NTU Singapore and global manufacturing group Motherson to develop magnetic technology that could cut production time and energy use

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and global automotive supplier Motherson are collaborating to develop a magnetic heating technology that could significantly reduce the time and energy needed to cure industrial coatings.

The collaboration combines NTU’s expertise in magnetic materials and polymer science with Motherson’s automotive engineering and manufacturing capabilities to adapt the technology for industrial production.

Motherson is a leading global design, engineering, manufacturing, assembly and logistics specialist, supporting customers from more than 475 facilities across 47 countries. Its operations span automotive and aerospace components, as well as other industries.

Known as Spinheat, the NTU-developed technology uses specially designed magnetic nanoparticles added to materials such as paints, adhesives and resins.

When exposed to an alternating magnetic field, the particles generate heat within the material, allowing coatings to cure without heating the entire component in an industrial oven.

In laboratory tests, adhesive coatings cured using magnetic induction for one hour achieved comparable bonding strength to coatings cured in a conventional oven for 24 hours.

The technology could reduce energy consumption and prevent heat damage to other parts of a component, particularly those containing heat-sensitive materials.

The latest version of Spinheat uses real-time temperature feedback to adjust the magnetic field during curing. This delivers heat only when needed, helping to prevent overheating, bubbles and other coating defects.

Taking magnetic heating from laboratory to factory

The NTU research is led by Professor Raju V. Ramanujan and Associate Professor Terry Steele from NTU’s School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE).

NTU first demonstrated magnetic-field-activated epoxy curing in 2020.

The collaboration with Motherson marks the next stage of development, with the researchers seeking to test Spinheat under conditions closer to industrial manufacturing, particularly for paint and coating applications.

Together, researchers will explore how Spinheat can be adapted for industrial coating applications, including resin coatings used on automotive and aerospace components.

This could reduce energy consumption, carbon emissions and the space required for curing equipment, thus offering a greener, more efficient alternative for the automotive sector.

Associate Professor Terry Steele said: “The first generation of our technology showed that we could use magnetic nanoparticles for directed energy materials curing, instead of conventional oven heating. The next challenge is to understand how this can work reliably within automotive manufacturing. Working with Motherson will allow us to develop Spinheat around actual industrial needs, including the materials, component shapes and production requirements.”

Professor Raju V. Ramanujan said: “The development of Spinheat technology for industry is the next logical step to demonstrate its numerous advantages. The partnership with Motherson will now study its use in demanding automotive and aerospace applications. In these sectors, faster and more energy-efficient manufacturing processes could be a game changer, given the critical requirement to reshape the industry.”

Dhruv Mehra, Director of Motherson Singapore, said: "Innovation is at the core of how Motherson builds for the future. Partnering with NTU Singapore & using Motherson’s proprietary SVAG E3 methodology, we are excited to bring cutting-edge materials science into real manufacturing environments and explore possibilities that can make our processes faster, cleaner, and more efficient. This collaboration underlies our commitment to invest in foundational R&D, strengthening long-term value creation and supporting sustainable manufacturing."
From laboratory to scale up

The researchers will investigate key manufacturing requirements for Spinheat, including coating thickness, curing speed, temperature control, as well as various shapes and sizes of components.

The research underpinning Spinheat was published in Applied Materials Today earlier this year, with support from the National Research Foundation, Singapore (NRF) under its 29th Competitive Research Programme.

Other potential applications include vehicle coatings, composite manufacturing and repair, and adhesive bonding.

Additionally, the NTU researchers are exploring multiple commercialisation pathways, including discussions with additional industry partners and potential start-up opportunities, supported by the NTU Innovation and Entrepreneurship initiative.

Intellectual property for the technology has been filed through NTUitive, the University’s innovation and enterprise company.

NTU’s partnerships with industry leaders, such as Motherson, support Singapore’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2030 (RIE2030) priorities in advanced manufacturing, which include translating research into industrial technologies and processes.