Turntide Secures £17 Million UK Government Grant to Boost Axial Flux Motor Production

Turntide Technologies, a global leader in sustainable electrification and hybridization solutions, has successfully secured a significant £17 million grant from the UK Government and the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) for its “Project SUPREME.” This funding is designed to accelerate the volume production of axial flux motors at the company's Gateshead facilities in North East England.

The grant was awarded through the APC's DRIVE35 Scale-up Fund, which is part of the UK Government’s broader £4 billion DRIVE35 program, delivered in partnership with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, APC, and Innovate UK. Project SUPREME, a £17 million matched funded initiative, will enhance the production of Turntide’s axial flux motors through increased automation and innovation. Axial flux motors offer distinct advantages over conventional radial flux designs, including less space, lighter weight, and more power in a smaller package. However, historical manufacturing challenges have made them difficult and expensive to produce at scale, limiting widespread adoption. Turntide plans to address these challenges by automating critical, labor-intensive production processes such as winding, tooling components, and product validation. The 18-month program is set to extend through January 2028. Steve Hornyak, CEO of Turntide Technologies, stated, “Project SUPREME is an important step in scaling next-generation electric motor technology production in the U.K. for the global market.”

This development is expected to significantly strengthen Turntide’s position within the electrification and hybridization solutions market, driving innovation and raising performance expectations across the industry. The increased availability of efficiently produced axial flux motors could lead to broader adoption across various sectors, including automotive, rail, marine, and off-highway vehicles, providing original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with more compact and efficient powertrain options. Turntide's expanded axial flux motor portfolio supports a wide range of hybrid and electric applications, giving manufacturers greater flexibility to match motor performance to application requirements.

The UK Government’s DRIVE35 program underscores the nation’s strategic commitment to fostering a competitive global market in electrification and achieving carbon reduction targets. The global push towards electrification and hybridization is accelerating due to rising energy costs and increasingly stringent environmental regulations. Turntide’s significant order to supply next-generation lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery systems to Hitachi Rail further solidifies the company’s crucial role in the sustainable transport sector.

Project SUPREME is anticipated to substantially scale Turntide's manufacturing capabilities, enabling it to meet the growing global demand for its advanced motor technology. The enhanced cost-effectiveness and mass-producibility of axial flux motors could accelerate their integration into a wider array of industrial and consumer applications. This initiative is expected to create new opportunities within the electrification solutions market and potentially incentivize other companies to invest in similar advanced technologies.