Van Steenburg argues that current U.S. reshoring efforts are flawed because they merely replicate Chinese designs while remaining dependent on foreign supply chains. He contends that relying on a domestic rare-earth magnet industry that is still years away from maturity leaves manufacturers vulnerable. His startup, a participant in the upcoming TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield 200, seeks to eliminate this bottleneck through alternative design architectures.
In section Startups & Technology
Modal Motors Aims to Build Electric Motors Without Chinese Rare Earths
“China’s already flexed its muscles a couple times,” says Michael Van Steenburg, founder of Modal Motors. With Beijing restricting access to critical minerals, Van Steenburg is launching a startup focused on manufacturing electric motors in North America that bypass the need for rare-earth magnets entirely.
The company is currently developing two primary products. The first is a compact motor optimized for drones, fans, and actuators, engineered for high torque density. The second, branded as the “Hybrid Enigma Drive,” utilizes a flat, planar design intended for space-constrained applications. Drawing on his background in the automotive industry, Van Steenburg is positioning these technologies as a pragmatic solution for companies desperate to insulate their operations from geopolitical supply chain risks.
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