By Matthew Swallow
This week, over 500 engineers, scientists, and magnetic materials experts gathered at REPM 2025. Why? I asked—and the answer was clear: to save the planet.
That’s not hyperbole. It’s the mission. Whether it’s reducing climate impact, improving energy efficiency, or enabling electrification, the people here are united by purpose. A nod to one of my heroes, Simon Sinek—the why is everything.
Matthew Swallow presenting his poster on Post-Assembly Magnetising of Permanent Magnet Rotors at REPM 2025.
The What:
Doing More with Less
Across every session, the theme is consistent: do more with less. Less dysprosium. Less terbium. Less energy. More recycled content. More performance. It’s not just a magnetics conference—it could be any engineering or manufacturing event where the buzz is the same: enthusiasm to help people and the planet.
Magnets are at the heart of this transformation. They make technologies smaller, faster, more efficient, and able to operate in extreme environments. That’s why I love this industry—magnets make things happen in ways other materials simply can’t.
The How:
Microstructure is the Battleground
We’re approaching performance plateaus in energy density and coercivity. So the frontier now is magnet microstructure—specifically, the grain boundary. If you built a word map from yesterday’s sessions, “Grain-Boundary” would be in 10-foot-high letters.
This is where the magic happens. Researchers are asking:
- Can we replace heavy rare earths with cerium or lanthanum?
- How do copper, aluminium, and gallium affect diffusion and grain boundary behaviour?
- Can we reduce the energy required to produce high-performance magnets?
The lower the initial CO₂e of a magnet, the faster its carbon payback. That’s a new performance metric emerging in the 2020s.
But What About the Customer?
Here’s the reality: most magnet users don’t care about grain boundaries or rare earth chemistry. I spoke to 20+ people and the feedback was consistent: customers care about two things:
- How strong is it?
- Will it resist demagnetization in my application?
That’s why we’re called Magnet Applications. We translate complex materials science into real-world solutions. Our customers don’t need to understand the chemistry—they need magnets that meet spec, perform reliably, and align with their values.
Bridging the Gap: Engineering Magnetic Solutions
The innovations at REPM 2025 may never reach customers directly—except in price. Companies worldwide are racing to produce magnets with:
- Less Dy and Tb
- More Ce and recycled content
- Lower energy input
- Lower CO₂e footprint
At Magnet Applications, we understand that magnets are special materials. We help customers navigate the options, understand the trade-offs, and choose the right solution for their application.
Do you want:
- Low CO₂e?
- Reduced geopolitical risk?
- Maximum performance?
- Balanced cost and sustainability?
We always ask: What are you doing, and how can we help? Because we don’t just sell magnets—we engineer solutions for magnetic applications.
About the Author:
Matthew Swallow is Engineering Manager at Magnet Applications, specializing in advanced permanent magnet solutions for critical technologies. A past President of the Magnetics Society (IMA), he has helped drive innovation and collaboration within the global magnetics community.