Srm: synchronous reluctance motor. introducing a new lifting technology in the elevator market
The market for lifting systems is nowadays dominated by gearless machines. Among them there is a type of machine based on the use of Neodymium permanent magnets. However, the raw material with which these magnets are made is subject to large fluctuations in the price because there is a very high dependence on the unique source of extraction, China. 
In addition, PM gearless motors are related to reliability problems due to the lack of knowledge about the lifespan of the magnets, as well as performance related to high operating temperatures (above 140ºC) and oxidation due to its iron components. 
The elevators market size is expected to grow from € 75,000 million (2015) to € 105,831 million by 2021, at a CAGR of 6.01% based on an increasing demand in Asia and Pacific area. 
Italian Top Gears SRL, is an Italian SME located in Bolzano di Albinea (Reggio Emilia) that is dedicated to design, manufacture and distribution of elevator traction machines with the state-of-the-art technologies for the worldwide market. 
Taking all of this into account, the company has patented a novel alternative system to the previous one, with similar outputs in speed, comfort and efficiency, but with a much more effective performance in the terrain of reliability and security. But above all, what makes highly interested this new system is up to 40% savings in motor costs. 
The innovation lies in the use of a synchronous reluctance electric motor (SRM) as a traction unit, following the requirement and needs of the lift industry. 
The main benefits obtained with SRM are: lower prices per unit, no electrical encoder needed in system, use of IoT applied to the lifts, reduced motor size, low maintenance, 50% lifespan increase, estimated energy savings of € 3239 and reduction of the carbon footprint of the process. 
This project is aiming to achieve profits around € 3.7 M and hire 9 new employees after 5 years in market, reaching a ROI (return of investment) of 2.3 per euro invested.