At Hamilton, we’re obsessed with what’s next. So when Time dropped its Best Inventions of 2024, we zeroed in on the breakthroughs transforming the industries we serve. From cleaner steel to smarter navigation, these innovations aren’t just awesome—they’re solving big, real-world problems. They had us at big.
Here are five standouts that align with our values of making life smarter and stronger.
Cleaner steel, brighter future
Electra is revolutionizing steelmaking by tackling the dirtiest step: iron refinement, which is responsible for 90% of the industry’s CO2 emissions. Their low-heat, renewable-powered process cleans steel at 60°C instead of the usual 1,600°C—slashing emissions and easing supply chain pressures. The result? A steel industry that’s cleaner, greener and more sustainable.
Navigation you can’t fake
GPS spoofing—falsifying satellite signals to disrupt navigation—has become a major issue for both civilian and military systems. Now it meets its match with AQNav. Using quantum magnetometers and magnetic waves from Earth’s crust, AQNav delivers pinpoint accuracy in the most critical scenarios—even if somone does invent fake planet-sized rocks.
Predicting natural disasters
Bellwether’s AI analyzes years of geodata and runs thousands of “what if scenarios” to forecast floods, fires and more in minutes. Already used by insurance companies and the government, Bellwether is reshaping disaster response and planning, with plans to spin out from Alphabet’s X soon.
Motorizing bikes
The Bimotal Elevate transforms a regular bike into an e-bike with a portable, palm-sized motor that delivers 750 watts of power and 75 Newton-meters of torque. Developed by Toby Ricco after a knee injury, this $1,995 device clips onto a bike wheel, making tough rides more accessible. Bonus: it’s already helping rescue teams motor through tough terrain.
Lawnmowers that think for themselves
The truly wireless Mammotion Luba 2 AWD uses GPS, cameras and radar (no buried wires here) to map your yard and dodge obstacles like pets and lawns chairs. Battery-powered and eco-friendly, it even let’s you “write” words in the grass. Anything to make our weekend warrior work easier.