--- title: Electrify With Powder Metal & SMCs description: Discover how soft magnetic composites (SMCs) are reinventing and electrifying the powder metal industry and motor production. image: https://www.horizontechnology.biz/hubfs/iStock-1340890101-1.jpg --- # Electrify With Powder Metal & SMCs. Posted by Horizon Technology - August 24, 2022 - [**](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/electrify-with-powder-metal-smcs) - [**](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/electrify-with-powder-metal-smcs&title=&summary=&source=) - [**](https://twitter.com/home?status=) - [**](https://plus.google.com/share?url=https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/electrify-with-powder-metal-smcs) - [**](mailto:?&subject=https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/electrify-with-powder-metal-smcs&body=https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/electrify-with-powder-metal-smcs) ** Historically, the automotive sector has captured about 80% of the powder metal (PM) industry. As we know, the global automotive industry has been transforming at a rapid pace and the focus has shifted toward electrification. Many view this as a threat to the PM industry - while others find great opportunity - **electric motors using Soft Magnetic Composites (SMC). ** ## How do Laminations Stack Up to SMCs? (Pun - *intended*) ### Laminations Flat, laminated electrical steel sheets are stamped into shapes, sorted, and assembled radially or vertically. Will laminations do the job? Yes. [Are laminations the best solution?](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/electric-motor-efficiency-soft-magnetic-powder-vs-steel-lamination) Maybe not. Steel laminations are limited to a 2D flux path, low frequencies, a less desirable magnetic flux orientation and depending on topology - high cost. ### Powder Metal Imagine the benefits –  Powder metal (PM), particularly SMCs, work well in all topologies, bringing unique benefits to axial and yokeless axial flux motors. Using SMCs can address a variety of electric motor production concerns, such as: 1. Performance 2. Sustainability 3. Weight Reduction 4. Stable Supply Chain   ### Performance Through the use of SMCs in electric motors, you can reduce core losses at medium to high frequencies due to the reduction in eddy currents – therefore SMCs allow for smaller cooling systems. SMCs also have higher saturation values, which allow them to drive with higher torque output, and to push more flux through the air gap.   ### Sustainability Electric motors contain a large amount of expensive and  finite copper and rare earth materials - recycling these materials becomes paramount for the sustainability of the E-Market. Laminations make recycling of these precious materials difficult. Stators and rotors produced with SMCs can be easily crushed, allowing you to easily separate and reclaim the copper and rare earth materials, continuing the circle of life.  PM has been shown to be 15% more energy efficient, with less greenhouse gas emissions when compared to other metalforming technologies. SMCs reduce the amount of copper needed by eliminating or taking advantage of the end turns with 3D shapemaking capability.    ### Weight Reduction SMCs have 3D shapemaking flexibility, allowing for optimized magnetic design and weight reduction. The ability to use SMCs for topologies like axial flux motors leads to a lighter weight motor design. Better copper utilization leads to an intrinsically lower weight motor. Lastly, the higher torque density coupled with lighter weight, opens the door for wheel hub motors without compromising vehicle dynamics.   ### Stable Supply Chain Despite global supply chain issues with other manufacturing materials, there is a large supply of powdered metal materials readily available. The downsizing and electrification of vehicles is freeing up localized capacity for material production to be converted to SMCs – as opposed to the steel lamination industry which projects a 400% deficit in the next 5 years.    ## Powder Metal & SMCs - Sustainability, Stability, & Innovation The global automotive industry is in the midst of a massive transformation - a transformation the powder metal industry, along with SMCs, are ready to capitalize on.  If you’d like to learn more about how SMCs are electrifying the powder metal industry, check out our [AC Electric Motor Design Guide.](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/soft-magnetic-composite-pdf-typ) [![AC Electric Motor Design Guide: Soft Magnetic Composite - CLICK TO DOWNLOAD](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3835920/21e904c7-0228-4a91-8d24-309f40eaafc7.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3835920/21e904c7-0228-4a91-8d24-309f40eaafc7) Topics: [Soft Magnetic Composite](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/tag/soft-magnetic-composite) --- ### Recent Posts By Horizon Technology - May 19, 2026 #### The Motor Design Sequence Is Changing [Read More >>>](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/the-motor-design-sequence-is-changing) By Horizon Technology - April 20, 2026 #### How Operating Voltage Determines Motor Topology Selection [Read More >>>](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/motor-topology-selection-by-voltage) By Horizon Technology - April 07, 2026 #### Five Electric Motor Topologies Engineers Should Be Exploring [Read More >>>](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/five-electric-motor-topologies-engineers-should-be-exploring) --- ### Recent Posts ### Get Updates via Email ## ISO 9001:2015 --- ![powder metallurgy](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/iso%20logo%20registered%20trademark.gif?width=162&name=iso%20logo%20registered%20trademark.gif) We’re proudly ISO 9001:2015 certified, which means quality assurance at every stage of your project. 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