Motherson Group and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), have entered into a collaboration to develop Spinheat, a magnetic induction technology designed to speed up the curing of industrial coatings while reducing energy use. The partnership involves MSSL (S) Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based subsidiary of Samvardhana Motherson International Limited, and NTU Singapore. It will focus on adapting the technology for industrial production, including resin and adhesive coatings used in automotive and aerospace components.
Spinheat was developed by researchers at NTU. The process uses magnetic nanoparticles embedded in coating materials such as adhesives and resins. When exposed to an alternating magnetic field, the particles generate heat directly inside the coating, allowing it to cure without heating the entire component.
Conventional curing methods often rely on large ovens that heat both the coating and the component. By directing heat into the material itself, Spinheat could reduce processing time and energy consumption, while also lowering associated carbon dioxide emissions.
Early laboratory results indicate that the technology can achieve bonding strength comparable to conventional oven curing that takes 24 hours in approximately one hour. The collaboration will examine how the process performs under industrial conditions, taking into account different materials, component shapes and manufacturing requirements.
Dhruv Mehra, Director, Motherson Singapore, said the partnership would bring NTU’s research in material science into manufacturing applications. He said Motherson would use its engineering and production experience, along with its proprietary SVAG E3 methodology, to explore ways to improve manufacturing speed, energy efficiency and environmental performance.
Associate Professor Terry Steele of NTU’s School of Materials Science and Engineering said the next stage would be to establish whether the technology could operate reliably in automotive manufacturing. He said working with Motherson would allow researchers to assess Spinheat against actual industrial materials, component geometries and production requirements. Professor Raju VRamanujan of the same school said the collaboration would examine the technology’s potential in demanding automotive and aerospace applications, where manufacturers are seeking alternatives to conventional energy-intensive processes.
Motherson Group provides design, engineering, manufacturing, assembly and logistics services. Established in 1986, the company serves automotive and non-automotive industries, including technology and industrial solutions, healthcare, aerospace and logistics. It operates more than 475 facilities across 47 countries and has a global customer base that includes major automobile manufacturers.
NTU Singapore is a research-intensive technological university with undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across business, computing, engineering, humanities, medicine and science. Its research activities include materials science, energy, environmental technology and engineering.
The collaboration is intended to move Spinheat from laboratory research towards industrial use, with automotive and aerospace manufacturing among the areas under evaluation.
