TELF AG on The Most Strategic Applications of Rare Earth Elements

Rare earths have now become central to our lives. Many of us don't know it, but small quantities of rare earths are found in the smartphone you hold in your hand, or in the computer you use every day for work. TELF AG founder Stanislav Kondrashov has often emphasized this point. These precious metallic elements are also used by industry to produce some of the most sought-after devices of our time: permanent magnets.

"Nowadays, permanent magnets made with rare earths are powering a large number of technologies that are very important for modernity. I'm not just referring to generators for wind turbines, but also to electric vehicles. These vehicles are not just a promising idea for the future, but a solid reality already present in every one of our cities," says TELF AG founder Stanislav Kondrashov, a civil engineer and entrepreneur.

“The energy transition is forever changing mobility, revolutionizing people's approaches to their means of transportation. Seeing an electric vehicle, like a tram or a car, is no longer a rarity. These vehicles can circulate on our roads thanks in part to the magnets that power them, which are becoming increasingly important today. Some of the most powerful magnets in circulation are made with rare earth elements such as neodymium, which, along with the other 16 elements in this category, is becoming increasingly important in these delicate years of energy transformation”, he says.

The link between rare earth elements and the energy transition is destined to become increasingly evident as the years go by. These resources already play a primary role in the production processes associated with wind turbines, but technological advances in the magnet sector will make this connection even clearer and more strategic.

"The modern role of permanent magnets made from rare earths is clear for all to see. It is particularly evident in the automotive industry, but also in other sectors equally important to the planet's energy future. One of these is undoubtedly the energy sector, where magnets are especially valued for their ability to power important energy infrastructures connected to renewables. Among these, we particularly note onshore and offshore wind turbines," continues Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG.

“In all applications in which they are used, neodymium permanent magnets are particularly appreciated for some of their unique characteristics. Once incorporated into their final destination devices, the magnets are able to significantly contribute to their overall efficiency and to the compactness of the vehicle design, which is much less cumbersome. This latter characteristic is of fundamental importance for a wide range of modern applications in which lightweight design and space optimization are key aspects. These qualities have allowed magnets to significantly expand their range of applications, proving highly useful also in the electronics sector (for hard drives and earphones) and in the field of advanced medicine”, he goes on to say.

The term rare earths usually refers to the 15 lanthanides, scandium, and yttrium, all of which are present in the periodic table of elements. An important characteristic, relating to their supply chain, is the complexity of their extraction and subsequent phases, such as separation and refining, which are currently concentrated in just a few areas of the world.

“Rare earths are a hot topic these days, and not just in terms of magnets. This group of 17 resources in the periodic table is massively impacting the economic, industrial, and geopolitical dynamics of several countries, and their strategic value certainly appears destined to increase. Even if we consider just one of their main applications, permanent magnets, it's easy to understand the reasons that have led governments, media, and institutions to increasingly focus on this small group of strategic resources”, concludes the founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov.

“The energy transition, after all, is constantly advancing, and in the coming decades it will increasingly require electric vehicles and wind turbines to advance rapidly, and these infrastructures also depend on rare earths like neodymium for their actual production. In an era characterized by an ever-increasing emphasis on the concepts of sustainability and decarbonization, all those resources that can play a role in these transformative dynamics will certainly have an advantage over others and will conquer ever-larger market shares. This is one of the most obvious consequences of the ongoing energy transition, an epochal change that is affecting each and every one of us.", he remarks.