Germany's BEST and Luvata Partner to Expand Supply of RRP Superconductors for Fusion

Bruker Energy & Supercon Technologies (BEST) of Germany and Luvata Materials & Solutions, part of the Luvata Group, have announced a strategic partnership to expand the industrial supply capacity of high-performance RRP® superconductors for next-generation magnetic confinement fusion power demonstration projects worldwide.

According to information released by the two companies, the collaboration will focus on enhancing the industrial readiness and availability of RRP superconductors, expanding manufacturing capabilities, and strengthening supply chain resilience to meet the large-scale demand for superconducting materials in high-field magnetic confinement fusion projects.

RRP stands for Rod-Restack Process, an advanced process used to produce high-performance niobium-tin (Nb₃Sn) superconducting wire. This type of superconductor features high critical current density and can operate in high magnetic fields of 12 to 20 tesla. It has been used in applications such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), ultra-high-field nuclear magnetic resonance magnets, and high-field tokamak fusion devices.

Magnetic confinement fusion devices typically rely on strong magnetic fields to confine high-temperature plasma. As technology roadmaps such as high-field tokamaks and stellarators accelerate, related projects place higher demands on superconducting wire that offers high performance, batch manufacturability, and long-term stable supply. BEST and Luvata stated that the new generation of RRP superconductors offers advantages in current-carrying capacity, mechanical strength, and scalable production, making them suitable for large-scale fusion demonstration devices.

The two companies have previously participated in materials and manufacturing work for projects such as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator. Both companies believe that fusion projects advancing in regions including Europe, the United States, China, Japan, and South Korea will further drive demand growth for mature superconducting technologies and large-scale manufacturing partnerships.

Burkhard Prause, President and CEO of BEST, stated that the development of fusion energy relies not only on scientific breakthroughs but also on an industrial ecosystem capable of mass-producing reliable, high-performance superconducting products. Antti Kilpinen, Executive Vice President of Superconductors at Luvata Materials & Solutions, stated that the fusion sector is entering a phase of growth and industrialization, and the two companies will work together to strengthen the supply of reliable superconductors and support customers in advancing fusion energy projects.