Pilot plant for Nd-Fe-B rare earth permanent magnets set up at ARCI, Hyderabad
A pilot plant for manufacturing Nd-Fe-B (neodymium-iron-boron) rare earth permanent magnets, covering the full process from strip-cast alloy to sintered magnets, has been set up at ARCI, Hyderabad, an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology.
Summary
The pilot plant 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), was inaugurated by DST Secretary Prof. Abhay Karandikar. It takes an end-to-end approach, from strip-cast alloy to finished sintered magnets, to build a self-reliant manufacturing ecosystem. Nd-Fe-B magnets are essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, electronics and advanced manufacturing, and the plant is seen as a step towards strategic autonomy in critical materials amid global supply chain vulnerabilities.
Key facts
- Facility
- Pilot plant for Nd-Fe-B rare earth permanent magnets
- Where
- ARCI, Hyderabad (autonomous institution of DST)
- Inaugurated by
- Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, DST
- Process
- End-to-end: strip-cast alloy to sintered magnets
- Uses
- EVs, renewable energy, electronics, advanced manufacturing
Practice MCQs 3 questions
The Nd-Fe-B magnets to be made at the new ARCI pilot plant are made of:
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Correct answer: D — Neodymium, iron and boron
Nd-Fe-B stands for neodymium-iron-boron rare earth permanent magnets.
ARCI, Hyderabad, where the Nd-Fe-B magnet pilot plant was set up, is an autonomous institution under:
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Correct answer: A — Department of Science and Technology
ARCI is an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology; DST Secretary Abhay Karandikar inaugurated the plant.
Consider the following about the ARCI Nd-Fe-B pilot plant: 1. It covers only the final magnetisation step, using imported sintered blocks. 2. Nd-Fe-B magnets are used in electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
The plant is end-to-end, from strip-cast alloy to finished sintered magnets, so statement 1 is wrong; Nd-Fe-B magnets are essential for EVs and renewable energy systems.