Cost Accountant

Rare earths recycler opens first US facility in Arizona. Toronto-based Cyclic Materials' $20 million site can recover magnets from wasted automotive parts, robotics and other electronics and repurpose them into rare earth and critical minerals. Published Sept. 10, 2026 First published on Dive brief: * Cyclic Materials, a recycler of rare earths and critical minerals, has expanded its operational footprint with the opening of a $20 million facility in Mesa, Arizona. * The site can process up to 25,000 metric tons of recycled scrap per year, using an automated separation technology that recovers magnets from discarded electronics, robotics, medical devices and other materials. * Toronto-based Cyclic Materials celebrated the opening of its first U.S. facility on Wednesday, drawing local and federal government officials. Its second U.S. location in Chesterfield County, South Carolina is under construction with plans to be ready by 2028. Dive insight: The Mesa facility is part of Cyclic Materials' buildout of U.S. recovery infrastructure and advances the Trump administration's efforts to bolster domestic rare earth supply chains. For decades the United States has become too reliant on foreign materials, leaving the country vulnerable to potential supply disruptions from China and other countries, said William Kimmitt, undersecretary of the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration. "You can't expect to lead in the technologies of tomorrow without reliable access to the foundational materials that make those technologies possible," Kimmit said at the Mesa facility grand opening Wednesday. The Trump administration in late July recognized recoverable critical minerals and materials as necessary to national security and defense, and made such products a priority by adding them to Section 101 of the Defense Production Act. "That means stronger supply chains," Kimmitt said. "It means additional material available for American manufacturers. It means less reliance on production outside of the United States. And it means another important industrial capability located here at home." Cyclic Materials executives touted the Mesa facility as its largest rare earth magnet recycling operation by annual processing capacity. The 144,000-square-foot plant is equipped with proprietary MagCycle technology that mechanically separates magnets from steel to produce rare earth magnet material called Mag-Xtract, Cyclic Materials COO Matt Cherevaty said at the grand opening. The magnet material is then sent to chemical facilities for refining and separation into rare earth oxides. Cyclic Materials chose Mesa for its proximity to a growing manufacturing hub of automotive, semiconductor, electronics and data center companies, as well as access to talent and transportation links for moving feedstocks and recovered materials. More than 7,000 metric tons of scrap material has already been delivered to the Mesa facility, which has begun commercial operation. First shipments are expected later this month and the project created more than 30 jobs. Cherevaty said there is an estimated 155,000 tons of regional feedstock across the Southwest. "Cyclic is quickly closing gaps in the domestic supply chain as we expedite our rare earth and critical mineral infrastructure development in the U.S.," CEO and founder Ahmad Ghahreman said in a statement. "This means shaving months, if not years, off the delivery of the critical materials required to drive AI, energy and defense sectors forward." Cyclic Materials previously opened a facility in Kingston, Ontario, in 2025 and closed a $75 million funding round last month to expand operations in the U.S. In addition to Mesa, the company has invested more than $82 million on a second U.S. facility in McBee, South Carolina, that can recover magnets and refine rare earths at the same location. It broke ground earlier this year and is expected to create 90 jobs.

Cyclic Materials has opened America's first commercial-scale rare earth magnet recycling facility in Mesa, Arizona. The facility can process up to 25,000 metric tons of magnet-bearing end-of-life products annually, producing rare earth materials, copper, aluminium, and steel. The plant is the first commercial deployment of Cyclic's proprietary MagCycle technology, which automatically separates magnets from end-of-life products. More than 7,000 metric tons of feedstock have already been delivered, with commercial shipments to US customers expected later this month. Global demand for rare earth elements is projected to triple by 2035, driven by AI, automotive, robotics, electronics, energy, and defence applications. The facility was completed just 17 months after announcement, demonstrating a rapid deployment model for establishing domestic capacity.

