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From the Silicon Valley to Indiana, LE moved to be closer to technological resources. All of its new machine designs, such as the 125-kilowatt generator shown here, are tested in a facility designed and located at Rose-Hulman Ventures. Because of its partnership with Rose-Hulman Ventures, LE finds itself in a better position to supply its revolutionary motors and generators to makers of hybrid electric vehicles and distributed power generation.
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The
Challenge
A Silicon Valley technology company is in the process of
revolutionizing the way in which electric machines are
manufactured by reducing cost, size, and weight, all the
while increasing machine efficiency. Once LE got up and
going, it needed a strategic location for further
advancement.
LE’s method of producing advanced motors and generators utilizing amorphous metal gives users more power for their money. “It’s the highest power-density-to-cost ratio,” Chief Operating Officer Matt Johnston explains. Advancements being pushed by LE represent the first true innovations to this field in more than half a century.
The Result
In an effort to deliver these innovative solutions to the marketplace, LE decided that being closer to the auto and energy companies who could benefit from the motor and generator technology was critical to their long-term success. LE found that strategic home in a 10,000-square-foot facility in Indianapolis, enabling them to leverage the capabilities offered by Rose-Hulman Ventures. “The talent pool for LE to draw upon here is second to none, so Rose-Hulman Ventures was an important piece in our decision,” Johnston says.
In Rose-Hulman Ventures, LE found both excellent technical expertise and a financial partner. “We have saved money and headaches by outsourcing new designs to Rose-Hulman Ventures,” Johnston says. Now all of LE‘s products are characterized and tested in a state-of-the-art 200-kilowatt facility developed and managed by Rose-Hulman Ventures. This facility, complete with automation controls and high-voltage power distribution, was designed to compress LE’s critical path to market. Performance data collected is enabling LE and Rose-Hulman Ventures to collaborate on optimized product design.
In addition to performing this necessary testing, Rose-Hulman Ventures is helping LE’s business with a cash investment through its Success Fund. “RHV has significant technical capability,” Johnston says, “and this is a way for us to augment technology development.”
www.lightengineering.com
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