noted that Richardson Electronics is excited to work alongside C-Motive as the company advances its revolutionary motor platform toward commercial deployment. Peloquin explained that Richardson’s extensive experience in design-for-manufacturing, advanced power electronics, engineering services, and scalable production systems positions the company to help transform C-Motive’s technology into a commercially successful product. He added that the partnership represents an opportunity to support one of the most promising innovations in industrial motor technology while contributing to the long-term growth of both organizations.
Katharine Geramita, Chief Operating Officer of C-Motive Technologies, also welcomed the collaboration, describing Richardson Electronics as an ideal manufacturing partner due to its extensive engineering knowledge, manufacturing expertise, and global supply chain capabilities.
She explained that as C-Motive prepares for commercial production of the ZeroMag platform, partnering with an experienced manufacturing organization will enable the company to efficiently scale production while maintaining high product quality and reliability for industrial customers.
Reducing Dependence on Rare-Earth Materials
One of the most compelling advantages of the ZeroMag motor platform is its ability to address growing concerns surrounding the global supply of rare-earth materials.
Conventional permanent-magnet electric motors rely heavily on rare-earth elements such as neodymium and dysprosium. These materials are costly, environmentally intensive to mine, and often sourced from limited geographic regions, creating supply chain vulnerabilities for manufacturers worldwide.
By eliminating permanent magnets entirely, C-Motive’s electrostatic motor technology offers manufacturers greater supply chain flexibility while reducing exposure to fluctuating raw material prices and geopolitical risks.
Additionally, the reduced copper requirements further decrease production costs while supporting sustainability goals through lower resource consumption.
Preparing for Commercial Expansion
The manufacturing partnership also includes the development of robust production systems capable of supporting C-Motive’s anticipated commercial expansion beginning in 2027.
Richardson Electronics will establish comprehensive quality assurance processes, manufacturing validation protocols, and production testing systems to ensure consistent performance across every unit produced. These efforts will help position the ZeroMag platform for successful deployment across multiple industrial sectors requiring reliable, high-torque motor solutions.
As production scales, Richardson’s global supply chain infrastructure and manufacturing expertise are expected to support increasing customer demand while maintaining high manufacturing standards.
Richardson Electronics’ Manufacturing Expertise
Richardson Electronics has built a strong reputation as a global manufacturer of engineered solutions serving industries including renewable energy, healthcare, aviation, telecommunications, industrial automation, defense, semiconductor manufacturing, marine, scientific research, and medical technology.
The company manufactures a wide range of advanced products, including power conversion systems, RF and microwave components, microwave tubes, CT X-ray tubes, customized display technologies, and energy storage solutions.
More than half of Richardson Electronics’ products are manufactured at company-owned facilities in LaFox, Illinois; Marlborough, Massachusetts; and Donaueschingen, Germany, as well as through carefully selected global manufacturing partners operating under strict quality standards and supplier compliance programs.
Its engineering-driven business model emphasizes system integration, design support, prototype development, manufacturing, logistics, testing, and comprehensive aftermarket technical support.
Power & Microwave Technologies Division
Richardson Electronics’ Power & Microwave Technologies division has more than 75 years of experience delivering advanced RF, microwave, and power solutions to customers worldwide.
The division specializes in identifying emerging technologies, introducing innovative products to global markets, designing custom-engineered solutions, and supporting customers throughout the entire product lifecycle. Its services include product design, manufacturing, system integration, logistics, repair, and technical support delivered through an extensive international infrastructure.
The group’s expertise in advanced power electronics makes it particularly well suited to support the commercialization of C-Motive’s proprietary motor drive controller.
About C-Motive Technologies
C-Motive Technologies is the world’s first company focused exclusively on commercializing electrostatic motor technology for industrial applications.
Founded on research developed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the company has pioneered a fundamentally different approach to electric motor design by replacing traditional magnetic force generation with electrostatic principles.
Its ZeroMag® platform eliminates the need for permanent magnets and mechanical gearboxes, offering a simplified, high-performance solution for industrial drive systems.
Following multiple successful field demonstrations, C-Motive is now preparing engineering samples and initial commercial product shipments expected to begin in 2027.
Looking Ahead
The collaboration between Richardson Electronics and C-Motive Technologies represents a significant step toward bringing electrostatic motor technology into mainstream industrial applications. As manufacturers continue searching for efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective alternatives to conventional motor technologies, the ZeroMag platform offers a compelling solution that reduces dependence on rare-earth materials while maintaining high performance.
With Richardson Electronics providing manufacturing expertise, engineering support, quality systems, and scalable production capabilities, C-Motive is well positioned to transition its breakthrough technology from successful demonstrations to full commercial deployment. Together, the two companies aim to accelerate innovation in industrial motor systems while supporting greater efficiency, supply chain resilience, and sustainable manufacturing practices for customers worldwide.
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