Niron Builds Rare-Earth-Free Magnet Plant in Minnesota

Niron Magnetics broke ground in Sartell, Minnesota on a 1,500-ton-per-year permanent magnet manufacturing facility aimed at eliminating rare-earth dependencies.

After nearly a decade of R&D with the U.S. Department of Energy and the University of Minnesota, the company says it has commercialized an iron-nitride magnet material that achieves high magnetization using abundant elements such as iron and nitrogen rather than rare-earth metals.

The 190,000-square-foot plant will be built on the former Verso Paper Mill site, redeveloping a designated coal community property, and is expected to be operational in early 2027. Niron projects the facility will create more than 175 full-time jobs in manufacturing, engineering and operations.

Automakers and technology firms including Stellantis, Samsung, Allison Transmission and Magna are among investors and partners already sampling magnets from a pilot line. Targeted applications include electric vehicle motors, data-center cooling pumps, robotics, consumer electronics, defense systems and drones.

Company leadership framed the project as a move to shore up domestic supply chains amid rising global demand and geopolitical pressure on rare-earth sources. Niron says the plant will enable scaled production of rare-earth-free magnets for industrial and commercial use.