Case Studies
Motor technology is what we do. Since 2007, ETM’s expert team has been pioneering and perfecting the long-elusive Transverse Flux Motor technology. Our breakthrough TFM technology is now proven globally, delivering millions of operating hours in a wide range of applications.
ETM & Nordicco
pioneering direct drive to redefine HVLS fan performance
20-39%
Reduction in energy consumption with ETM-powered fans
85-92%
total system efficiency achieved with direct drive technology
15-20 dB
quieter operation compared to traditional gearbox systems
Reduced
SKU complexity, streamlining inventory management
Executive Summary
Nordicco was founded on a clear ambition: to build a fundamentally better HVLS fan, one that would set a new standard for efficiency, performance, and aesthetic design. From the outset, Nordicco’s engineering team recognized that achieving this vision required a motor technology purpose-built for low-speed, high-torque operation. ETM’s Transverse Flux Motor (TFM) was integral to that design from day one. Together, Nordicco and ETM brought the first production-scale direct drive HVLS fans for diameters of 16 feet (5m) and above to the European market. Fans delivering 85-92% system efficiency, up to 39% lower energy consumption, ultra-low RPM operation for superior destratification, and a product aesthetic that customers immediately recognize as different.
Dennis Thomsen
Founder & CEO, Nordicco
The Challenge: Breaking the Gearbox Barrier
When Nordicco was founded, the goal was never to iterate on what already existed; it was to design the most efficient, highest-performing, and most aesthetically refined HVLS fan on the market. Achieving that required confronting a fundamental constraint that had defined the industry for decades. To reach the low rotation speeds required for large-diameter fans, manufacturers had long relied on pairing high-speed AC induction motors with cumbersome speed-reduction gearboxes. Nordicco’s founders saw this architecture not as a starting point, but as a barrier to everything they set out to build.
“In a crowded marketplace with over 50 competitors, we knew from the start that we needed to build something genuinely different, not iterate on what already existed,” stated Dennis Thomsen, Founder and CEO of Nordicco. “Our customers care deeply about efficiency and design. We built our fan around those priorities, and that meant finding a motor that could operate at extremely low RPMs without a gearbox. ETM’s TFM technology made it possible to deliver on both.”
Traditional HVLS fan manufacturing has several critical disadvantages, all avoided with TFM technology:
- Compounded Inefficiency: Combining a motor (85–90% efficiency) with a gearbox (70–85% efficiency) yields total system efficiency of only 60–76%, a liability in an era of escalating energy costs and stringent sustainability requirements.
- Operational Unreliability: Gearboxes are the primary point of failure. With six or more bearings, frequent oil changes, and seal replacements, they create a significant maintenance burden and risk of unplanned downtime in mission-critical facilities.
- Excess Weight and Complexity: The motor-gearbox assembly is 3-6 times heavier than a direct drive equivalent, complicating installation, increasing structural load requirements, and driving up costs.
- Acoustic Interference: Gearbox noise makes traditional HVLS systems unsuitable for noise-sensitive environments like schools, offices, and healthcare facilities. This limits market reach.
Nordicco’s customers (facilities managers, engineers, and operators of large commercial and industrial spaces) place a premium on two things: measurable energy efficiency and a product they can be proud to install. Achieving both demanded a motor that could operate at very low RPMs natively, without the noise, weight, and mechanical losses of a gearbox. Low RPM operation is not just a performance specification, it is the enabling condition for effective thermal destratification. In large-volume spaces, heat rises and concentrates near the ceiling. A fan must move slowly enough, and generate enough gentle airflow across a wide diameter, to push that warm air back down without creating uncomfortable drafts. The energy savings customers see are a direct result of that destratification effect, but only a motor that can hold very low, precise RPMs reliably can deliver it. Conventional motor technology could not meet this bar without a gearbox. Nordicco required a solution that could.
The Solution: Transverse Flux Motor Integration
Nordicco’s partnership with ETM was not a retrofit or a technology swap, it was a foundational design decision. ETM’s Transverse Flux Motor (TFM) was selected as the core of Nordicco’s fan architecture, enabling Nordicco to become the first European manufacturer to bring production-scale direct drive solutions to market for fans 16 feet (5m) and larger. The result: a fan that sets a new benchmark for what HVLS performance and design can look like.
ETM’s TFM technology is architecturally distinct. It decouples the magnetic and the electric circuits, enabling high pole count AND low coil resistance. Thus delivering 5-10 times more continuous torque per unit mass than conventional radial flux motors. This fundamental innovation provides:
- Native Low-Speed, High-Torque Performance: TFM’s ability to operate efficiently at the very low RPMs required for large-diameter HVLS fans—without a gearbox—is the cornerstone of Nordicco’s performance advantage. Operating at low RPMs is essential for effective thermal destratification: at the right speed, the fan’s broad airflow column gently displaces the warm air stratified near the ceiling, circulating it back to occupant level. This is where Nordicco’s customers see their energy savings, and it is only achievable with a motor that holds low RPMs with precision and efficiency.
