HyProMag is a UK-founded rare earth magnet recycling company commercialising patented Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap (HPMS) technology, with operating or developing facilities in the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States. Spun out of the University of Birmingham’s Magnetic Materials Group in 2018, HyProMag is now 100% owned by Maginito Limited, itself held 79.4% by Mkango Resources Ltd (AIM/TSXV: MKA) and 20.6% by CoTec Holdings Corp (TSXV: CTH).
HyProMag Company Overview
HyProMag’s HPMS process uses hydrogen gas to decrepitate and demagnetise end-of-life neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets — recovered from sources such as hard disk drives, electric vehicle motors, and wind turbine generators — directly into a reusable magnetic alloy powder. The process avoids the chemical-intensive hydrometallurgical route used by conventional rare earth processors and is reported to consume approximately 88% less energy than primary mining-to-magnet production.
The underlying technology was developed over more than four decades of hydrogen decrepitation research at the University of Birmingham, originated by the late Professor Emeritus Rex Harris and continued under Professor Allan Walton, current head of the Magnetic Materials Group. Mkango first invested in HyProMag in January 2020 and completed full acquisition in August 2023. Nick Mann serves as Managing Director of HyProMag Ltd in the UK; William Dawes, Chief Executive of Mkango Resources, sits on HyProMag’s board.
Key Assets & Operations
HyProMag’s first commercial-scale plant at Tyseley Energy Park, Birmingham, was inaugurated on 15 January 2026 by the UK Minister for Industry — described as the first commercial production of rare earth permanent magnets in the UK in 25 years. The facility began with 100 tonnes-per-annum (tpa) initial capacity, scaling toward roughly 300tpa of NdFeB magnet blocks at full output. First commercial production of recycled NdFeB alloy at the site was achieved in June 2025 following piloting at the University of Birmingham from 2022.
HyProMag GmbH, an 80%-owned German subsidiary established in November 2021, opened its Pforzheim plant on 28 April 2026. The site is currently in commissioning and process-qualification — full regulatory permits are in place for production of up to 750tpa, with phased scale-up targeted over the following three years. Nelson Brito serves as Managing Director of HyProMag GmbH. The German operation is led in partnership with Professor Carlo Burkhardt of Pforzheim University, a coordinator of the EU-funded SusMagPro and REEsilience recycling consortia.
Latest Projects & Developments
In the United States, HyProMag USA LLC — a 50:50 joint venture between Maginito and CoTec Holdings — took occupation of a 125,000 sq ft facility at the Ironhead Commerce Center in Denton County, Texas on 3 June 2026, entering the project’s preparatory and execution phase alongside feedstock pre-processing sites already established in South Carolina and Nevada. Expansion concept studies completed in January 2026 outlined a path to roughly triple US manufacturing capacity by 2029; HyProMag USA has also indicated an intention to pursue a US public listing, though this remains a stated ambition rather than a confirmed corporate event.
HyProMag leads the REACT UK (Rare Earth Automotive Circular Technologies) consortium alongside Mkango Rare Earths UK, backed by a UK Department for Business and Trade DRIVE35 grant, working with Jaguar Land Rover, EMR, and Less Common Metals on a closed-loop automotive magnet supply chain. In April 2026, HyProMag and Siemens jointly presented a SIMOTICS servomotor rotor manufactured using HyProMag’s recycled NdFeB magnets at Hannover Messe, part of a wider collaboration on magnet circularity.
HyProMag in the Global REE Market
HyProMag’s position rests on being first to commercial scale with HPMS-based short-loop recycling rather than on resource ownership. Its UK plant predates equivalent domestic competitors covered on REM’s UK rare earth recycling page, and its German operation is a reference point in REM’s Germany rare earth recycling coverage. Across the three-country footprint, HyProMag has supplied recycled magnet samples to more than 20 prospective customers for qualification in electric motors, medical devices, and audio electronics as of mid-2026, though volumes remain small relative to primary NdFeB supply. For broader sector context, see REM’s Top 10 Rare Earth Recycling Companies ranking.
The key swing factor for HyProMag’s trajectory is execution risk across three simultaneous build-outs — Birmingham, Pforzheim, and Dallas-Fort Worth — rather than technology risk, given the process is already proven at commercial scale in the UK.
HyProMag Company Snapshot
| Founded | 2018 (University of Birmingham spin-out) |
|---|---|
| Ownership | 100% owned by Maginito Limited (79.4% Mkango Resources / 20.6% CoTec Holdings) |
| Headquarters | Birmingham, United Kingdom |
| Core Technology | Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap (HPMS) — NdFeB magnet recycling |
| UK Facility | Tyseley Energy Park — operational since January 2026, 100–300tpa |
| Germany Facility | Pforzheim (HyProMag GmbH) — commissioning, permitted to 750tpa |
| US Facility | HyProMag USA LLC (50:50 Maginito/CoTec JV) — Dallas-Fort Worth, project execution phase |
| Key Leadership | Nick Mann (MD, UK); Nelson Brito (MD, Germany); William Dawes (Director; CEO, Mkango) |
Sources: Mkango Resources / Maginito corporate disclosures; CoTec Holdings Corp investor news.
What does HyProMag produce?
HyProMag produces recycled neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnet alloy powder and finished sintered magnets, using its patented Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap (HPMS) technology to recover material from end-of-life electronics, EV motors, and wind turbine generators.
Where are HyProMag’s main operations?
HyProMag operates a commercial-scale plant at Tyseley Energy Park in Birmingham, UK, and an affiliated plant in Pforzheim, Germany through HyProMag GmbH. A US joint venture, HyProMag USA, is developing a hub-and-spoke facility based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, alongside feedstock sites in South Carolina and Nevada.
Who owns HyProMag?
HyProMag is wholly owned by Maginito Limited, which is itself owned by Mkango Resources Ltd and CoTec Holdings Corp, both publicly listed mining and resources companies. HyProMag USA is structured as a separate joint venture between Maginito and CoTec.
What is HyProMag’s HPMS technology?
HPMS (Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap) uses hydrogen gas to break down end-of-life NdFeB magnets directly into a reusable magnetic powder, avoiding the chemical-intensive separation routes used in conventional rare earth processing. The technology was developed at the University of Birmingham’s Magnetic Materials Group.
What is HyProMag currently working on?
HyProMag is scaling up its UK and German plants toward higher production capacity, advancing its US joint venture through site development and feasibility work, and participating in automotive supply chain partnerships including the REACT UK consortium and a magnet-recycling collaboration with Siemens.