Cyclic Materials celebrates grand opening of commercial-scale rare earth magnet recycling facility in Mesa. September 9, 2026 at 2:30 pm Cyclic Materials, an advanced recycling company creating a circular supply chain for rare earth elements and other critical materials, today celebrated the grand opening of its first commercial-scale rare earth magnet recycling facility in Mesa,, marking a major milestone in building America's domestic supply of rare earths and critical minerals. Representing an over $30 million investment, the facility is expected to create more than 25 new jobs initially. Cyclic Materials' leadership celebrated the grand opening alongside federal and local leaders including William Kimmitt, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman, Mesa Vice Mayor Scott Somers, the Arizona Commerce Authority, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and local business and community leaders. With an annual processing capacity of up to 25,000 metric tons of magnet-bearing end-of-life products, the facility produces Cyclic's rare earth magnet concentrate (Mag-Xtract(TM), and critical minerals such as copper, aluminum, and steel. "Arizona is a national leader in critical minerals and innovative technologies powering the reshoring of American industries," said Governor Katie Hobbs. "This facility will play a vital role in advancing Arizona's clean energy economy and strengthening U.S. supply chain resiliency."The Mesa facility is the world's first commercial-scale deployment of Cyclic Materials' proprietary MagCycle technology, efficiently delivering automated mechanical separation of magnets from end-of-life products, and serving as the front end of Cyclic Materials' integrated rare earth recovery platform. "This facility delivers new capacity for the U.S. to keep resource-rich products here and build domestic rare earth supply," said Ahmad Ghahreman, CEO and Founder of Cyclic Materials. "Cyclic is quickly closing gaps in the domestic supply chain as we expedite our rare earth and critical mineral infrastructure development in the U.S. This means shaving months, if not years, off the delivery of the critical materials required to drive AI, energy, and defense sectors forward." "As the nation's leading copper producer and a hub for mining and critical mineral innovation, Arizona plays a vital role in strengthening America's critical mineral supply chain," said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. "Cyclic Materials' decision to establish the first facility of its kind further builds upon Arizona's leadership in advanced manufacturing and mining." "Cyclic Materials speaks to the innovation and can-do spirit Greater Phoenix is known for: By recovering REEs from end-of-life products, the company is building a sustainable way to create jobs, invest in the economy and drive national supply chain security goals," said Greater Phoenix Economic Council President & CEO Christine Mackay. "With local development within sectors like electronics, energy and defense, the region is situated play a key role in the future of the tech industry, and Cyclic Materials will support these steps forward." Cyclic Materials has built a strong commercial supply network across the U.S., securing significant volumes of magnet-bearing feedstock through long-term commercial partnerships. More than 7,000 metric tons have already been delivered to the Mesa facility, with substantially greater volumes secured across its growing supply pipeline. Processing is underway, with the first commercial shipments to U.S. customers expected later this month. Cyclic Materials' new facility was completed just 17 months after it was announced, demonstrating a repeatable deployment model to establish domestic capacity on an expeditious timeline. "Cyclic Materials' investment strengthens Mesa's position as a destination for companies developing technologies that are essential to America's economic and national security," said Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman. "By creating a new domestic source of rare earths and other critical materials, this facility will help make U.S. supply chains more resilient while bringing new investment and opportunity to our community." "Opening this facility just 17 months after it was announced demonstrates what is possible when an innovative company chooses a community prepared to support its growth," said Mesa Vice Mayor Scott Somers. "Cyclic Materials is a strong addition to southeast Mesa, and we look forward to seeing the company grow, create jobs and contribute to the continued momentum of the Gateway area." Global demand for rare earth elements is projected to triple by 2035, driven by AI, automotive, robotics, electronics, energy, and defense applications. In addition, the rare earth supply chain remains highly geographically concentrated, leaving it vulnerable to geopolitical risks. Building infrastructure to recover rare earths from end-of-life products is one of the fastest routes to securing domestic supply. "Rare-earth materials are essential inputs across some of the industries that matter most to America's economic and national security, and President Trump has made strengthening critical-mineral supply chains a priority," said William Kimmitt, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce, who attended the grand opening of the Mesa facility. "Cyclic Materials' opening is a great example of government working effectively with industry for the American people." The Mesa facility is an important milestone in Cyclic Materials' buildout of a nationwide infrastructure network. A new South Carolina rare earth recycling campus is slated to open in development, which will combine the company's magnet recovery and rare earth refining platforms on a single site.