Niron Magnetics, a producer of rare-earth-free permanent magnets, has announced the opening of its commercial pilot plant in Minneapolis, US.

The facility is touted as the world's first to manufacture a sustainable alternative to rare earth permanent magnets, which are essential for various technologies and industries such as EVs, wind energy and consumer electronics.

Niron Magnetics CEO Jonathan Rowntree said: “Niron is advancing the magnet industry with an inherently sustainable technology developed right here in the US.

“With the official opening of our commercial pilot plant, we have taken a significant step towards establishing a reliable, domestic supply of high-performance magnets critical for US national security, while launching the next generation of clean energy technologies and sustainable manufacturing.”

Currently, nearly 90% of all powerful permanent magnets are produced in China. These magnets, which contain neodymium and other rare earth elements (REEs), are sourced through unsustainable and environmentally harmful mining practices, the company said.

Niron claims that its Clean Earth Magnet technology is the first and only powerful permanent magnet that does not require REEs.

The technology utilises iron and nitrogen, which are safe, non-toxic materials that can be sustainably sourced in the US without the need for new mining projects.

The new 70,000ft² Minneapolis facility has a production capacity of more than five tonnes (t) of Clean Earth Magnets annually.

It has established manufacturing processes that will be replicated in Niron’s full-scale manufacturing facility.

The commercial pilot facility aims to address the looming supply and demand gap for permanent magnets expected before the end of the decade.

Additionally, the facility will create more than 60 new jobs in the Minneapolis area, spanning engineering, manufacturing, and research and development roles.

The opening of Niron’s commercial pilot facility follows the company’s announcement earlier this month that it had selected Sartell in Minnesota as the site for its full-scale manufacturing facility.

The Sartell facility is set to commence operations in 2026 and produce 1,500t of rare-earth-free magnets annually to address the growing demand for these permanent magnets.