A Pilot Plant for the manufacture of Nd-Fe-B (Neodymium-Iron-Boron) rare earth permanent magnets is set up at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad, an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
The facility, which was inaugurated by Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, DST, with Dr. R. Vijay, Director, ARCI here on Friday, adopts an end-to-end approach, covering the process from strip-cast alloy to finished sintered magnets, enabling the development of a robust and self-reliant manufacturing ecosystem.
The pilot plant marks a significant step towards achieving self-reliance in critical materials and strengthening India’s position in the global rare earth value chain. Nd-Fe-B magnets are essential components in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, electronics and advanced manufacturing technologies.
While inaugurating the pilot plant Prof. Karandikar said the pilot plant was an important step towards building strategic autonomy in critical materials, particularly in the context of global supply chain vulnerabilities and India’s growing demand in clean energy and advanced manufacturing sectors.
“As we work towards Viksit Bharat 2047, addressing resource constraints and strengthening indigenous capabilities in critical technologies will be central to our development strategy. Initiatives like this help reduce dependence while enhancing resilience and competitiveness,” he added.
Rare earth magnet supply chains are currently highly concentrated globally, creating vulnerabilities for emerging economies. The establishment of indigenous capabilities across the value chain—from materials to magnet manufacturing—will enhance supply security, cost competitiveness and technological leadership.
The pilot-scale plant will serve as a critical platform for technology validation and process optimisation, industry collaboration and demonstration, scaling up indigenous innovations to commercial manufacturing and supporting deep-tech startups and private sector participation.