Select campus:UKDubai
University of Birmingham
Menu

Pioneering recycling of rare earth magnets provides UK-based materials source

Professor Allan Walton highlights exciting expertise that will help the UK technology industry secure vital supplies of rare earth materials

19 May 2025
Delignated electric car charging space

Rare earths are vital for hi-tech products like electric vehicles and computers.

“The University of Birmingham has pioneered the use of hydrogen to separate and recycle rare earth magnets at a fraction of the cost and environmental impact compared to primary production of magnets.

“The University has licensed this technology to Hypromag Ltd and is nearing completion of a recycling facility at Tyseley Energy Park (Birmingham) where end-of-life components arrive at the facility and the output will be new recycled rare earth magnets at different grades.

“This will provide an indigenous source of rare earths to the whole UK supply chain - reintroducing magnet manufacturing back into the UK for the first time in over 20 years and placing the West Midlands at forefront of this critical field.”

Notes for editors

For more information and to place interview bids, please contact the University of Birmingham press office or call +44 (0) 121 414 2772. 

Featured staff

  • Professor Allan Walton

    Professor of Critical and Magnetic Materials

    Staff profile for Professor Allan Walton, Professor of Critical and Magnetic Materials and the Co-Director of the Birmingham Centre for Strategic Elements and Critical Materials at the University of Birmingham.

    Phone: (+44) (0) 121 414 5195
    Email:

Latest news

    Related Courses