Arnold Magnetic Technologies has signed a long-term rare earth supply agreement with Less Common Metals and Solvay.
Arnold Magnetic Technologies said the agreement secures access to high-quality, Western-origin rare earth materials for the production of advanced permanent magnets, targeting aerospace, defence, automotive, and energy applications. The arrangement brings together Arnold, UK-based Less Common Metals, and chemicals group Solvay, as supply chain security becomes an increasingly material concern for magnet manufacturers.
The company described the agreement as a strategic move to reinforce long-term availability of critical inputs, amid tightening global supply and continued geopolitical scrutiny of rare earth sourcing. Arnold said the partnership would underpin its ability to meet customer demand while maintaining performance standards for high-reliability magnetic assemblies and precision components.
Aaron Williams, Chief Commercial Officer at Arnold Magnetic Technologies, said the company was responding to accelerating demand for Western-sourced magnet materials. “As market demand accelerates for sustainable, Western-sourced magnet materials, Arnold is taking decisive action to guarantee supply and provide commercial flexibility for our customers,” he said. “This partnership further reinforces our ability to serve global markets with next-generation magnetic solutions.”
The agreement aligns Arnold more closely with European rare earth processing capacity at a time when aerospace and defence manufacturers, in particular, are under pressure to demonstrate supply chain resilience and regulatory compliance. Solvay has positioned the partnership as part of its wider strategy to rebuild rare earth value chains in Europe and allied markets.
An Nuyttens, President of Global Business Unit Special Chem at Solvay, said the collaboration supports high-performance applications with strategic importance. “We are very pleased to partner with LCM and Arnold Magnetic Technologies to provide essential resources for high-performance applications, particularly in the strategic domain of the European aerospace industry,” she said. Nuyttens added that the agreement forms part of Solvay’s broader commitment to secure and sustainable rare earth supply chains in Europe and beyond.
The supply deal also dovetails with Arnold’s ongoing capital investment programme. The company has continued to invest in manufacturing capacity in Switzerland, alongside expanded operations in Thailand, as it looks to balance regional production capability with global customer demand. Arnold said these investments are designed to improve commercial competitiveness while reducing exposure to single-region sourcing risks.
Solvay, meanwhile, has announced a series of upstream rare earth processing developments that underpin the agreement. The company is set to commission a new Neodymium–Praseodymium production line for magnet applications in April 2025. It has also confirmed plans to begin commercial-scale production of Dysprosium, Terbium, and Samarium from 2026 at its La Rochelle site in France, one of its historical rare earth processing locations.
Taken together, the announcements reflect growing industrial momentum behind Western-aligned rare earth supply chains, particularly for magnet materials used in defence platforms, electrified powertrains, and energy infrastructure. For magnet manufacturers and their customers, access to qualified, traceable material supply is increasingly shifting from a commercial advantage to a baseline requirement.
