Ucore announces:
- - Ucore has produced 99.5%+ neodymium-praseodymium oxide generated
at its 52-stage RapidSX™ Demonstration Plant in Kingston, Ontario
-
- Initial NdPr oxide qualification samples were shipped to major
rare earth permanent magnet manufacturers serving North American and
European supply chains
-
- Testing of the samples begin the process of confirming purity,
phase composition, consistency, and compatibility with
customer-compliant NdFeB permanent magnet manufacturing processes
-
- The qualification work is intended to support the development of
structured definitive supply agreements aligned with Ucore's planned Louisiana Strategic Metals Complex and its Commercialization and
Demonstration Facility in Kingston, Ontario
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 22, 2026) -
Ucore Rare Metals Inc.
(TSXV: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) ("Ucore" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has produced commercial-grade neodymium-praseodymium ("NdPr") oxide and shipped initial qualification samples to major rare earth permanent magnet manufacturers for technical evaluation.
The sample shipments mark an important step in Ucore's strategy to
connect its RapidSX™ rare earth separation platform directly with
downstream magnet, metal, alloy, and advanced materials supply chains.
NdPr oxide is a critical midstream material that is converted into metal
and alloy feedstock for neodymium-iron-boron ("
NdFeB") permanent
magnets, which are used across high-performance motors, robotics,
electric vehicles, industrial automation, renewable energy systems, and
defense applications.
The NdPr oxide qualification samples were produced as part of Ucore's
ongoing demonstration and commercialization work. During this work, the
Company's 52-stage RapidSX™ Demonstration Plant at its Commercialization
and Demonstration Facility ("
CDF") in Kingston, Ontario, processed a heavy mixed rare earth oxide ("
MREO")
feedstock derived from an ionic clay source and produced 99.5%+ NdPr
chloride. Ucore subsequently converted a portion of this chloride
solution into 99.5%+ NdPr oxide.
Strategic Alignment with Western Supply Chain Development
Ucore has previously announced strategic relationships with major rare
earth permanent magnet manufacturers that are working to expand Western
magnet production capacity. These relationships are intended to position
Ucore as a midstream rare earth oxide supplier for strategically
important downstream manufacturers focused on rebuilding North American
and allied rare earth magnet supply chains. In addition to utilizing
dysprosium ("Dy") and terbium ("Tb"), which Ucore plans to produce in
Louisiana, these magnet manufacturers also utilize NdPr oxide, which is
expected to be an important part of Ucore's product suite at its
prospective Louisiana SMC.
"
Sample qualification is a critical step toward developing potential offtake arrangements," stated
Pat Ryan, P.Eng., Ucore's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "
The
NdPr oxide shipped to major rare earth magnet manufacturers was not
produced in a concept study. It was produced through Ucore's RapidSX™
demonstration platform, from real mixed rare earth feedstock, and is now
in the hands of companies working to develop Western magnet
manufacturing capacity."
Mike Schrider, P.E., Ucore's Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, commented: "
For
downstream customers, oxide quality matters. Purity, impurity control,
physical form, consistency, conversion performance, and traceability all
have to be understood before commercial supply can begin. These samples
give potential customers the material they need to evaluate Ucore's
rare earth oxides against their own technical and manufacturing
requirements."
Schrider added: "
This work also gives Ucore direct feedback
from downstream customers as we continue to translate the learnings from
our Kingston CDF into the design, construction, commissioning, and
operational plans of the Louisiana Strategic Metals Complex."
Customer Qualification: Turning Separated Oxides into Supply Chain Inputs
The evaluation work by major downstream customers focuses on confirming
that Ucore's rare earth oxides meet the technical, quality, and
traceability requirements for use in Western magnet and advanced
materials supply chains.
The qualification process is expected to include:
-
independent chemical assay work to confirm rare earth oxide purity and key impurity levels;
-
confirmation of oxide characteristics, including phase composition, handling, moisture, and consistency;
-
assessment of compatibility with magnet manufacturing requirements,
including alloy formulation, process qualification, and finished magnet
compliance expectations; and
-
development of product specifications, quality assurance protocols,
logistics requirements, and commercial terms to support definitive
long-term supply agreements.
This qualification process is a key step toward elevating strategic
relationships currently at the MOU level and could contribute toward
potential commercial offtake arrangements. It allows downstream
manufacturers and advanced materials customers to certify that Ucore's
separated rare earth oxide products meet their required technical
specifications before larger-volume supply commitments are finalized.
