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.
“Friday’s groundbreaking represents a triumph for Niron Magnetics, the Sartell community, American innovation, and the future of domestic manufacturing,” said Jonathan Rowntree, CEO of Niron Magnetics. “We’re proud to scale this homegrown technology in the heart of the industrial Midwest, and excited to make this community central to America’s supply chain independence.”
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.
“Permanent magnets are an essential part of modern vehicles, the heart of the performance for everything from powertrains and cooling systems to seat motors and speakers. We are committed to offering the freedom of choice to our customers and the integration of these magnets is critical to that mission,” said Sinisa Jurkovic, Vice President of Propulsion Systems Engineering and Head of Electric Drive Systems for Stellantis. “Stellantis is proud to partner with Niron Magnetics to pioneer emerging magnet technology. We’ve been working with Niron since 2023 to unlock next-generation motor performance, and Iron Nitride technology is helping us engineer and deliver vehicles with best-in-class capabilities.”
The groundbreaking ceremony in Sartell brought together local and state officials, industry leaders, and community members to celebrate this investment in America’s manufacturing future.
“This is a great day for the City of Sartell, Minnesota’s Sixth Congressional District, and our nation as we celebrate this exciting investment in American manufacturing,” said Majority Whip and U.S. Representative Tom Emmer, who represents the City of Sartell in Congress. “We are proud to work with so many partners to support this project and look forward to what’s ahead.”
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, Inc. is the general contractor for the project. Ryan A+E, Inc., Ryan’s design studio, is the architect of record for portions of the building shells.