- Superior Thermal Management: A low-resistance coil design minimizes heat generation, allowing for 100% continuous duty ratings and enhancing the longevity of all system components.
- Unmatched Power Density: The technology delivers the necessary torque in a compact and lightweight form factor, resolving the size and weight penalties of conventional motor and gearbox systems.
Our collaborative implementation process ensured seamless integration and validated performance claims. ETM and Nordicco engineers worked in lockstep to analyze application requirements, match motor variants to fan sizes, integrate our optimized VFDs, and connect the system to Nordicco’s Northern Sky® cloud monitoring platform for real-time data analysis.
“ETM’s motor technology gave us the foundation to build the fan we envisioned. True direct drive, ultra-low RPM capability, and a compact form factor that supports the clean aesthetic our customers value. Our customers can see the difference in the design, and they can measure the difference in their energy bills because the destratification is real. We’re not competing on price with dozens of look-alike products. We compete on verified performance and a product that stands apart the moment it’s installed.”
Dennis Thomsen
Founder & CEO, Nordicco
The Results
A new standard in performance and reliability
ETM’s TFM technology delivers immediate, measurable, and transformative advantages over conventional HVLS fan design.
Quantifiable Performance Gains
System Efficiency
TFM-powered systems operate at 85–92%, compared to the 60–76% typical of motor-gearbox configurations.
energy reduction
Direct drive operation reduces energy consumption by 20–39% versus traditional designs.
noise reduction
Eliminating the gearbox removes a primary source of mechanical noise, achieving a 15–20 dB reduction compared to conventional systems.
Operational and Business Impact
zero gearbox failures
With no gearbox in the system, the leading cause of mechanical failure and unplanned downtime is removed entirely.
simplified product lines
TFM’s scalable architecture allows manufacturers to cover a broad performance range with far fewer SKUs. Nordicco’s entire product line runs on just 3 ETM motor variants.
drop in warranty claims
Fewer components and a simpler design reduce service incidents and warranty risk compared to gearbox-dependent systems.
faster installation
TFM-based assemblies are 3–6 times lighter than motor-gearbox equivalents, simplifying logistics and reducing commissioning time.
This technological advancement positioned Nordicco as the recognized innovation leader in the European HVLS market. For end-users like Danfoss Power Solutions, the benefits were clear. “Not only can we sense the improved indoor climate after the fans were installed, we can also see the difference and follow the data in the Northern Sky platform. It’s never been better,” confirmed Finn Lorenzen, SEH Manager at Danfoss.
Conclusion
Setting the industry benchmark
Transverse Flux Motor Technology
Direct drive through transverse flux motor (TFM) technology is not a theoretical ideal, it is a production reality delivering a decisive competitive edge. By leveraging ETM’s TFM technology, Nordicco not only solved a fundamental engineering challenge but also redefined what is possible.
This partnership demonstrates how a forward-thinking technology strategy can yield transformative business outcomes.
market differentiation
Moving competition from price to proven performance.
enhanced profitability
Gained through lower warranty costs, simplified logistics, and premium product positioning.
superior customer value
Delivered via measurable energy savings, improved reliability, and lower total cost of ownership.
Nordicco’s success is a testament to what becomes possible when a company refuses to accept the constraints of existing technology. By designing around ETM’s TFM from the ground up, Nordicco built a fan that competes on an entirely different plane. They are delivering ultra-low RPM performance that drives real destratification and measurable energy savings, within a product their customers are proud to display. The low-speed, high-torque challenge Nordicco solved is not unique to the HVLS industry. Countless applications still rely on inefficient gearbox systems where a direct drive solution could deliver superior results. ETM’s TFM technology provides a clear, proven path to elevated performance, efficiency, and product differentiation.
Through its technology licensing model, ETM enables OEMs to integrate patented TFM designs while retaining manufacturing control and supply chain flexibility. This approach allows partners to differentiate their products with breakthrough motor technology without the constraints typical of traditional motor suppliers. For Nordicco, this meant maintaining operational autonomy while accessing motor innovation that their competitors cannot replicate, a strategic advantage that extends well beyond the technology itself.
Your future starts here
We’re seeking new partners: industry leaders seeking to convert to electric motor technology, or those looking to simplify their drivetrain. Our team of engineers is ready to partner with your team to create a long-term competitive advantage for you.