Wood Partners with Niron Magnetics to Build the World’s First Iron Nitride Permanent Magnet Facility

Wood has been awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) contract for Niron Magnetics’ landmark Plant 1 project in Sartell, Minnesota. This facility is set to become the world’s first full-scale manufacturing plant dedicated to the commercial production of Iron Nitride permanent magnets, marking a historic milestone in advanced materials manufacturing and supply chain resilience.

Once fully commissioned and operational in 2027, the Sartell Plant 1 facility is expected to produce approximately 1,500 metric tons of Iron Nitride permanent magnets per year. These high-performance magnets are designed for use across a wide range of critical applications, including electric vehicles and automotive systems, defense and aerospace technologies, industrial motors, energy infrastructure, and consumer electronics. By establishing domestic production capacity at this scale, the project plays a crucial role in strengthening the United States’ ability to meet growing magnet demand without relying on overseas suppliers.

A defining advantage of Niron Magnetics’ proprietary technology lies in its material composition and sourcing strategy. Conventional permanent magnets, particularly those used in electric motors and clean energy systems, typically depend on rare earth elements such as neodymium and dysprosium. These materials are often associated with environmentally intensive mining practices and highly concentrated global supply chains. In contrast, Niron Magnetics’ process utilizes iron and nitrogen—two materials that are abundant, widely available, and easily sourced within the United States. This approach enables the creation of permanent magnets through a fully domestic supply chain while significantly reducing environmental impact.

The Sartell facility is therefore positioned not only as a manufacturing breakthrough but also as a model for sustainable industrial development. By eliminating reliance on rare earth minerals, the project aligns with broader national priorities around energy security, advanced manufacturing, and supply chain independence. The plant will also support the transition to cleaner energy and transportation systems by supplying magnets essential for electric motors and power generation technologies.

John Day, President of Projects Western Hemisphere at Wood, described the project as a transformational step for the magnet industry. He emphasized that the Sartell Plant 1 development represents a major advance in scaling sustainable magnet production to commercial volumes. Wood has already completed the project’s initial design phase and is now guiding the transition from concept into full execution.

Drawing on its extensive EPCM capabilities and experience delivering first-of-a-kind industrial facilities, Wood will support Niron Magnetics in building a high-throughput manufacturing operation capable of meeting stringent performance, quality, and sustainability goals. According to Day, the project will help reduce dependence on rare earth materials, enable the future of sustainable mobility and clean energy technologies, and reinforce the resilience of the U.S. economy.

Wood’s scope of work will be executed by a multidisciplinary team of more than 80 engineering, procurement, and project delivery professionals based across the United States. This team will oversee detailed engineering, procurement coordination, construction management, and project execution to ensure the successful delivery of this pioneering facility.