|
 The topic of rare earths has seen some impressive coverage in the media recently. This is true for news outlets all over the world. However, much of the coverage has concerned the status of mining rare earth oxides. As the magnet industry knows, the rare earth story certainly doesn't stop with oxides. Ed Richardson, the president of the USMMA will give a presentation at MAGNETICS 2011 titled, The USMMA’s “Manufacturing First” Proposal for Sintered NdFeB Magnets. Ed took the time to discuss why this strategy is critical for US manufacturing, and how it can have a positive impact on the US economy.
Are there any technology advancements or economical factors that make your presentation timely?
Dating back about 3 years ago, the underlying economic factors for magnets started to change. For instance, China's export restrictions on rare earth elements caused prices for rare earth magnets to dramatically increase. A crack down on the Chinese black market trade of rare earths put further pressure on magnet prices. Concerns over China's dominance over global rare earth pricing and availability were further inflamed by recent geopolitical issues. In response, governments have started taking actions to protect their strategic and economic interests. For instance, the US government, while slow to realize the severity of the issue, is finally starting to take steps to help alleviate China's influence over the global rare earth magnet industry. The impact of these steps could be far reaching for US industries and the domestic economy, given the pervasiveness of rare earth magnets in today's electronic devices. This presentation will explore the actions currently being considered by the US government, and what impact they might have on the magnet industry.
How can/will the information you provide impact attendees or their business operations?
No one likes surprises, especially business managers. The information in this presentation will help attendees know what they can expect from the current legislative efforts in Washington DC. Change is happening in the magnet industry, at times at a blistering pace. This presentation contains valuable information that could help attendees make better business decisions.
Who is your presentation most targeted towards?
This presentation is targeted toward senior managers within the magnet industry. This includes large magnet consumers, and those individuals that influence magnet buying decisions. Design engineers that utilize magnets will also benefit from knowing how the cost/benefit ratios are changing, and how future designs may be altered.
What lasting value will the attendee receive?
A better understanding of current issues and how they might be resolved is almost always beneficial to business managers. The information in this presentation will provide senior management with the ability to make better strategic decisions regarding their business.
Any other comments for our attendees?
The US magnet industry has been in decline for the past 20 years. That's not the case now. A lot is happening, and the industry may very well be a future vibrant spot in the US economy. Several industry experts suggest that more investment dollars have flowed into the US magnet industry in the past 12 months than the industry has seen in the last 15 years combined. With this much going on, it pays to be informed. |
Speaker Q&A
 Much of the current focus of industry is on high coercivity permanent magnets and very low coercivity soft magnetic steels. A less glamorous, but no less important set of materials provide modest coercivity for applications such as brakes, tensioners and hysteresis coupled drives. Steve Contantinides, the director of technology for Arnold Magnetic Technologies Corp.
will give a presentation at MAGNETICS 2011 titled, Semi-Hard Magnets: The Important Role of Materials with Intermediate Coercivity. Steve took the time to discuss this topic, its value and its importance in today’s environment.
Are there any technology advancements or economical factors that make your presentation timely?
The quest for higher efficiency and replacements for rare earth magnets has created a review of existing technologies and materials with the objective of identifying what alternatives might exist.
How can/will the information you provide impact attendees or their business operations?
It’s likely to encourage creative developments on non-contact magnetic interaction for clutch, brake and coupling applications. It may also spur research into the use of semi-hard magnets with the objective of increasing coercivity to competitive values for use as a rare earth magnet substitute.
Who is your presentation most targeted towards?
Design engineers and research professionals.
What lasting value will the attendee receive?
At minimum, an appreciation for the full spectrum of magnetic materials that have been developed over the past 120 years and where each might excel in performance.
|
Speaker Q&A
 The demand of rare earths and rare earth magnets continue to rise, driven by consumer and government policy expectations for renewable energy technologies, off-oil transportation and other CleanTech innovations. Ian London, the market development and energy advisor for Avalon Rare Metals, Inc. will give a presentation at MAGNETICS 2011 titled, ‘Rest of the World Rare Earth Supply Chains’ Galloping Forward. Ian took the time to discuss this topic, its value and its importance in today’s environment.
Are there any technology advancements or economical factors that make your presentation timely?
There has been a dramatic increase in number of private and public initiatives responding to the anticipated shortages in rare earth supplies. While the world’s dominate suppliers in China are consolidating their activities in an effort to improve their environmental performance and satisfy their growing domestic demand, including reducing exports to the rest of the world, hundreds of prospective international resource developers have entered the fray. Prices of individual rare earth products have also risen dramatically.
Over the past year, the market has also seen a smaller group of the more advanced projects breaking away from the pack, but they too are not necessarily going to be able to fulfill prospective needs within the timeframes touted. In response, governments in North America, the European Union, Japan and Korea are considering or implementing significant policy, economic and human resource development stimuli to ready the industry (including market disrupting stockpiling). To complicate matters, several pundits have stated that China may find itself becoming a net importer of rare earths, so the rush to meet global demand may be further exacerbated.
How can/will the information you provide impact attendees or their business operations?
Prices are rising, alliances and changing supply chains are evolving, and government policy initiatives could drive international markets and material flows in a number of interesting directions. Industry players recognize that collaborative efforts and coordination are beneficial, although, this is in itself learning experience. This presentation will share several examples of what’s been going on to close the gaps and what is still required.
Who is your presentation most targeted towards?
While the magnets sector have a very significant demand for neodymium, dysprosium, terbium, praseodymium and samarium, many of the talked about resource developments still fall short of meeting the demand for heavies. While significant research and development is being directed toward reducing demand, history and practicality has shown that results may come sometime after the really tight market conditions. This presentation will present reasonable supply scenarios of what consumers could expect within the next five years.
What lasting value will the attendee receive?
Be the conference delegate, be an end user, applications developer, resource developer, policy maker investor -- there is no shortage of volatility in the rare earth space… be it related to the technology, economics, national security or just geopolitical arenas. Those persons inside, around and outside the sector have been seeking to gain a stronger grasp of the dynamics, realities, opportunities and risks. This presentation will hopefully provide that needed context and encourage collaborative solutions.
Any other comments for our attendees?
The rare earth, and for that matter, the rare metal sector is more than very interesting. This emerging story is being picked up by international and the major media, governments and investment community… with its political intrigue, horserace-like mentality and technology challenges. This requires engaged and informed participants, and this presentation at Magnetics 2011 offers such a platform. |
