The Belgian chemical company Solvay has signed two new supply agreements with U.S. magnet manufacturers.
Solvay, which produces rare earth concentrates and separated products at its facility in La Rochelle, France, will supply samarium to Permag and Less Common Metals. Samarium–cobalt magnets are particularly important for military applications due to their high heat resistance.
Permag claims to be the only producer of such components in North America. The UK-based company Less Common Metals will contribute its expertise in metallization processes as part of the partnership.
A second agreement was concluded with Texas-based Noveon Magnetics, giving the U.S. manufacturer access to a range of rare earth oxides, including dysprosium and terbium.
These and other recent deals underscore the active pursuit of U.S. companies to find alternative, non-Chinese sources of raw materials while developing domestic capabilities for producing specialized components. Recently, USA Rare Earth announced plans to acquire Less Common Metals to strengthen its technological base.
Solvay CEO Philippe Kehren has also indicated openness to expanding production capacity in the U.S., noting in a Reuters interview that the business environment and political support there are far more favorable than in Europe.
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