When NASA planned to revive liquid-fuelled rockets for its Mars mission, a top priority was the development of high-reliability motors that could control fuel valves, tolerate launch vibrations and extreme cold, operate in a vacuum, and meet precise weight requirements. This demonstrates how crucial tools and equipment capable of withstanding any environmental or spatial challenges are to mission success.

Empire Magnetics is improving the availability of super-specialty motors as a leading manufacturer of high-precision and superior-quality products with proven resistance against environmental challenges that standard offerings fail to withstand.

Its product line features 1.8° hybrid permanent magnet stepping motors and selected brushless servo motors with room for customized modifications to survive hazardous environments, vacuum, radiation, extreme temperatures, and even explosions for a prolonged period. These features make Empire Magnetics the best choice for satellites, oil wells, rockets, beamlines, and research facilities.

The journey to deliver top-grade solutions began in 1980 when its trio of founders, George Cinti, Doug Nolte, and Richard Halstead, were working with Compumotor, a pioneer in early step motor control. Although its products were innovative, they could not satisfy customers demanding better tolerance to vacuum, radiation, deep sea pressure, and other parameters. At the time, most of these requirements came from the U.S. Federal Government or its subcontractors. Recognizing the opportunity to skyrocket, Empire Magnetics pivoted its business model to become a problem-solver for challenging applications.

“Our tenet of prioritizing budgetary estimates over manufacturing costs is pivotal to the success we deliver within project-oriented organizations,” says Halstead, president of Empire Magnetics.

After three decades of resolute and persistent innovation, Empire Magnetics is now a dedicated manufacturer for the aerospace industry with clients that include NASA, the Public Nuclear Commission of Japan, the European Space Agency, and the Taiwan Nuclear Power Commission. It also has multiple assemblies in the International Space Station’s Integrated Resilient Aircraft Control (IRAC) and Near Infrared Airglow Camera (NIRAC), which is operating on the International Space Station. Internally, Empire Magnetics heavily contributes to the U.S. government’s research facilities, like equipment for National Labs, the Naval Observatory’s telescopes, and the Air Force’s research projects.

For customers who prefer to mitigate engineering workload through a single source, Empire Magnetics integrates multiple components into a larger system to drive large-scale manufacturing.

Our tenet of prioritizing budgetary estimates over manufacturing costs is pivotal to the success we deliver within project-oriented organizations

A state-of-the-art engineering and testing process based on strong research and security lies at the heart of Empire Magnetics’ comprehensive and robust product line. Driven by its quality and manufacturing prowess, the company grew its revenue by 90 percent last year and gained a new contract of $1.58 million for radiation-resistant and water-submersible units.

A client engagement that perfectly illustrates Empire Magnetics’ troubleshooting competencies and quality focus is that of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In 1990, when the lab wanted to source radiation-resistant motors for processing nuclear fuels, the company developed, provided, and implemented the desired products after thorough testing. Another example is its vacuum motors that help beamlines worldwide avoid outgassing, contamination, and overheating.

Currently working to innovate space technology, Empire Magnetics is en route to accelerate the industry’s mission to deploy large fleets of small and low-cost satellites. With its forward-looking roadmap, it is all set to deliver optimal motor solutions regardless of hostile operational environments.