Slovenian electric drive systems manufacturer specialising in NdFeB permanent magnets, rare earth recycling, and circular economy for critical materials.
Kolektor KFH is the drive systems and components division of the Kolektor Group, a vertically integrated Slovenian industrial manufacturer based in Idrija. They design and produce electric drive systems and electromagnetic components — product lines that depend heavily on permanent magnets, particularly neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) types. Their H2020 involvement reflects two directly business-relevant technical interests: the fundamental physics of magnetic forces and microfluidics (MAMI), and the industrial-scale recycling and reprocessing of rare earth magnets within a circular economy framework (SUSMAGPRO). They participate in EU research as an industrial end-user and manufacturing validator, not as a research institution — which means they bring pilot-scale production capability and real supply-chain stakes to any consortium they join.
Both MAMI and SUSMAGPRO centre on NdFeB magnet technology, with SUSMAGPRO explicitly targeting pilot-scale reprocessing and net-shape manufacture of recycled NdFeB magnets.
SUSMAGPRO (2019–2023) focuses on sustainable recovery, efficient extraction, and reuse of rare earth magnets from end-of-life products, with Kolektor contributing industrial manufacturing context.
MAMI (2018–2022) investigates magnetic-force-guided transport and local flow control using cilia-inspired structures, areas where electromagnetic component makers have direct application interest.
SUSMAGPRO keywords include 'pilot scale' and 'netshape manufacture', indicating Kolektor's role in translating recycled magnet material into production-ready components.
Their earliest H2020 involvement (MAMI, 2018) was at the fundamental science end — magnetic forces, cilia mechanics, and microhydrodynamic flow control — suggesting an exploratory engagement with physics that underpins their core product technology. By 2019, their focus had shifted sharply toward applied industrial sustainability: SUSMAGPRO is about recovering and remanufacturing the exact magnet materials their drive systems consume, closing the loop on a critical supply chain dependency. The trajectory is clear: from curiosity about magnetic physics toward direct action on supply chain resilience for rare earth materials.
Kolektor KFH is moving toward industrial circular economy — specifically securing domestic European supply of recycled NdFeB magnets — which positions them as a natural partner for any initiative addressing critical raw material dependencies in electric motors or drives.
Kolektor KFH has never led an H2020 project; they participate as a partner or third party, contributing industrial expertise and manufacturing validation rather than driving the research agenda. Despite only two projects, they are embedded in large, diverse international consortia — 31 unique partners across 12 countries — which suggests they are sought out for their industrial credibility rather than project management capacity. Working with them likely means access to real-scale manufacturing infrastructure and end-user validation, but do not expect them to handle administrative or coordination responsibilities.
Through just two projects, Kolektor KFH has connected with 31 distinct partners spanning 12 countries, indicating participation in large pan-European consortia with broad membership. No geographic concentration is identifiable from this dataset, suggesting their selection as partner is driven by technical fit rather than regional proximity.
As part of the broader Kolektor Group — one of Slovenia's largest industrial manufacturers — Kolektor KFH brings actual production infrastructure and commercial supply-chain stakes to research consortia, not just laboratory expertise. Very few industrial manufacturers of electric drive components are actively engaged in circular economy research for the magnets they depend on, making them a rare combination of end-user, validator, and potential industrial adopter in one. For a consortium needing a credible industrial partner to pilot and validate rare earth magnet recycling at scale, they are among the few European companies that can fulfil that role from a position of genuine business need.
