Tokyo, April 4, 2001 - Aichi Steel released the following today at the Press Club in the Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry and at the Heavy Industry Press Club in the Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren) Club House.

Aichi Steel Corporation (1, Wano-wari, Arao-machi, Tokai-shi, Aichi, president Yuji Shibata) has succeeded in development of an anisotropic neodymium-iron-boron magnet powder for resin-bonded magnets, named MAGFINE, and its mass production technology, called the AAM (Aichi Aniso-Mag) process. Resin-bonded magnet made from MAGFINE powder have the world's strongest magnetic energy with a maximum energy product of 20 megagauss-oersteds, which is twice as high as its isotropic counterpart currently available. This achievement is based on the scientific discovery that anisotropy, i.e., crystalline orientation alignment, in neodymium-iron-boron alloy, could be induced by dynamically controlled hydrogen heat treatment.
Pilot marketing carried out since May of 2000 has shown that the market for MAGFINE is quite promising. User evaluation shows that MAGFINE magnets enable 20% weight reduction or 30% improved energy efficiency of electromagnetic motors, yield an improved image for laser printers, and even make it possible to realize novel applications such as magnet markers used in the automobile tracking system of the ITS (intelligent transportation system) currently under development. Active inquiries for large scale supply of MAGFINE powder from both Japanese and overseas companies have revealed that the potential market could reach 3,000 - 10,000 tons/year.
Aichi Steel has determined to embark on the magnet powder business. In the beginning of April, a very large-scale plant having 100 tons / year capacity was made operational. The plant capacity will be increased to 700 tons / year in 2002, and further reinforcements are planned so that more than 3,000 tons / year can be supplied by the end of 2003.
Following is a summary of the MAGFINE production and marketing information. Technological issues are presented in separate sheets.