Niron Magnetics Appoints Mike Brommer as Chief Operations Officer to Advance Manufacturing Capacity

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Niron Magnetics, the leading manufacturer of rare-earth-free Iron Nitride permanent magnets, today announced the appointment of Mike Brommer as Chief Operations Officer. Brommer will lead the company’s operational strategy as it accelerates its commercial growth and commissions its first state-of-the-art permanent magnet manufacturing plant in Sartell, Minn., which broke ground in September 2025 and is expected to produce 1,500 tons of Iron Nitride magnets annually.

Brommer is a proven executive with a career spanning advanced manufacturing, energy, and climate technology. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer of SEPAC, Inc., where he led operations and held full P&L responsibility for a portfolio delivering high-reliability motion control solutions to the aerospace, defense, space, and advanced robotics markets. Prior to SEPAC, he held multiple leadership roles at Corning Incorporated, including responsibility for premium specialty glass product categories and leadership across global strategy, manufacturing, and supply chain operations in North America and Asia. Earlier in his career, Brommer led the development, engineering, construction, and operations of the first bio-based ethoxylates facility for Croda International, advanced new technology development and deployment at SunCoke Energy, and held multiple engineering and operations roles at Sunoco.

"I've spent my career in advanced manufacturing, and most of the time the most challenging part isn't the technology, but building the operational foundation that lets the technology successfully scale,” said Brommer. “Niron Magnetics is already doing impressive work, and being a part of the team getting its first full-scale production plant right is exactly the kind of opportunity that motivates me."

Alongside this appointment, Niron Magnetics announced that John Larson, who has served as the company’s Chief Operations Officer, will transition to the role of Vice President of Plant Readiness and Start-up. In this capacity, Larson will focus exclusively on commissioning and ramping up Niron Magnetics’ full-scale 190,000-square-foot production plant, one of the company’s most critical milestones.

“Mike brings the operational depth and leadership experience we need to move into this next critical phase,” said Jonathan Rowntree, Chief Executive Officer of Niron Magnetics. “He has already built and run operations at scale across multiple sites, markets, and stages of growth, and that’s necessary when leading a first-of-its-kind project. With Mike at the helm of our broader operations, John can bring his full attention and expertise to focus on our first full-scale manufacturing plant. He has been an integral part in Niron Magnetics’ journey and has helped transform a two-person concept into a 150-person organization, and we’re grateful for everything he’s built. We’re excited for this next chapter and what it means for the company and for Sartell.”

The appointments reflect Niron Magnetics’ continued commitment to building the operational and leadership foundation required to scale its breakthrough magnet technology as they prepare for full commercial production. The company recently launched a site selection for a second U.S. plant, further underscoring its long-term production ambitions.

ABOUT NIRON MAGNETICS

Niron Magnetics is the world’s only producer of high-performance, rare-earth-free permanent magnets. The company’s Iron Nitride magnet technology delivers advanced permanent magnets that power essential devices across industrial, automotive, consumer electronics, and defense applications. Through its state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Minnesota, Niron serves leading manufacturers who require reliable, domestically produced permanent magnets for their products. For more information on Niron Magnetics and its technology, please visit https://www.nironmagnetics.com/