With products that circle the globe and venture deep into outer space, Landisville-based Electron Energy manufactures some of the world’s highest strength magnets, and it’s now poised to create a new class of magnets altogether.
The U.S. Department of Energy recently funded a two-year, Phase 2 grant to Electron Energy for approximately $4 million to integrate ceramics into rare metals and create new kinds of magnets that will reduce heat in motors. With target energy savings of at least 15 percent, the new magnets could have widespread impact on energy consumption in American industry.
In addition, new work for the National Science Foundation comes with a $500,000 SBIR grant approved in February to develop composite materials for nanoscale applications targeting magnetic effects in the molecular realm, which could mean big things for the future of advanced manufacturing.
The company is also receiving new funds from the U.S. Air Force to create magnetic effects for extremely low temperature refrigeration aboard high-performance aircraft, and is working with Texas A&M University on a NASA contract for frictionless power systems to support planetary expeditions.
With all this work on its plate, the company is looking for skilled machinists, engineers with experience in R&D, and other workers with manufacturing experience.
Founded in a milk house in 1970, Electron Energy Corp. has remained on the cutting edge of magnet technology for almost 40 years and survived as the sole U.S. manufacturer of permanent-field magnets created from rare-earth alloys.
“If you are innovative and smart about where you are going, you can excel, even as most of your industry has moved to China,” says Peter Dent, VP of Business Development.
Source: Electron Energy Corporation, Peter Dent
Writer: Joseph Plummer