INDUSTRIAL METALS / MINERALS

Molycorp, Daido, Mitsubishi form next generation rare earth magnets JV

Molycorp has formed a joint venture with Daido Steel and Mitsubishi to manufacture next generation NdFeB permanent rare earth magnets

RENO, NV - 

Molycorp, Daido Steel, and Mitsubishi have formed a joint venture to manufacture and sell next-generation neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent rare earth magnets, producing greater performance with less reliance on dysprosium.

The joint venture will be financed by the three companies and by a government subsidy sponsored by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.

The effort will utilize Daido's commercial-scale magnet manufacturing technologies, Mitsubishi's domestic and international marketing and sales network, and Molycorp's rare earth oxide, metal and alloy manufacturing capabilities, according to Molycorp.

Target markets for the joint venture are the automotive and home appliance markets. "The joint venture has been provisionally awarded a supply agreement for a next-generation electric vehicle with a major automotive manufacturer," Molycorp advised.

Rare earth magnets currently fall into two basic types: samarium cobalt and neodymium-iron-boron, both of which can be bonded or sintered. Currently, between 45,000 and 50,000 tons of sintered neodymium magnets are produced each year, mainly in China and Japan.

"The technology for use by the joint venture is a new and novel approach that does not depend on the use of patents held by other magnet companies," said Molycorp. Instead, it "allows for the manufacture of permanent rare earth magnets that deliver greater performance with less reliance on dysprosium, a relatively scare rare earth."

"The process also results in higher production yields," the company added.

The technology is licensed from Intermetallics, a partnership between Mitsubishi, Daido and Masato Sagawa, co-inventor of the NdFeB magnet.  Made with neodymium, praseodymium and dysprosium (or terbium), NdFeB magnets are considered the world's most powerful permanent magnet. They are a component of high-performance motors used in the power trains of electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles and wind power generators, as well as in motors in home appliance and industrial applications.

The International Energy Agency estimates electric motors are used in 45% of global power consumption. The NdFeB magnets in motors could help reduce that power consumption by 20% and potentially reduce global CO2 emissions by 1.2 billion tons.

"I am happy and very honored that Molycorp is able to partner with these extraordinary companies, who are global leaders and innovators in so many areas," said Mark Smith, Molycorp CEO. "Molycorp is also pleased that the joint venture can break ground almost immediately and will be able to produce some of the world's most powerful rare earth magnets in as little as 14 months."

The JV plans to build an initial 500 metric-ton-per year magnet manufacturing facility in Nakatsugawa, Japan (Gifu Prefecture) with start-up expected by January 2013. The companies expect to commence work on the new facility next month and eventually expand operations in the U.S. and elsewhere.

"The next generation magnet manufacturing technologies being utilized by the joint venture are a perfect complement to the advanced technologies Molycorp is deploying across our own rare earth manufacturing supply chain," Smith said, adding the initiative is a major milestone in Molycorp's mine-to-magnets technology.

The capital contribution ratio of the joint venture will be 30% by Molycorp, 35.5% by Daido, and 34.5% by Mitsubishi.