Supporting breakthrough developments in fusion technology and nuclear particle acceleration, D-Pace is stepping out as an independent Canadian-owned firm at a new pace from its headquarters in the city of Nelson in southcentral British Columbia. Recent developments include:
- Selection by Avalanche Energy as ion source partner for its next generation fusion reactor which uses a novel magneto-electrostatic technology.
- Appointment of a new CEO to lead the way for growth.
- Establishing independence from its former 50% partner Buckley Systems, a noted manufacturer of precision electromagnets, vacuum chambers and accelerator components that is headquartered in New Zealand.
Along with its expertise in highly engineered electromagnets, D-Pace supplies products and services to the international commercial accelerator industry including beamline systems, beam diagnostic devices, and ion sources for research, industrial and commercial accelerator systems.
Enabling the Orbitron fusion system for Avalanche Technology
Avalanche Energy, a leader in compact fusion technology, announced on June 30 that it has selected D-Pace as its ion source partner of choice for the next generation of its groundbreaking Orbitron fusion system. The partnership marks the second collaboration between the two companies and reinforces D-Pace’s growing role in the commercial fusion sector.
Avalanche’s Orbitron—a desk-sized micro fusion reactor—utilizes a novel electrostatic and magnetic confinement approach to deliver controlled fusion in an extremely compact form factor. As the technology progresses, the latest Orbitron design requires higher beam current injection into ultra-low-pressure environments to sustain fusion reactions.
To meet these advanced performance needs, Avalanche turned to D-Pace’s Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) ion source. (The powerful, high-current beam solution is licensed from Neutron Therapeutics, an advanced technology medical equipment firm co-founded and chaired by Bill Buckley, who also is the founder of Buckley Systems. Neutron’s technology also relies on high-precision electromagnets — to operate its accelerator-based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy system designed for non-invasive treatment of cancer.)
“D-Pace’s ECR ion source was the perfect match for the demanding requirements of our next-generation Orbitron,” said Robin Langtry, CEO of Avalanche Energy. “We’ve been extremely impressed not only by the product but also by the level of customization, beam optics support, and ongoing collaboration provided by the D-Pace team. Their expertise has significantly accelerated our path to scalable fusion.”
“Our team at D-Pace is proud to be supporting such an ambitious and innovative company in the race toward practical fusion,” said McElroy, D-Pace’s new CEO. “Avalanche Energy represents the kind of forward-thinking partner we value—focused, bold, and on the cutting edge of science and engineering. We’re thrilled to help power the future of energy.”
Avalanche’s breakthrough — operating its desk-sized magneto-electrostatic fusion machine at 300kV for hours with minimal power loss — makes it the most compact, highest-known-voltage fusion device ever built, says the company. Adjusted for size, the 300kV held by the device for multiple hours equals 6 MegaVolts per meter (MV/m), double the voltage density of lightning, which peaks at 3 MV/m for only a split second.
“For magneto-electrostatic fusion machines the ability to operate at very high voltage gradients with low current losses is a key unlock to push these fusion machines to higher fusion triple products and neutron rates,” said Langtry. “This 300 kV milestone at 6 MV/m is also an important foundational building block to our future path building Q>1 magneto-electrostatic Orbitron fusion machines.”
Transition to Canadian independent ownership
Following its stepping out from Buckley Systems in mid-2024, D-Pace consummated a CEO search in June 2025 with the appointment of McElroy. The leadership transition comes as D-Pace returns to independent Canadian ownership after a decade-long joint ownership arrangement with Buckley Systems. Previously, McElroy was vice president of global innovation and, subsequently, senior vice president of global product management & strategy for Symmetrics Business Intelligence Solutions.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Richard to D-Pace,” said Kent Dehnel, former president and now director of finance at D-Pace. “His strategic mindset and entrepreneurial energy are exactly what we need as we expand our capabilities and deepen our global impact in the accelerator industry.”
The two companies say they will continue their collaborative relationship. Buckley Systems invested in D-Pace a decade ago for a 50% ownership stake, and as a result D-Pace had the resources to develop and commercialize new products for the particle accelerator market. During this time, Buckley Systems also established its own product offering.
For more info, see www.d-pace.com, www.avalanchefusion.com, www.buckleysystems.com.
