VAC
About
About VAC
VAC, or Vacuumschmelze, develops magnetic materials and assemblies used in electric drives, sensors, power electronics and industrial equipment. Its VACODYM neodymium-iron-boron and VACOMAX samarium-cobalt magnets support high torque density, compact dimensions and operation across demanding temperature ranges.
The company supplies individual magnets, bonded assemblies, soft-magnetic alloys, stamped laminations and complete rotor-stator systems. Vertical integration covers alloy development, rapid solidification, pressing, coating, machining and assembly, letting motor designers tune magnetic, thermal and mechanical performance together. Applications include traction and aerospace motors, high-speed compressors, generators, robotic actuators, current sensors and electromagnetic-compatibility components.
Operations
Production capacity
- Production capacity
2026-06-23 - VAC’s recently commissioned Sumter permanent-magnet facility has stated current capacity of 2,000 tonnes per year; this is capacity, not reported output. - Sumter permanent-magnet facility - Sumter Facility
Source
Supply
Supply chain relationships
- Australian Strategic Materials
Inbound - materials and robotics supply chain - ASM supplies NdFeB strip alloy to VAC under its existing magnet-material agreement
Source - Cyclic Materials
Outbound - materials and robotics supply chain - VACUUMSCHMELZE supplies magnet-production swarf to Cyclic Materials under a 10-year exclusive recycling agreement
Source - maxon
Outbound - materials and robotics supply chain - VAC supplied PERMENORM 5000 V5 soft-magnetic alloy for maxon EC 22 motors
Source
Team
- Erik Eschen - Chief Executive Officer
Timeline
Events
- 2026-06-23 - Acquisition - Energy Fuels agrees to acquire VAC for $1.9bn equity value
The announced consideration comprises $718 million cash and 65.853 million Energy Fuels shares. The implied VAC equity value was $1.9 billion based on Energy Fuels’ 22 June 2026 closing price. The proposed combination links VAC permanent-magnet manufacturing with Energy Fuels rare-earth mining, processing and refining.
Source - 2025-10-22 - Partnership - VAC and Cyclic Materials expand 10-year recycling partnership
The expanded agreement covers recycling 100% of the magnet-production by-products, or swarf, produced at VAC’s new manufacturing facility in Sumter, South Carolina. VAC has the option to reintegrate recycled Mixed Rare Earth Oxides from Cyclic Materials into its own production processes for high-performance permanent magnets. The Sumter facility was scheduled to begin operations at the end of 2025, tying the partnership to new U.S. manufacturing capacity for magnets used in automotive, defense, industrial and renewable-energy applications.
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