ULVAC Establishes Domestic Production System for Rare Earth Magnet Vacuum Melting Furnaces ~Orders from Europe and US Expected to Triple Compared to Previous Period~
ULVAC is establishing a new domestic production system in Japan for its vacuum melting furnaces for rare earth magnets, anticipating a threefold increase in orders primarily from magnet manufacturers in Europe and the US. This move creates a dual supply system with existing Chinese facilities, offering customers diversified supply options to meet growing global demand and the need for supply chain diversification.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 20:12 (8h 40m after Collected)
ULVAC, Inc. expects orders for its continuous vacuum melting furnaces for rare earth magnets to approximately triple compared to the previous period, primarily from magnet manufacturers in Europe and the US. To address this expansion in orders, the company has decided to establish a new domestic production system for these devices in Japan. By developing a Japanese base in addition to the existing Chinese facility, ULVAC will establish a dual supply system, offering customers diverse supply options.
Continuous Vacuum Melting Furnace for Rare Earth Magnets
Background
Rare earth magnets are essential core components for advanced equipment across a wide range of industries, including electric vehicles, wind power generation, air conditioning, data centers, and space industries. While global demand is expected to continue growing with the progress of decarbonization and the widespread adoption of AI, near-shoring (regional distribution of production) is accelerating, particularly in Europe and the US, due to high supply chain dependence on China.
Previously, ULVAC manufactured vacuum melting furnaces for rare earth magnets at its subsidiary in China, meeting the demands of customers in that market for many years. This facility will continue to be an important manufacturing base for stable supply to customers in the Chinese market. Meanwhile, new magnet manufacturers, mainly in Europe and the US, have increasingly expressed a desire for supply systems that emphasize regional diversification. To ensure a stable supply of equipment for this global expansion in demand, ULVAC has decided to establish a new production system in Japan.
Outline of Domestic Production in Japan
Item: Content
Target Product: Continuous Vacuum Melting Furnace
Domestic Production Capacity: Max 12 units per year
Domestic Base Launch: Scheduled for September 2026
Start of Shipment: Sequentially
ULVAC's Strengths
Since its establishment in 1952, ULVAC has been committed to the domestic production of vacuum melting and deposition equipment, accumulating technology for approximately 70 years. ULVAC is a rare equipment manufacturer globally that offers a wide range of devices for core vacuum processes such as melting, sintering, and aging in rare earth magnet manufacturing. For continuous vacuum furnaces in key processes, ULVAC holds over 70% global market share (according to company research). The continuous vacuum melting furnace, for which a domestic production system is being established, is responsible for the melting and casting process, which is the starting point for magnet materials, and the alloy structure formed in this process significantly influences the final magnet performance. ULVAC has delivered over 400 vacuum melting furnaces, and its high production technology required for magnet manufacturing processes has been evaluated by major global magnet manufacturers for many years.
Future Developments
In the rare earth magnet market, with the increase in new entrants, there is a growing need not only for the provision of individual equipment but also for support in setting up mass production lines. ULVAC aims to expand its business domain to include optimizing support for entire mass production lines, while further extending its stable supply system for rare earth magnet manufacturing equipment, including vacuum melting furnaces, aspiring to become an integrated engineering company for magnet mass production technology.
About ULVAC, Inc.
ULVAC, Inc., founded in 1952, is a comprehensive vacuum manufacturer that provides manufacturing equipment, components, analytical instruments, materials, and services based on its core vacuum technology. The company challenges cutting-edge innovation and strives to create new value with customers in a wide range of industries where vacuum technology is utilized, such as semiconductors, electronic components, displays, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals.
https://www.ulvac.co.jp/index.html
Continuous Vacuum Melting Furnace for Rare Earth Magnets
Background
Rare earth magnets are essential core components for advanced equipment across a wide range of industries, including electric vehicles, wind power generation, air conditioning, data centers, and space industries. While global demand is expected to continue growing with the progress of decarbonization and the widespread adoption of AI, near-shoring (regional distribution of production) is accelerating, particularly in Europe and the US, due to high supply chain dependence on China.
Previously, ULVAC manufactured vacuum melting furnaces for rare earth magnets at its subsidiary in China, meeting the demands of customers in that market for many years. This facility will continue to be an important manufacturing base for stable supply to customers in the Chinese market. Meanwhile, new magnet manufacturers, mainly in Europe and the US, have increasingly expressed a desire for supply systems that emphasize regional diversification. To ensure a stable supply of equipment for this global expansion in demand, ULVAC has decided to establish a new production system in Japan.
Outline of Domestic Production in Japan
Item: Content
Target Product: Continuous Vacuum Melting Furnace
Domestic Production Capacity: Max 12 units per year
Domestic Base Launch: Scheduled for September 2026
Start of Shipment: Sequentially
ULVAC's Strengths
Since its establishment in 1952, ULVAC has been committed to the domestic production of vacuum melting and deposition equipment, accumulating technology for approximately 70 years. ULVAC is a rare equipment manufacturer globally that offers a wide range of devices for core vacuum processes such as melting, sintering, and aging in rare earth magnet manufacturing. For continuous vacuum furnaces in key processes, ULVAC holds over 70% global market share (according to company research). The continuous vacuum melting furnace, for which a domestic production system is being established, is responsible for the melting and casting process, which is the starting point for magnet materials, and the alloy structure formed in this process significantly influences the final magnet performance. ULVAC has delivered over 400 vacuum melting furnaces, and its high production technology required for magnet manufacturing processes has been evaluated by major global magnet manufacturers for many years.
Future Developments
In the rare earth magnet market, with the increase in new entrants, there is a growing need not only for the provision of individual equipment but also for support in setting up mass production lines. ULVAC aims to expand its business domain to include optimizing support for entire mass production lines, while further extending its stable supply system for rare earth magnet manufacturing equipment, including vacuum melting furnaces, aspiring to become an integrated engineering company for magnet mass production technology.
About ULVAC, Inc.
ULVAC, Inc., founded in 1952, is a comprehensive vacuum manufacturer that provides manufacturing equipment, components, analytical instruments, materials, and services based on its core vacuum technology. The company challenges cutting-edge innovation and strives to create new value with customers in a wide range of industries where vacuum technology is utilized, such as semiconductors, electronic components, displays, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals.
https://www.ulvac.co.jp/index.html