An innovative Minnesota company broke ground Friday on its planned manufacturing facility, allowing it to soon scale up its cutting-edge technology that is essential to power consumer products from cars to cell phones.

Niron Magnetics is building a 190,000-square-foot plant in Sartell, Minnesota, as the company eyes its next phase. The site is expected to produce 1,500 tons annually of its proprietary permanent magnets, which are made without rare earth materials that are costly and environmentally damaging to mine.

The company celebrated the milestone with a ceremony attended by 300, including Gov. Tim Walz, DFL U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, and Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer, who represents the area in Congress. Other state and local leaders were there to mark the occasion, too.

"The futu

See Full Page