GOES or NGOES: which electrical steel do you need?
Grain-oriented steel is built for magnetic flux in one direction; non-oriented steel performs the same in every direction. The application decides.
In a transformer the magnetic flux runs along the core limbs and yokes, always in the rolling direction of the strip. Grain-oriented steel (GOES) aligns its crystals with that direction, giving very low loss and high induction. In a motor or generator the field rotates, so non-oriented steel (NGOES), with similar properties in every direction, is the right choice.
| Property | GOES | NGOES |
|---|---|---|
| Typical thickness | 0.18–0.30 mm | 0.20–0.50 mm |
| Loss test condition | P1.7/50 | P1.5/50 · P1.0/400 (EV) |
| Main use | Power and distribution transformers, reactors | Motors, generators, EV drives, compressors |
| Typical processing | Slitting, step-lap cutting, core stacking | Slitting, stamping, interlocking, coating |
Quick rule
- Static field in one direction (transformer) → GOES
- Rotating field (motor, generator) → NGOES
- High-frequency EV motor → thin NGOES EV grades (0.20–0.30 mm)