# # #
About Ucore Rare Metals Inc.
Ucore is focused on rare- and critical-metal resources, extraction,
beneficiation, and separation technologies with the potential for
production, growth, and scalability. Ucore's vision and plan is to
become a leading advanced technology company, providing best-in-class
metal separation products and services to the mining and mineral
extraction industry.
Through strategic partnerships, Ucore aims to support the development of
a more diversified and resilient North American REE supply chain
through the near-term development of a heavy and light rare-earth
processing facility in the US State of Louisiana, subsequent SMCs in
Canada and Alaska and the longer-term development of Ucore's 100%
controlled Bokan-Dotson Ridge Rare Heavy REE Project on Prince of Wales
Island in Southeast Alaska, USA ("
Bokan").
Ucore is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol "
UCU" and in the United States on the OTC Markets' OTCQX® Best Market under the ticker symbol "
UURAF."
For further information, please visit www.ucore.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking information" and
"forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All
statements in this release (other than statements of historical facts)
that address future business development, technological development
and/or acquisition activities (including any related required
financings), timelines, events, products to be produced at the Louisiana
SMC, or developments that the Company is pursuing are forward-looking
statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in
such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions,
such statements are not guarantees of future performance or results, and
actual results or developments may differ materially from those in
forward-looking statements.
For additional risks and uncertainties regarding the Company, its
business activities, its ability to qualify for and receive any
additional funding from any U.S. or Canadian government, the CDF and the
aforementioned projects (generally), see the risk disclosure in the
Company's MD&A for Q1-2026 (filed on SEDAR+ on May 29, 2026) (www.sedarplus.ca) as well as the risks described below.
Regarding the disclosure above in the "About Ucore Rare Metals Inc."
section, the Company has assumed that it will be able to procure or
retain additional partners and/or suppliers, in addition to Innovation
Metals Corp. ("IMC"), as suppliers for Ucore's expected future
SMCs. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be
found to continue and complete the ongoing research and development work
required at the CDF and also later prepare a new National Instrument
43-101 technical report that demonstrates that Bokan is feasible and
economically viable for the production of both REE and co-product metals
and the then prevailing market prices based upon assumed customer
offtake agreements. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external
funding will be secured to continue the development of the specific
engineering plans for the SMCs and their construction and eventual
commissioning and operations.
Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material
assumptions, including, without limitation: the successful completion
and accuracy of baseline, front-end-engineering design and detailed
engineering studies; the ability to complete further engineering,
procurement, and construction activities as currently contemplated; the
availability, cost, and timely delivery of equipment, materials,
utilities, labour and construction services; the Company's ability to
secure sufficient financing on acceptable terms; the receipt and timing
of all required permits and approvals; the successful scale-up and
commercial deployment of RapidSX™ technology from demonstration to
commercial operation; the availability of qualified feedstock from
third-party suppliers; successful customer qualification and offtake
discussions; continued support from governmental partners; and general
economic, market, and industry conditions, including assumptions
regarding rare earth oxide prices, which are subject to significant
volatility..
Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying the
forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance
that such assumptions will prove to be accurate or that the anticipated
results, performance, or achievements will be realized. Actual results
may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the
forward-looking information.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include,
without limitation: risks associated with the development, scale-up,
and commercialization of new or unproven technologies; the risk that
RapidSX™ may not perform at commercial scale as expected; engineering
design changes; inaccuracies in capital or operating cost estimates;
cost escalation due to inflation, supply chain disruption, or market
conditions; delays or failures in procurement, construction, or
commissioning; the inability to obtain or maintain required permits,
approvals, or regulatory authorizations; challenges in securing adequate
financing; adverse capital market conditions; variability in feedstock
supply, quality, or pricing; failure to secure or maintain commercial
relationships, customer qualification, or offtake arrangements;
fluctuations and uncertainty in rare earth oxide prices and demand; the
risk that indicative or quoted market prices, including for ex-China
markets, may not be realized; operational risks once in production,
including equipment failures or lower-than-expected recoveries;
geopolitical risk; changes in applicable laws or regulations;
environmental or permitting challenges; loss of key personnel; and
general economic, business, or competitive conditions.
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term
is defined by the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
CONTACTS
Michael Schrider, P.E., Ucore Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, is responsible for the content of this news release and may be contacted at 1.902.482.5214.
For additional information, please contact:
Mark MacDonald
Vice President, Investor Relations
Ucore Rare Metals Inc.
1.902.482.5214
mark@ucore.com