The Issue
The U.S. depends on one supplier for the majority of all rare earth production and processing creating a significant security risk.
The U.S. needs a domestic supply chain for permanent magnets. We’re building innovative capacity.
Permanent Magnets, made with rare earth metals, power critical technologies for national defense and energy. We are scaling an innovative new process to secure this vital supply chain.
Material
Rare earth metal
Location
Ames, Iowa
Stage
Demonstration
Industries Served
Defense, Energy
The problem
The U.S. needs more rare earth processing capacity to support the build out of a domestic supply chain for these critical inputs. Today, the country relies on China for over 85% of processed rare earths, creating a significant economic and security risk. Scaling processing capacity can help reduce exposure and strengthen supply chains.
Who Needed It
Technologies that are critical to defense, energy, and aerospace solutions depend on rare earths for permanent magnets.
Why It's Valuable
A domestic supply chain for rare earths strengthens the country’s national security and ensures technology producers can innovate without risk of supply constraints.
The Principal Mineral approach
Principal Mineral is uniquely positioned to scale and commercialize innovative technologies developed by national laboratories. Our partnership with Ames Laboratory demonstrates the importance of industry and research partnerships to address critical material vulnerabilities and build innovative and competitive supply chains.
Expertise
Principal Mineral specializes in commercializing critical material technologies from national laboratories, transforming research breakthroughs into competitive, resilient domestic supply chains.
Capital
We deploy strategic capital to commercialize national lab innovations — providing the financial infrastructure to move critical material breakthroughs from discovery to market.
Community
Principal Mineral generates skilled jobs, strengthens regional economies, and reduces U.S. dependence on foreign critical materials.
THE OPPORTUNITIES
Future Opportunities
We are working to scale the REMAFS process today to produce high quality rare earth metals for the production of permanent magnets. Moving forward, this effort will play an essential role in building a strong midstream processing industry in the U.S. to connect the mining and production of rare earths to the growing magnet manufacturing industry.
See other case studies
Explore how Principal Mineral is securing and scaling critical mineral supply chains across the United States.