Purchasing rare earth magnets from sustainably produced sources in Europe has been impossible up to now. As a full service provider along the supply chain, Heraeus Remloy closes this gap. Heraeus Remloy purchases end-of-life magnets, recycles these rare-earth magnets and produces neodymium-iron-boron materials, which are essential for future technologies. So we offer our customers a reliable long-term source of rare-earth magnets in Europe. Until now, neodymium-iron-boron materials have either been extracted from mines in Asia, which is associated with high environmental impact, or from energy-intensive wet-chemical reprocessing processes.
Heraeus Remloy
Neodymium-iron-boron materials from sustainable sources
Benefits of Heraeus Remloy Neodymium-Iron-Boron magnetic materials
- Reliable supplier located in Europe and therefore no dependency on foreign suppliers
- Sustainable process due to approx. 80% energy / CO2savings using new reprocessing method of end-of-life magnets
New process for the recycling of neodymium-iron-boron magnets
Rare earth-based permanent magnets such as neodymium-iron-boron (Nd2Fe14B1) have become an indispensible material in many everyday products and technologies . They are used for loud speakers, are essential for energy conversion in wind turbines, and are needed for electric motors. Up to now, only a small percentage of used magnets have been reprocessed. However, these reprocessing methods are energy-intensive with intensive use of chemicals and are mainly used in Asia.
Heraeus Remloy, in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute IWKS, developed a new method to recycle neodymium-iron-boron materials. This technical innovation not only makes reuse easier, but also enables companies to purchase permanent magnet material from controlled, environmentally friendly production.
Get a supplier
In order to reprocess as many neodymium-iron-boron magnets as possible, we need reliable business partners. If you work for a company that uses end-of-life magnets, please feel free to contact us. We are always looking for new suppliers, pay fair market prices for your magnets and are interested in a long-term partnership.
Neodymium-iron-boron magnets: key technology with a problematic origin
Neodymium-iron-boron magnets: key technology with a problematic origin
There are severe ecological burdens in the mining of rare earths, which includes neodymium. Environmentally harmful chemicals have to be used and the process releases radioactive substances such as thorium. In addition, the reduction of rare earth oxides is very energy-intensive. The reprocessing of permanent magnets therefore offers high potential savings in terms of materials, energy and CO2 compared with conventional extraction from mines. Especially with regard to climate change, the savings in CO2 are significant.
Remloy is part of the Heraeus Group
Heraeus Remloy is a start-up of the Heraeus Group. Remloy stands for "Rare Earth Magnet Alloy." The Heraeus Group is a broadly diversified and globally leading technology and family-owned company headquartered in Hanau, Germany. The company's roots go back to a pharmacy operated by the family since 1660. Today, Heraeus combines a variety of businesses in the fields of environment, electronics, healthcare and industrial applications. Customers benefit from innovative technologies and solutions based on broad-based materials expertise and technology leadership. In fiscal 2021, the FORTUNE Global 500-listed group generated total revenues of 29.5 billion euros and employs around 16,200 people in 40 countries. Heraeus is one of the top 10 family-owned companies in Germany and holds a leading position in its global sales markets.