PASSENGER business case 2: gearmotors and actuators

Global demand for compact motion systems in industrial automation, robotics and electromechanical actuation is increasing rapidly. Gearmotors and actuators serve as key components in numerous industrial and automotive subsystems, delivering controlled motion, force transmission, and precision positioning. However, most commercial gearmotors today depend on NdFeB-based permanent magnet motors, creating a production dependency on Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), such as neodymium (Nd) and dysprosium (Dy), which are almost entirely imported from outside Europe. The PASSENGER project develops Rare Earth-free permanent magnets based on Manganese–Aluminium–Carbon (MnAlC) () and Strontium Ferrite (Sr-ferrite). These materials offer European alternatives to NdFeB magnets, enabling CRM substitution in electric motors and motion drive systems. This business case evaluates the market potential for integrating PASSENGER magnets in gearmotors and actuators while highlighting their economic feasibility, supply chain stability and sustainability advantages.