Niron Magnetics breaks ground on rare earth free magnet facility in Minnesota

The new 190,000-square-foot facility will expand Niron Magnetics' capacity to supply rare-earth-free permanent magnets

Niron Magnetics has broken ground on a new state-of-the-art 1,500-ton-per-year permanent magnet manufacturing facility in Sartell, Minnesota.

After nearly a decade of research and development in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and the University of Minnesota, Niron Magnetics has successfully created one of the first commercially viable new magnet materials in decades, capable of producing superior permanent magnets.

The groundbreaking marks a major milestone in Niron Magnetics' ability to scale manufacturing of permanent magnets made from Iron Nitride, which exhibits exceptionally high magnetization and removes the need for rare-earth elements.

The new 190,000-square-foot facility will expand Niron Magnetics' capacity to supply rare-earth-free permanent magnets for data center cooling pumps, automobile motors, robotics, consumer electronics, defense and drone equipment, and other applications critical to the U.S. economy.

The plant will be operational in early 2027 and will create over 175 full-time jobs in manufacturing, engineering, and operations. The facility will be built on the former Verso Paper Mill site, redeveloping a U.S. designated coal community property.

The development comes at a critical time, as pressure on rare-earth supply chains intensifies due to geopolitical tensions and rising demand for permanent magnets globally.

Niron Magnetics’ product does not contain any rare-earth elements, and is made from abundant elements such as iron and nitrogen, enabling a resilient domestic supply chain, which makes it an attractive choice for manufacturers seeking supply chain security and high-performance alternatives to conventional rare-earth magnets.

The Sartell plant builds on the success of Niron Magnetics’ commercial pilot plant that opened in Minneapolis in 2024. With investors and commercial partners including Stellantis, Samsung, Allison Transmission, Magna, and many others already sampling products from the pilot facility, the Sartell plant is positioned to deliver immediate economic impact for the City of Sartell, Minnesota, and the dozens of U.S. industries that depend on permanent magnets.

Wood is engaged on the project through its Projects division, delivering engineering, procurement, and construction management services, along with specialized technical advisory services for critical components. Ryan Companies US is the general contractor for the project. Ryan A+E, Ryan’s design studio, is the architect of record for portions of the building shells.