Rheinmetall subsidiary Pierburg Pump Technology has secured approximately €1.5 million in public funding to advance manufacturing processes for high-performance NanoLam capacitors at its Hartha, Saxony site.
The NanoLink project targets scalable production of compact, high-temperature DC-link capacitors for next-generation electric powertrains.
€4.4 Million Investment Programme
The NanoLink programme combines around €1.5 million in funding from the Sächsische Aufbaubank with total planned investment exceeding €4.4 million. The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and Saxony state funding.
Pierburg Pump Technology will use the programme to develop, validate and automate process steps for larger-volume production of NanoLam capacitors. The stated objectives include improved cost effectiveness, energy efficiency, manufacturing automation, quality and reliability.
The project began on 1 June 2025 and is scheduled to run until 31 January 2028. Partners include AKON GmbH, Chemnitz University of Technology and the Laser Institute at the University of Applied Sciences Mittweida.
NanoLam Technology for DC Links
NanoLam capacitors are intended for use as DC-link capacitors in power converters, where the capacitor stabilises the DC bus and supplies transient current to the inverter stage. This function becomes particularly demanding in compact, high-voltage traction inverters operating with high switching frequency and elevated ambient temperatures.
Unlike conventional polypropylene film capacitors, NanoLam technology uses dielectric layers in the sub-micrometre range made from thermosetting plastics. The resulting solid-state polymer laminate structure is designed to provide higher capacitance density, lower weight at an equivalent capacitance, enhanced temperature capability, dielectric strength and thermal conductivity.
Rheinmetall positions the technology as an alternative for applications where established film-capacitor solutions face packaging, thermal-management or power-density constraints. The company says its Hartha facility is Europe’s first demonstration plant for NanoLam capacitor manufacturing.
Relevance to E-Mobility
DC-link capacitors are a critical part of traction inverter power stages, buffering energy and limiting DC-bus voltage ripple between the battery and switching bridge. Their electrical, thermal and mechanical characteristics affect inverter volume, cooling design, reliability and the ability to locate the capacitor close to the power module.
The NanoLink project therefore addresses more than component production capacity. It also aims to establish a repeatable industrial process for a capacitor architecture intended to support higher power density in electric-drive systems.
For European e-mobility supply chains, the programme may help build regional capability in advanced passive components and associated manufacturing know-how. Commercial results will depend on whether the process development can meet automotive requirements for cost, production yield, qualification and long-term field reliability at scale.
Hartha Site Expands Technology Role
Pierburg Pump Technology’s Hartha site has been part of the Rheinmetall Group for more than three decades. In addition to NanoLam capacitor development, the site produces electric coolant pumps and hydrogen recirculation blowers for automotive and non-automotive applications.
The 45,000 m² location employs around 400 people and forms part of Rheinmetall’s wider e-power solutions portfolio, which includes power electronics, capacitors and high-voltage safety products.
Further reading
- Disruptive NanoLam DC-Link Capacitor Technology
- Rheinmetall Polycharge Wins First NanoLam DC-link Capacitors Order
- DC-Link Capacitors
- Film and Foil Organic Dielectric Capacitors
Source
This article is based on a Rheinmetall press release announcing public funding and a manufacturing-development programme for NanoLam capacitor production at Pierburg Pump Technology in Hartha, Germany.
