Jastram, a German manufacturer of marine drive and control systems, and Insumo, a deep-tech research and development company from the Netherlands, have recently started a collaboration.
They joined forces to introduce the next generation of Rim-drive technology: bearingless electric thrusters. According to Jastram, this partnership promises to revolutionize the marine industry by setting new standards in silent and efficient propulsion.
In the future, the two companies aim to deliver thrusters that not only meet but exceed current industry standards for performance, durability, and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the new bearingless electric thrusters will be quieter, cleaner, and more efficient.
Thruster meets lowest noise requirements
These bearingless thrusters are designed to meet the lowest noise requirements and minimize cavitation, making them nearly silent. Their bearingless design and water-cooled systems eliminate the need for polluting lubricants, ensuring eco-friendly operation. Moreover, the design requires minimal maintenance, significantly lowering operational costs and downtime.
Central to this technological leap is the bearingless implementation achieved through magnetic levitation. By employing magnetic forces to keep the rotor in position, these thrusters become the most silent and resilient on the market. This approach eliminates the components most susceptible to wear and tear, effectively increasing the thruster’s lifetime and reducing the number of parts by 50%.
Jastram presents new system at SMM
The compact, modular, and simple design of these electric motors ensures they are low maintenance while delivering superior performance. The magnetic force fields are kept low, further contributing to the silent operation of the thrusters. This innovative design is scalable, making it possible to create powerful rim-drives that retain all the benefits of the technology. A first sneak peek of the system in motion was presented by Jastram for the first time at the last SMM in Hamburg.
