UK rare earth magnet recycling strengthens domestic supply chains

UK rare earth magnet recycling gains momentum in Birmingham

UK rare earth magnet recycling now enters commercial scale at the University of Birmingham.
The university launched a new facility that separates and recycles rare earth magnets efficiently.
As a result, the project aims to reduce UK dependence on imported rare earth elements.

Governments worldwide classify rare earth magnets as critical minerals.
These magnets support electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, and medical equipment.
Therefore, domestic recycling capacity carries strong strategic importance for the UK economy.

The facility operates at Tyseley Energy Park in Birmingham.
It uses Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap technology, known as HPMS.
Researchers at the university developed this hydrogen-based process in-house.

Hydrogen technology powers UK rare earth magnet recycling

UK rare earth magnet recycling relies on HPMS to recover magnets without full disassembly.
The process extracts rare earth alloys from end-of-life products efficiently.
Consequently, it reduces waste, energy use, and carbon emissions across supply chains.

The new plant scales HPMS to commercial production levels.
Each batch can recover over 400 kilograms of rare earth alloy.
Annually, output can reach 100 to 300 metric tons of sintered magnets.

The facility processes hard drives, electric motors, wind turbines, and electronics.
Meanwhile, this output supports manufacturing of new magnets and advanced alloys.
Therefore, the plant strengthens material security for green industries.

Industry partnerships expand global reach

The University of Birmingham licensed the recycling technology exclusively to HyProMag Ltd.
HyProMag operates from Birmingham and now belongs fully to Maginito Ltd.
Maginito serves as a subsidiary of Canada-based Mkango Resources.

UK Industry Minister Chris McDonald visited the facility during its launch.
He highlighted job creation and renewed domestic magnet manufacturing.
Moreover, he linked the project directly to the UK Critical Minerals Strategy.

Mkango chief executive William Dawes emphasized supply chain transformation.
He noted HPMS delivers cost advantages with a minimal carbon footprint.
Additionally, he confirmed expansion plans across Germany, the United States, and beyond.

SuperMetalPrice Commentary:

UK rare earth magnet recycling signals a structural shift in critical materials strategy.
This facility positions Britain closer to supply chain resilience and price stability.
Over time, recycled magnets may soften exposure to volatile global rare earth markets.
SuperMetalPrice expects similar projects to influence regional pricing and investment flows.