Niron Magnetics and Aspina Sign Rare-Earth-Free Magnet Supply Agreement
Niron Magnetics has signed a supply agreement with Aspina, a Japanese manufacturer of precision motors and actuators, to supply its proprietary iron-nitrogen permanent magnets. Combined with Aspina's motor design capabilities, the collaboration will develop rare-earth-free motor products for applications in automotive, aerospace, and other fields. The partnership aims to reduce rare-earth dependence and mitigate supply chain concentration risks.
Niron Magnetics of Minnesota, USA, and Aspina, a Japanese precision motor and actuator manufacturer, announced a supply agreement on Monday to jointly develop and manufacture rare-earth-free motor products for the automotive, aerospace, and other industries. According to the press release, Niron will supply Aspina with its proprietary iron-nitrogen permanent magnets, combined with Aspina's expertise in precision motor design and engineering, to meet growing market demand.
The collaboration aims to develop motor designs while reducing dependence on rare-earth materials and addressing risks from concentrated supply chains. The two companies will focus on brushless DC motors (BLDC) and hybrid stepper motors for various high-volume applications. Both motor types are used to convert electrical energy into mechanical motion. Hybrid stepper motors also utilize electrical energy and are widely used in industries such as medical devices, machinery, and robotics.
Additionally, the agreement covers Aspina's centrifugal fan blower products, which are used for air intake, suction, or ventilation in industrial settings, such as dust collection applications.
Yukihiro Kaneko, CEO of the Aspina Group, said in a statement: "Aspina has deep experience in motor solutions serving diverse global markets. By partnering with Niron's rare-earth-free magnet technology, we see an opportunity to expand design flexibility and support customers seeking high-resilience, high-performance solutions."
According to the press release, the collaboration "has already begun," and the companies are seeking pathways to achieve high-volume production of rare-earth-free motor products.
The collaboration comes about a month after the U.S. Congress proposed legislation to support domestic magnet production and supply chains through tax credits, which Niron supports. The bill, named "The Magnets Value Chain Support Act of 2026," aims to help reshape the end-to-end process, including motors and defense systems that rely on magnets. According to a June 9 press release from the House Select Committee on China, the bill was introduced by bipartisan lawmakers.
The bill would prohibit tax credits for any materials produced, processed, procured, or sold to by prohibited foreign entities. Additionally, the legislation limits tax credits to U.S. manufacturing activities, with inputs sourced from NATO allies such as Japan.
Jonathan Rowntree, CEO of Niron, said in a statement: "Congress is sending a clear signal to innovators, manufacturers, and investors that the U.S. is committed to building resilient supply chains and supporting breakthrough technologies that reduce dependence on external materials. We are proud that iron-nitrogen magnets are recognized within this framework and believe this policy will accelerate investment, manufacturing growth, and industrial competitiveness."