From AI Gemini: "Iron nitride materials are valued for their rare-earth-free magnetic properties, high electrical resistivity and excellent catalytic activity. Depending on phase, saturation magnetization is possible as high as 1.07-2.0T to rival and theoretically exceed the strength of neodymium magnets. Iron nitride compounds have significantly higher electrical resistivity than pure iron, making them ideal for soft magnetic composites that require low eddy-current losses and high electrical efficiency. Fe²N nanostructures feature high electrical conductivity, superior charge/discharge rates and high catalytic activity. They are heavily utilized as active catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction in electrochemical energy storage and green hydrogen production." By September of last year, Niron Magnetics as the world's first producer of Niron magnets broke ground on a 1'500-ton full-scale production plant in Sartell/MN. The supply-chain implications are obvious. Chinese-controlled neodymium supplies are dwindling. Given current punitive tariff games, they're also subject to increased pricing. Many industries which rely on permanent magnets should be looking for alternatives. In our sector, YG Acoustics used Vienna HighEnd 2026 to preview a Carmel 3 speaker executed with Niron-powered Scan-Speak drivers to explore their potential as neodymium substitutes. Niron Magnetics also collaborated with Alps Alpine and FaitalPro on drivers using Fe²N magnetics. The first Faital crop are 8" and 10" pro-audio woofers, samples of which show above. It appears that no sooner had audiophiles added the words 'gallium nitride' to their class D vocabulary that another nitride term is hot on its heels…
