Material selection directly dictates performance, lead times, and thermal stability in motor laminations. Technical teams frequently turn to Thomson Lamination Company after encountering inconsistent annealing, tight-tolerance failures, or supply delays from fragmented vendors. As an AS9100/EN9100 certified and ITAR-registered manufacturer, Thomson Lamination integrates high-precision stamping, annealing, tooling, and assembly under one roof to compress production schedules on specialized alloys.

Cobalt Iron Alloys (Hiperco® 50 & Vacodur® 49)

High-performance applications demand high magnetic saturation (~2.4 Tesla) and superior flux density without increasing component weight. Thomson Lamination stamps Hiperco 50 laminations and Vacodur 49.

Because 50% cobalt alloys require precise atmosphere-controlled heat treatment to prevent embrittlement, stack warping, or grain boundary decay, in-house annealing furnaces directly adjacent to the press floor protect magnetic permeability while eliminating intermediate vendor transit times.

Additional specifications for cobalt alloys include:

  • Key applications: Aerospace motors, military/defense electromechanical actuators, medical electromagnets, specialty transformers, high-speed generators, and magnetic bearings.
  • Gauge range: 0.004″ to 0.020″.

High-Permeability Nickel Alloys

For applications operating at low-to-moderate magnetic induction, nickel-iron alloys provide maximum initial permeability and exceptionally low core losses over extended duty cycles. Thomson Lamination processes 48% to 80% nickel alloys.

Additional specifications for nickel alloys include:

  • Supported alloys: HiPerm 49, Permenorm 5000 V5, VDM MAG 50, HyMu 80, VDM MAG 7904, and ULTRAVAC 80.
  • Gauge range: 0.004″ to 0.020″.
  • Primary operational benefit: Reduces hysteresis and eddy current losses in high-sensitivity instrumentation, low-noise transformers, and precision sensor cores.

Electrical Silicon Steel

Non-oriented laminated silicon steel forms the foundation of core manufacturing for high-volume rotational equipment and power conversion components. Using high-speed presses rated up to 250 tons, Thomson Lamination maintains tight dimensional tolerances and repeatable edge quality across extensive production runs. The electrical steel category spans several thickness ranges, each suited to different frequency and loss requirements.

Electrical Silicon Steel (Standard Gauges)

Standard-gauge grades cover the broadest range of general-purpose motor and generator applications. Organized from thicker to thinner stock:

  • M45 and M36 (0.025″). Highest core loss in the lineup, suited for low-frequency, cost-sensitive applications such as distribution transformers and large industrial generators.
  • M27 (0.025″). A step down in core loss from M36, commonly specified for general-purpose AC motors and ballasts.
  • M22 (0.025″). Mid-range loss profile, a practical choice for fractional horsepower motors and power relays where moderate efficiency is required.
  • M19 (0.019″). The most widely specified grade for general-purpose electric motors and industrial generators. M19 electrical steel delivers an optimal cost-to-performance ratio without specialty alloy lead times.
  • M15 (0.014″). Lowest core loss among standard silicon grades, suited for higher-efficiency motor designs and power conversion equipment where losses must be minimized without stepping into thin-gauge territory.
  • Standard gauge range overall. 0.014″ to 0.025″.

Thin-Gauge & Ultra-Thin Electrical Steels

High-frequency electric motors and high-efficiency stators require ultra-thin laminations to minimize high-frequency eddy current losses. Thomson Lamination stamps thin-gauge alloys, utilizing precision tooling and specialized stack-handling procedures to ensure stack concentricity and lamination flatness.

Top specifications include:

  • Supported material trade names: Sura® and Arnon® thin-gauge electrical steels.
  • Gauge range: 0.003″ to 0.010″.
  • Process control: Custom handling and stacking protocols engineered specifically to prevent edge burring and interlaminar shorting on sub-0.005″ stock.

Optimize Your Lamination Material Selection & Production Schedule

Selecting the correct magnetic alloy requires balancing flux density, core loss, heat-treatment requirements, and raw material lead times. Thomson Lamination’s engineering team assists with material specification reviews to optimize performance and manufacturability prior to tooling commitment.

Not sure which material fits your application? Our material selection eBook walks through the tradeoffs in more depth. To discuss material specifications or request a custom quote, contact us today or submit your project details directly through our request a quote page.