About Us

Planar Motor Incorporated (PMI) is the global leader in magnetically levitated planar motors. PMI's Planar Motor System redefines intelligent production lines with its unprecedented flexibility, precision, re-configurability, scalability and traceability. Headquartered in Vancouver Canada, we invent, design, manufacture, sell and support planar motor systems to over 30 countries and regions in the EU, Asia, and North America.

History

The development of magnetically levitated planar motors dates back to 1997, when Dr. David L. Trumper’s lab at MIT first demonstrated simultaneous motion in both the X and Y directions over a one-inch by one-inch stroke—achieved without any mechanical bearings.

Building on this foundation, Dr. Xiaodong Lu—who would later become the founder of Planar Motor Inc.—continued advancing the technology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) after completing his PhD in Trumper’s lab. Years of dedicated research led to a major breakthrough in 2011 with the development of a long-stroke planar motor prototype. This innovation showcased the potential for virtually unlimited travel and the coordinated operation of multiple movers, marking a pivotal advancement in planar motor technology.

Recognizing its commercial promise, the invention was licensed to several companies, including Beckhoff Automation, which began developing it in 2014 into what would later become the XPlanar system. Dr. Lu continued his research at UBC until 2016, when he left the university to co-found Planar Motor Inc. with his former students Rui Chen and Yao Kevin Xiao. In 2017, the company launched the world’s first commercial planar motor products, successfully bringing the technology from the lab to the marketplace.

Board of Directors

Xiaodong Lu

President, Co-founder

Xiaodong Lu obtained his PhD from M.I.T. He won a F.W. Taylor Medal from International Academy for Production Engineering, and a Carl G. Sontheimer Prize from M.I.T. for excellence in innovation and creativity in design. He has 20 years experience of inventing new technologies and products.

Alexander Slocum

Director of Innovation, Co-founder

Alexander Slocum is a member of US National Academy of Engineering, Pappalardo Professor at M.I.T. He is an inventor in 100+ patents. He has won the R&D 100 award (the Industry Oscar Award) 10+ times, with each win signifying a significant innovation of that year. Also, he served as the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy and served as a member of the team assembled by President Obama to fix the deepwater oil spill.

Daxue Wang

Director, Co-founder

Daxue Wang has 17 years experience in finance industry, covering various fields in corporate financing, investment bank, IPO, MA, and auditing. Positions that he took include CEO of Mason Asset Management Company, Executive Director of Morgan Stanley, Director of International Business for ICBC Credit Suisse Asset Management, Senior Economist for Citi Group, Associate Director for Yamaichi Securities.

Peter Tang

Director, Co-founder

Peter Tang has more than 30 years of working experience in Automation. He served as Vice President of Innovation & Technology and Vice President of Engineering at ATS Automation Tooling Systems, one of the largest automation companies in North America, where he led numerous technology innovation. He also served as a board member in Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada research networks, and a board member of Automated Imaging Association.