L-Acoustics Invests in European-Based Rare Earth Magnets Partnership

L-Acoustics announced a strategic investment in French-based MagREEsource, a company building the first sustainable permanent magnet factory in Europe. L-Acoustics will partner with MagREEsource for magnet recycling and rare earth manufacturing technology and has established exclusive partner rights in the professional audio industry for sustainable and sovereign, European-based neodymium magnets, critical to loudspeaker manufacturing. MagREEsource intends to expand to a full-scale MagFactory by 2028, capable of producing 1,000 tons per year. 

By investing in MagREEsource, L-Acoustics is supporting a startup partner that will allow it to significantly reduce its environmental footprint while diversifying its supply sources for neodymium magnets essential to loudspeaker manufacturing. This strategic move demonstrates L-Acoustics’ commitment to enhancing supply chain resilience, critical for a company with global scope, a leader in high-power sound reinforcement speakers for touring and live performance. According to the French company, “this partnership introduces a breakthrough circular economy model for the professional audio industry through innovative magnet recycling and manufacturing technology.”

A spin-off from the CNRS/Institut Néel in Grenoble, MagREEsource was founded in 2020 by Sophie Rivoirard and Erick Petit as the culmination of 30 years of R&D on magnetic materials science. Aiming to become Europe’s leading magnet manufacturer, MagREEsource offers patented technologies for the manufacture of rare earth-based permanent magnets.

Its first site in Noyarey, in southeastern France, close to Grenoble, opened in 2023, and can process 80 tons of magnets annually, with plans to expand to a full-scale MagFactory by 2028 capable of producing 1,000 tons per year. The first step towards the construction of a MagFactory, the first sustainable permanent magnet factory in Europe, it was awarded the European Strategic Project label by the European Commission in March 2025.

With a team of 50 people, a third of whom work in R&D, MagREEsource is poised to reach critical mass in order to meet the expectations of European industry. The company is also targeting the wind power, aeronautics, robotics, and defense markets among many other industrial markets.

 

For L-Acoustics, this collaboration represents a transformative approach to sustainable manufacturing in the audio industry. The proprietary recycling technology of MagREEsource enables 100% recovery of neodymium magnets from various sources, including loudspeakers, electric vehicle engines, and wind turbine generators, transforming them into high-performance magnets made with 100% recycled material. This circular process drastically reduces the environmental impact compared to traditional magnet production methods.

“The strategic investment and partnership with MagREEsource represent a significant advancement in our sustainability journey,” says Hervé Guillaume, CEO at L-Acoustics Group. “By securing exclusive access to this revolutionary technology for the professional audio sector, we are not only reducing our environmental footprint but also strengthening our supply chain resilience and delivering on our commitment to responsible innovation. We’re proud to support a promising startup whose breakthrough technology has the potential to transform sustainability practices across multiple industries. The ability to recycle nearly 100% of magnet materials from diverse sources creates a true circular economy model that can benefit the audio sector and beyond.”

 

“This partnership with L-Acoustics represents a pivotal moment for MagREEsource,” adds Erick Petit, President and Co-founder of MagREEsource. “Their strategic investment provides crucial resources that will accelerate our growth and technology development. This collaboration with a global industry leader validates our approach and opens potential opportunities for innovation in the professional audio sector. Together, with our circular ‘magnet-to-magnet’ model, we’re creating a sustainable and sovereign, circular supply chain for rare earth magnets that addresses critical environmental and resource challenges while demonstrating how established companies and disruptive startups can partner to drive innovation from the process to the final loudspeaker design and conception.”

The environmental benefits of this partnership are substantial. A recycled magnet from MagREEsource produces 91% less carbon dioxide than traditionally manufactured magnets from newly extracted materials — just 6Kg of CO₂ compared to 67.6Kg for conventional manufactured magnets. Additionally, the recycling process uses 86% less water, saving approximately 1,187 liters per kilogram of magnet produced.

The new partnership opens possibilities for future recycling initiatives within L-Acoustics’ ecosystem. Potential opportunities include exploring end-of-life magnet collection hubs and integration of new designs using recycled magnetic materials in future product development. These forward-looking approaches align with L-Acoustics’ sustainability vision and could contribute to reducing industry dependence on newly extracted rare earth elements.

www.l-acoustics.com