Kinematics Achieves Major Industry Milestone with Shipment of 3 Million Actuators
Critical motion control system moves the solar industry forward.
PHOENIX, AZ, June 12, 2025 — Kinematics–a leading provider of critical motion control systems that optimize, simplify, and secure energy production with leading bankability–today announced it has achieved a significant industry milestone with the shipment of its three millionth actuator. This achievement underscores the company’s pivotal role in moving the solar industry forward, with Kinematics’ precision tracking technology now supporting more than 90 gigawatts of solar installations across thousands of sites worldwide.
“Reaching 3 million drives shipped represents not just a number, but the culmination of nearly three decades of trust and proven excellence in the field,” said John Payne, CEO of Kinematics. “Every drive we ship lasts for decades and enables our customers to build the most successful, high-performing solar projects anywhere in the world, positioning them for maximum energy production and optimal return on investment.”
Actuators are precision gear mechanisms that enable solar trackers to rotate and position panels throughout the day. By allowing panels to follow the sun’s path across the sky, these systems increase energy production by up to 15 – 20% compared to fixed-tilt installations.
What sets Kinematics’ actuators apart is their hourglass worm gear technology, which engages more teeth simultaneously than conventional drives at higher drivetrain efficiency. This design delivers superior control and torque while providing a robust survivability. Exceptional durability protects solar investments during extreme weather, while the self-locking capability eliminates the need for additional braking systems. For utility-scale developers, these advantages translate to reduced maintenance, longer system life, and higher energy production—even in the most challenging environments.
“This technology has evolved significantly since we pioneered our first solar actuators, with each generation delivering improvements in performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness,” said Payne. “Projects using our drives have consistently demonstrated superior uptime and energy production, even in locations experiencing hurricane-force winds, extreme desert heat, and harsh winter conditions. With our total solution of slew drives, actuators, controllers, algorithms, and global support, we’re enabling our partners to deliver the highest performance, most bankable solar projects—maximizing solar production all day long.”
With headquarters in the U.S., six manufacturing facilities, and seven support offices worldwide, Kinematics provides accessible expertise and responsive service across all major solar tracker markets, ensuring timely technical support and tailored solutions for each project’s unique requirements. The company has recently grown, following its strategic acquisition of P4Q, completed in February 2025, which integrated Suntrack’s® advanced controller technology with Kinematics’ field-proven actuation systems to create a total intelligent motion control solution.
About Kinematics
Founded in 1996, Kinematics is the leading provider of critical motion control solutions. From actuation technology to advanced algorithms, controls, and global support, the company provides a total solution that maximizes power production for the solar industry and improves reliability and safety for industrial and satellite applications. Kinematics supplies engineered systems, sensors, software, and services to move mission-critical equipment into precise position. The company is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, and operates globally with facilities in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Contact:
Matt Clarke
Email: kinematics@teamsilverline.com
Phone: (301) 467.7332
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