The MAXIMA project will showcase five scientific contributions at the 27th International Conference on Electrical Machines (ICEM 2026), demonstrating its work on advanced axial-flux electrical machines, thermal management, manufacturing processes, condition monitoring, mechanical design and digital-twin-enabled control.
The conference will take place from 6 to 9 September 2026 at the Pestana Casino Park in Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal. MAXIMA partners will contribute through one oral presentation and four posters, sharing research results with the international electrical-machines community.
About ICEM 2026
ICEM is a leading international forum for researchers, engineers, technology developers and industrial stakeholders working on electrical machines, drives and energy-conversion systems. The 2026 edition will bring together specialists from academia and industry to exchange knowledge, present technological advances and discuss the engineering challenges shaping the future of electrification.
MAXIMA’s participation reflects the project’s multidisciplinary approach to high-performance dual-stator axial-flux machine development. Its contributions cover essential stages of the innovation process, including rotor architecture, cooling, bearing design, manufacturing-related magnetic effects, permanent-magnet health monitoring and intelligent control.
MAXIMA at ICEM 2026
Monday, 7 September 2026
- Poster Session 1 | 15:40–16:40
Rotor design challenges for the dual-stator axial flux electrical machine topology
ICEM26-000383
This poster explores key challenges in designing rotors for dual-stator axial-flux electrical-machine topologies. It addresses factors affecting machine performance, rotor integration and the practical implementation of this compact, high-power-density architecture.
Authors: Gyorgy Kulcsar, Robert Kulcsar, Ioan-Claudiu Cotovanu, Matei Salomie, Abderrahmane Rebhaoui, Bogdan Butnariu, Ioan Deac, Valerian Vigier and Maximilian Ruf.
Tuesday, 8 September 2026
- Poster Session 3 | 15:40–16:40
Next generation rotor cooling techniques of dual-stator axial flux electrical machines
ICEM26-000371
This contribution presents advanced rotor-cooling techniques for dual-stator axial-flux electrical machines. Improving thermal management is a key route to increasing power density, safeguarding machine performance under demanding operating conditions and supporting long-term reliability.
Authors: Sergiu Marciuc, Daniel Santos, Jordi Vera, Carles Oliet, Ioan Deac, Abderrahmane Rebhaoui, Bogdan Butnariu, Ioan-Claudiu Cotovanu and Maximilian Ruf.
- Oral Session 31: Digital Twins for Electrical Machines | 18:00–18:20
Embedded Digital Twin for Optimal Control of EV PMSMs with Multiphysics Integration
ICEM26-000101
In the dedicated session on Digital Twins for Electrical Machines, MAXIMA partners will present an embedded digital-twin approach for the optimal control of electric-vehicle permanent-magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs). The work integrates multiphysics considerations into a digital-twin framework to support more accurate, responsive and efficient control under real operating conditions.
Authors: Konstantinos Kostopoulos, Oriol Subirats Rillo, Daniel Montesinos, Sergiu Marciuc, Stephane Clenet, Julien Korecki, Thomas Henneron, Carles Oliet, Daniel Santos Serrano, Marcial Mosqueda Otero, Oriol Sanmarti Perona and Gyorgy Kulcsar.
Wednesday, 9 September 2026
- Poster Session 4 | 10:10–11:10
Simulation-Driven Preliminary Rolling-Bearing Design for Double Air-Gap Axial-Flux Machines
ICEM26-000372
This poster presents a simulation-driven approach to preliminary rolling-bearing design for double-air-gap axial-flux machines. It supports earlier and more informed engineering decisions on mechanical integration, robustness and reliability.
Authors: Gyorgy Kulcsar, Sergiu Marciuc, Robert Kulcsar, Ioan-Claudiu Cotovanu, Matei Salomie, Ioan Deac, Abderrahmane Rebhaoui and Bogdan Butnariu.
- Poster Session 4 | 10:10–11:10
Mitigating manufacturing degradation in axial flux traction motors via stress relief annealing
ICEM26-000283
This contribution examines the potential of stress-relief annealing to reduce manufacturing-induced degradation in axial-flux traction motors. The work addresses the need to preserve magnetic performance and efficiency as advanced electrical-machine designs move towards scalable manufacturing.
Authors: Ahmed Abouelyazied and Abderrahmane Rebhaoui.
Supporting Next-Generation Electrification
Together, MAXIMA’s five contributions illustrate an integrated approach to the development of advanced electrical machines. From materials and manufacturing to component design, thermal management, diagnostics and smart control, the project is addressing interlinked challenges that influence the performance, reliability and industrial uptake of axial-flux motor technologies.
Through its presence at ICEM 2026 in Funchal, MAXIMA will share its results, strengthen dialogue with the international research and industrial community, and contribute to the advancement of efficient and reliable technologies for the electrification transition.