Hertha Metals produces magnet-grade iron for US rare earth magnets
Defense manufacturers face a January 1, 2027 deadline to reduce reliance on Chinese-origin magnets.
Hertha Metals, a Houston-based startup, has achieved a significant milestone in the US rare earth magnet supply chain by producing iron with 99.95% purity at its demonstration-scale steelmaking facility in Conroe, Texas. This achievement, set to be confirmed by the end of next year, marks the first time a US company has reached this specification using fully domestic inputs. The news comes as the US faces an approaching deadline to reduce reliance on Chinese-origin magnets, with a January 1, 2027 target in sight.
Hertha Metals' production of high-purity iron is crucial as it makes up nearly 70% by weight of NdFeB magnets, which are used in electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and defense systems. These magnets are central to the US's national priorities, yet the majority of domestic efforts have focused on rare earth elements and finished magnets rather than the essential iron component.
The company's innovative process, called FLEXHERS, combines electric arc furnace technology with natural gas or hydrogen to produce iron and steel. This approach allows Hertha to create a domestic source for a material that the US currently imports almost entirely. CEO Laureen Meroueh emphasized that this development fills a critical gap in the supply chain, enabling domestic magnet producers to source iron at a lower cost.
Looking ahead, Hertha Metals plans to break ground on its next facility, Chalyx, in the fall. This facility will also produce high-purity iron to the required 3N5 specification for rare-earth magnet producers. This move positions Hertha Metals as a key player in establishing a domestic supply chain for a material that is vital to the nation's strategic materials needs.
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