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New Member Profile: Planar Motor—Multi-dimensional, Flexible Manufacturing

Offering fully reconfigurable, space-saving six-dimension (6D) control.

Planar Motor Solution

Planar Motor Incorporated (PMI) has established itself as a global leader in producing magnetically levitated planar motors after less than a decade in business. Founded in 2016 in Richmond, British Columbia, the company now serves an international clientele with a presence in North America, Europe, and Asia. OEM Magazine sat down with Kevin Xiao, Vice President, to introduce one of PMMI’s newest members.

Can you provide a brief history of PMI? 

Founded in 2016 by experts in factory automation with a deep understanding of linear independent cart technology (e.g., ATS SuperTrak), Planar Motor Incorporated (PMI) company’s origins stem from a simple question, “What if we could move in two dimensions and add buffers and diverters with a few lines of code?” This initial concept sparked a multidecade development journey, ultimately resulting in the commercial release of Planar Motor Inc.’s first product in 2017. The product is a system with any number of magnetically levitated movers, each with six degrees of freedom, but primarily in the XY plane, hence the name “Planar Motor.” Since its introduction, the company has been dedicated to increasing market awareness and collaborating closely with customers to integrate this product into packaging machines. Planar Motor products are ideal for applications requiring high cleanliness, such as food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, as well as industries with harsh environments, such as those that require water and dustproofing. 

Device Assem Pack 001What sets your company apart in the industry?

One key factor that sets Planar Motors apart in the industry is its products: A Planar Motor System comprises one or more XBots (movers) and a stationary surface made up of modular Flyways (stators). Each XBot is independently controlled and suspended with the ability to operate 6 degrees-of-freedom. Planar Motors offers unique advantages in various applications as they provide precise, maintenance-free, intelligent, and efficient motion control solutions that enhance the performance of our customers' processes. Our customers' machines showcase the system’s flexibility by enabling input and output configurations through parameter adjustments. Planar Motors are also fully reconfigurable and occupy only a fraction of the space required by traditional machines, optimizing workspace efficiency. As a relatively new product type, close collaboration with customers is essential to us. Customer suggestions are valued, and new features are continually incorporated with free support provided. Ultimately, the customer's success is intrinsically linked with Planar Motor Inc., forging a mutually beneficial partnership.

What went into the decision to join PMMI?

We recognized that PACK EXPO is North America's most comprehensive packaging and processing show. Planar Motor technology’s main application is in the assembly and packaging machine industry.  Since 2018, we have been exhibiting at PACK EXPO, and each show has been very fruitful. We realized we could use PMMI’s many offerings to enhance our presence in trade shows and across the manufacturing supply chain.

What’s your approach to new product development? How do you come up with ideas for new machines and market-test them?