Houston-area FluxWorks is evolving magnetic gear technology, promising efficiency and reliability across industries. Led by CEO Dr. Bryton Praslicka, FluxWorks leverages over a decade of research to revolutionize gear technology, with applications spanning from renewable energy to space exploration. “NASA funded us to develop a gearbox for the next-generation Lunar Rover to go to the dark side of the moon,” said Dr. Bryton Praslicka, CEO of FluxWorks. “We needed to make a gearbox as lightweight and robust as possible while also withstanding extreme conditions—low temperatures, low atmosphere, and hard vacuum. That’s where my first patent came along.” The company’s magnetic gear designs bring 99% efficiency and are four times quieter than their conventional counterparts. Instead of mechanical teeth, the gears rely on magnetic forces to transfer power—eliminating the need for lubrication, reducing maintenance requirements, and dramatically improving reliability. Beyond his patent-pending design innovations, Praslicka emphasized how FluxWorks builds on existing electric motor manufacturing techniques and supply chains to enable rapid scalability. “Our unparalleled magnetic gear expertise means we can quickly get to market by retrofitting existing systems that already have electric motors, that already have gearboxes,” said Praslicka. “That’s one of the really exciting opportunities about our technology.” With this innovative business model in place, the company placed second at the Houston Energy Transition Initiative Energy Ventures Pitch Competition at CERAWeek, the world’s premiere energy conference, and took home the grand prize at the 2023 Rice Business Plan Competition hosted by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and Jones Graduate School of Business. The FluxWorks team was also selected as the Water Power Technologies Office Bonus Prize Winner at the Department of Energy’s (DOE) EnergyTech UP competition. "FluxWorks gearboxes deliver breakthrough performance with minimal maintenance, making them ideal for extreme applications and remote locations where uptime is critical,” said Praslicka. The company aims to bring its lab-proven magnetic gears to real-world environments by field testing its technology in subsea wave energy conversion, onshore wind turbines, the International Space Station (ISS), and more. "Our innovative gearboxes have unprecedented reliability,” said Praslicka. “With a lifespan of up to 25 years, we can drastically minimize operational and maintenance costs for our customers. Our vision is to use magnetic gears to unlock a technology’s full potential.” Discover Houston's evolving industries.

Houston experienced significant economic resilience and growth amidst looming concerns of a recession. Despite slowdowns across sectors, the Bayou City continued to create jobs, adding 53,700 in the first 10 months of ’23, according to the Partnership’s Houston Region Economic Outlook report. While the real estate market faced challenges, the greater Houston region saw many dynamic projects come to life, including the opening of Helix Park, the Texas Medical Center’s first phase of its new 37-acre campus.  Looking ahead, here are a few developments that will impact Houston’s economy in 2024.  Arco Del Tiempo Serving as the centerpiece in Houston’s East End Guadalupe Plaza Park, Arco Del Tiempo is a new environmentally sustainable art installation aiming to advance the region’s transition to an energy abundant future. Standing at a 100-feet tall, Arco Del Tiempo will not only generate power for the nearby City-owned Latino multicultural performing arts theater, Talento Bilingüe de Houston, but it also will offer a gathering space for the community. Arco Del Tiempo is set to be installed in 2024.  Click to expand Austin Point Austin Point is a first-of-its-kind 4,700-acre master-planned town that will feature 1,600 acres of mixed-use commercial development space and a walkable downtown area with hospitals, life sciences labs and corporate headquarters. The first phase of the development will include The 1824, a central park and community center with a café, wine bar, large front porch, an event lawn, children's play area, beer garden, food truck court, walking trails and a dedicated space for outdoor fitness activities and games.   Autry Park Spanning 14-acres in Montrose, Autry Park is an urban village designed to increase connectivity and walkability to food, entertainment, retail and living in the area. The project's first phase includes two apartment buildings, Hanover Autry Park, a 24-story apartment tower with 324 units, and Hanover Parkview, an eight-story mid-rise with 421 units, both have already opened. Phase two is projected to open at the end of 2024 with additional commercial tenants and retail space. BioHub II at Generation Park Generation Park, Northeast Houston’s massive commercial development, is set to open its new state-of-the-art, 45-acre biomanufacturing hub – BioHub II this year. The new master-planned campus will include 500,000 square feet for cGMP manufacturing, lab and office space and house the biomanufacturing workforce institute that will offer certificate coursework in bioprocessing to students, further expanding the region’s life sciences ecosystem and workforce.  Click to expand East Blocks  A redevelopment project led by Houston-based Pagewood and Wile Interests aims to transform former warehouses in EaDo into a walkable 10-block mixed-use district. East Blocks is expected to break ground in the second quarter of 2024 and will encompass 513,000 square feet southwest of Shell Energy Stadium. Phase one will include a unique blend of restaurants, shops, office and green space and will include existing tenants 8th Wonder Brewery and Pitch 25, while phase two will focus on additional retail and restaurant space. The Allen The Allen, a sophisticated new mixed-use development is currently underway in Houston’s Allen Parkway corridor. The first phase, The Residences at The Allen, includes the development of a $290 million, 35-story skyscraper that towers over Buffalo Bayou Park. The stylish new building offers luxury condos, high-rise penthouses and a sleek 170-room Hotel – the Thompson, which opened earlier this year. Phase II of The Allen is anticipated to break ground in early 2024 and will include more retail and restaurant space and luxury multi-family living.  Click to expand The Commons at Hermann Park Hermann Park is changing the game for green spaces in the Houston area with its new groundbreaking 26-acre development – The Commons. Slated to open to the public this week, The Commons aims to revolutionize the beloved park with a unique collection of play areas, including an immersive space-themed area and a life-sized carousel. The commons also features many new gathering spaces including a Central Lawn and the Live Oak Terrace.  The Houston Astros Entertainment District  The Houston Astros expect to break ground on a new entertainment district adjacent to Minute Maid Park in Nov. 2024 The district will feature a 17-story hotel, 60,000 square feet of retail space for restaurants and shops and a three-level gathering area for fans to watch Astros games and other major sporting events on a massive outdoor screen. The venue will also host live music performances. The Grand at 249 Situated at the corner of the Grand Parkway-Highway 249 intersection, the groundbreaking 65-acre retail center dubbed The Grand at 249 will span 404,256 square feet in Tomball, making it the largest retail concentration within Houston's northwest submarket. Slated for completion in 2025, The Grand at 249 will boast 12 pad sites and include tenants such as AT&T, Boomer Jack's, Gringo's, Jersey Mike's, Milano Nails and Two Pho Nine Asian Fusion.   Learn more about why businesses are choosing Houston and what it means to live, work and play in the Bayou City.