Highlights

• MDSM 2026 (March 3–5, Tallahassee) convenes 60+ speakers across the entire permanent magnet value chain—from rare earth producers like MP Materials and Lynas to magnet manufacturers, motor OEMs including Tesla and NASA, recyclers, and federal labs—representing true downstream industrial convergence.
• Hosted at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, the conference features pre-scheduled buyer-supplier meetings, dual technical tracks, and visible Chinese magnet participation alongside U.S. producers, reflecting ongoing global commercial interdependence despite geopolitical tensions.
• Unlike upstream policy forums, MDSM focuses on applied commercialization where rare earth materials become EV traction motors, aerospace systems, and industrial automation—positioning it as America's industrial execution layer for magnet supply chain resilience.

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From March 3–5, 2026, the Motor, Drive Systems & Magnetics (MDSM) Conference & Exhibition (opens in a new tab) convenes in Tallahassee, Florida — positioning itself as a premier downstream event focused on motors, magnetics, motion control, and rare earth applications. Hosted by TWST Events (opens in a new tab), MDSM 2026 brings together OEMs, magnet manufacturers, materials scientists, recyclers, national laboratories, and critical mineral suppliers under one roof — with a notably strong U.S. industrial presence.

Source: TownMaps USA

If Germany’s Magnet Days reflects Europe’s materials R&D concentration, MDSM reflects America’s applied, commercialization-oriented magnet ecosystem.

Why Tallahassee?

Tallahassee is home to the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (opens in a new tab), the world’s largest and highest-powered magnet laboratory, operated by Florida State University (opens in a new tab), the University of Florida, and Los Alamos National Laboratory (opens in a new tab).

This backdrop is more than symbolic. It places the conference within the United States’ most advanced magnetic research environment — linking frontier laboratory science to downstream motor and magnet deployment.

National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

What MDSM Is — And Isn’t

MDSM is not a mining conference.

It is not an upstream policy forum.

It is downstream, where rare earth oxides and magnet powders become:

• EV traction motors
• Aerospacesystems
• HVAC compressors
• Robotics platforms
• Industrial automation solutions

The 2026 program includes:

• 60+ speakers
• 80% senior-level attendees
• Pre-scheduled 1x1 buyer–supplier meetings
• 8+ structured networking events
• Dual technical tracks: Motor & Drive Systems + Magnetics
• A full exhibition floor

This is a commercial ecosystem event designed to connect engineering, procurement, and supply chain leadership.

Speaker Landscape — A Full Value Chain Snapshot

The 2026speaker roster reflects a rare convergence across the rare earth magnetvalue chain.

Upstream & Materials Supply

• MP Materials — Judson Marte, VP Magnetics (opens in a new tab) (USA’s leading rare earth producer)
• Lynas Rare Earths — Wayne Park, (opens in a new tab) Executive GM Sales & Marketing (largest non-China RE producer)
• Energy Fuels — Debra Bennethum (opens in a new tab), VP Critical Minerals (uranium producer expanding into RE processing)
• Phoenix Tailings — Tomas Villalon (opens in a new tab), CTO (U.S.-based RE refining innovator)
• Cyclic Materials — Karl Meira (opens in a new tab) (rare earth magnet recycling specialist)

It is uncommon to see upstream producers and refiners this embedded within a downstream motor conference — a signal of increasing supply chainintegration.

Magnet Manufacturing & Engineering (sample of participants)

• Arnold Magnetic Technologies (opens in a new tab) — U.S. magnet assemblies leader
• JL MAG Rare-Earth (opens in a new tab) — Major Chinese NdFeB manufacturer
• Ningbo Suming Magnetic Materials (opens in a new tab) (China) — Magnet producer
• Thomas & Skinner (opens in a new tab) — U.S. permanent magnet manufacturer
• VAC Magnetics LLC (opens in a new tab) — U.S. affiliate of Germany’s VACUUMSCHMELZE
• **Permag Magnetic Solutions (opens in a new tab)**—U.S. based consolidation of three companies involved with magnet making

Unlike more regionally focused European magnet events, MDSM’s exhibition floor includes visible Chinese magnet participation — underscoring ongoing global commercial interdependence.

Motors, Drives & OEM Demand (sample)

• Tesla (opens in a new tab) — EV drive systems
• NASA (opens in a new tab) — Crew spacecraft subsystems
• Danfoss (opens in a new tab) — Permanent magnet motor systems
• Siemens (opens in a new tab) — Industrial drive applications
• Bose Corporation (opens in a new tab) — Consumer electronics magnet expertise

This is true downstream demand — spanning automotive, aerospace, HVAC, robotics, and consumer products.

National Labs & Federal Layer

• Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Ames National Laboratory
• U.S. Department of Energy
• Critical Materials Innovation Hub

The federal laboratory presence signals continued DOE investment in magnet substitution, performance modeling, heavy rare earth reduction, and material security.

Exhibitor Landscape — Industrial Depth

Gold Sponsors

• Danfoss (opens in a new tab)
• Florida State University (opens in a new tab)

Magnet Producers

• Arnold Magnetic Technologies (USA)
• JL MAG Rare-Earth (China)
• Ningbo Suming (China)
• Thomas & Skinner (USA)

Rare Earth Producers

• Lynas Rare Earths (Australia)
• MP Materials (speaker participation)

Recycling & Circular Supply

• Cyclic Materials (Canada)

Measurement & Characterization

• Brockhaus Measurements (Germany)
• Hirst Magnetic Instruments (UK)
• HBK (Denmark)

Equipment & Powder Metallurgy

• Gasbarre Products (USA)
• Dorst America (USA)
• Supfina Machine Company (USA)
• Consarc Corporation (USA)

From powder compaction to vacuum melting to magnetic measurement — the industrial chain is visibly represented.

Workshops — Practical, Operational Focus

MDSM includes:

• Magnetics Bootcamp (Basic & Advanced), led by Stan Trout
• Dynamic & High-Speed Motor Balancing Workshop

These sessions are field-oriented — aimed at design engineers, repair facilities, OEMs, and production managers. This is hands-on industrial education.

Strategic Takeaways

1. The U.S. Downstream Magnet Sector Is Consolidating

OEMs, labs, and suppliers are aligning in one forum.

2. Chinese Magnet Participation Remains Visible

Despite geopolitical friction, commercial magnet interdependence persists.

3. Recycling & Domestic Refining Are Moving Center Stage

Phoenix Tailings and Cyclic Materials reflect growing circular supply integration.

4. True Value Chain Convergence

Few events combine:

• Rare earth producers
• Refiners
• Magnet manufacturers
• Motor OEMs
• Federal labs
• Equipment suppliers

MDSM does this, which should be fascinating to observe and participate in.

Bottom Line

MDSM 2026 is not academic theory.

It is not a speculative policy.

It is applied magnet economics in motion.

If Magnet Days represents Europe’s R&D strength, Tallahassee represents America’s industrial execution layer.

For Rare Earth Exchanges™ readers, the signal is unmistakable:

The rare earth magnet value chain is converging.

Upstream, midstream, and downstream actors are no longer operating in silos.

That convergence — not rhetoric — is where supply chain resilience is built.