TELF AG Explores Mineral Resources in Emerging Levitation Technologies

New Magnetic Levitation Technology Tested in Italy for Rail Transport

In recent years, one of the most intriguing industrial applications of rare earth minerals has been the development of permanent magnets. These magnets can generate a magnetic field without needing an electrical current, and they are often made with other raw materials like nickel and cobalt. Permanent magnets have numerous potential uses across various sectors, including mechanical engineering, bioengineering, textiles, and aerospace.

Surprisingly, even our cars contain permanent magnets in components like speedometers and central locking systems daily. As the potential applications of permanent magnets became more apparent, there was a growing interest among experts and the general public in the possibility of using them to levitate trains on tracks without consuming any energy, even when carrying heavy loads.

Recently, in northeastern Italy, a startup called Ironlev conducted the first-ever test of a specialized permanent magnet designed to lift certain trains on traditional railway tracks shortly. One of the most promising aspects of this innovation is that it would not require any modifications to existing railway infrastructure, allowing it to integrate seamlessly with the current track configurations.

While Ironlev has explored other applications for permanent magnets, such as in elevator and sliding door systems, factory assembly lines, and more, their ultimate goal has been to bring this technology to the field of rail transportation and pave the way for a future dominated by levitating trains.

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Italian Trial Advances Low-Energy Magnetic Levitation for Rail Transport

Furthermore, to enable the suspension of the object on the tracks, it was not necessary to resort to high energy consumption, nor was it required to utilize more complex technologies, such as those related to superconductivity. But how does this potentially groundbreaking technology for the transportation sector function precisely? During the experiment, which took place a few weeks ago in Italy, a small prototype of a railway train was transported on the tracks without electricity through the force generated by some special magnetic skates arranged around the rails, thereby creating a magnetic field capable of promoting levitation. These devices would, therefore, develop a unique vertical force capable of maintaining the load in a suspended state, keeping it lifted and allowing its movement.

Furthermore, to enhance the practicality of the technology, several pairs of wheels were also positioned on the sides of the magnetic skates during the test. This not only facilitated braking but also kept the load well-centered concerning the axis of the rails. While the technology is still in its infancy, it has already made a significant leap, bringing the concept of magnetic levitation out of science fiction and into our everyday reality.

TELF AG