An electrical machine, comprising: a rotor for rotation about a rotational axis; a coil arranged circumferentially with respect to the rotational axis; and a stator comprising: a first stator portion comprising a first lamination stack having a first plurality of laminations, the first lamination stack being arranged circumferentially with respect to the rotational axis on a first side of the coil for conducting magnetic flux; a second stator portion comprising a second lamination stack having a second plurality of laminations, the second lamination stack being arranged circumferentially with respect to the rotational axis on a second side of the coil for conducting magnetic flux; and a back return material arranged circumferentially with respect to the rotational axis and coupling the first stator portion and the second stator portion to provide a magnetic flux path therebetween; wherein the electrical machine is at least one of a transverse flux machine or a commutated flux machine; characterized in that the first stator portion and the second stator portion are each configured with a gap extending radially through at least one of the laminations thereof to prevent a continuous electrical circuit around the rotational axis from being created in the lamination. a rotor for rotation about a rotational axis; a coil arranged circumferentially with respect to the rotational axis; and a stator comprising: a first stator portion comprising a first lamination stack having a first plurality of laminations, the first lamination stack being arranged circumferentially with respect to the rotational axis on a first side of the coil for conducting magnetic flux; a second stator portion comprising a second lamination stack having a second plurality of laminations, the second lamination stack being arranged circumferentially with respect to the rotational axis on a second side of the coil for conducting magnetic flux; and a back return material arranged circumferentially with respect to the rotational axis and coupling the first stator portion and the second stator portion to provide a magnetic flux path therebetween; a first stator portion comprising a first lamination stack having a first plurality of laminations, the first lamination stack being arranged circumferentially with respect to the rotational axis on a first side of the coil for conducting magnetic flux; a second stator portion comprising a second lamination stack having a second plurality of laminations, the second lamination stack being arranged circumferentially with respect to the rotational axis on a second side of the coil for conducting magnetic flux; and a back return material arranged circumferentially with respect to the rotational axis and coupling the first stator portion and the second stator portion to provide a magnetic flux path therebetween; wherein the electrical machine is at least one of a transverse flux machine or a commutated flux machine; characterized in that the first stator portion and the second stator portion are each configured with a gap extending radially through at least one of the laminations thereof to prevent a continuous electrical circuit around the rotational axis from being created in the lamination.