# Niron Magnetics

**Type:** Company  
**Domain:** Manufacturing (Permanent Magnets)  
**Status:** Active  
**Founded:** ~2016 (based on University of Minnesota research)  
**Location:** Minneapolis, Minnesota (pilot plant); Sartell, Minnesota (commercial plant under construction)  

## Overview

Niron Magnetics is developing commercial iron nitride (Fe16N2) permanent magnets as a rare-earth-free alternative to neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets. The technology is based on research by Professor Jian-Ping Wang at the University of Minnesota.

## Technology

**Iron Nitride (Fe16N2) Permanent Magnets:**
- Made from iron and nitrogen—two of Earth's most abundant elements
- No rare earth elements required
- Claims to approach NdFeB energy product performance
- Higher temperature operation capability than ferrite alternatives
- Key differentiation: closes more of the performance gap to NdFeB than ferrite does

## Facilities

**Minneapolis Pilot Plant:**
- Opened: October 2024
- Purpose: Commercial sampling and pilot production
- Funding: ARPA-E supported early pilot work

**Sartell Commercial Plant (Plant 1):**
- Groundbreaking: September 29, 2025
- Expected operational: 2027
- Annual capacity: 1,500 metric tons of iron nitride permanent magnets
- Significance: World's first commercial iron nitride magnet manufacturing facility

## Product Validation

**CES 2025 Motor Prototype:**
- Partnership with MATTER Motor Works
- Demonstrated: Rare-earth-free variable flux motor prototype
- First working motor demonstration using iron nitride magnets for industrial applications
- Date: January 2025

## Market Context

- Global NdFeB production: ~200,000 metric tons/year (predominantly China)
- Niron's 2027 capacity (1,500 tons/year) = 0.75% of current global NdFeB market
- Sufficient for approximately 430,000 humanoid robots annually (at 3.5 kg NdFeB-equivalent per robot)

## Strategic Significance

Niron Magnetics represents the only near-term path to rare-earth-free permanent magnets for high-performance applications including humanoid robot actuators. The 2027 operational timeline means the technology cannot address 2025-2026 production constraints but could begin resolving China's rare-earth supply chain leverage from 2027 onward.

## Timeline

- **~2016** — Company founded based on University of Minnesota research
- **2024-10** — Commercial pilot plant opened in Minneapolis
- **2025-01** — CES 2025: Demonstrated rare-earth-free motor prototype with MATTER Motor Works
- **2025-09-29** — Broke ground on Sartell commercial plant (1,500 tons/year capacity)
- **2027** — Expected operational date for Sartell Plant 1