JS Link plans a rare-earth magnet factory in Columbus

A proposed magnet plant in Georgia

JS Link plans to invest about $223 million in a rare-earth permanent magnet factory in Columbus, Georgia, in the United States. Its subsidiary JS Link America would operate the 130,000-square-foot facility at Muscogee Technology Park. The project is expected to provide annual production capacity of 3,000 tons, with operations starting in late 2027.

The company expects more than 520 new jobs. Its planned hiring covers:

• engineering;
• production;
• construction;
• administration;
• management.

JS Link began in 2000 as a biotechnology research and development company and subsequently expanded into permanent magnets. Its magnets serve industries including automotive manufacturing, wind turbines, elevators, appliances, medical equipment and robotics. Manufacturing Dive’s project coverage

Workforce and an earlier Korean production plan

Governor Brian P. Kemp announced the investment on 03.09.2025. JS Link America is a wholly owned subsidiary, and the proposed site is in Muscogee County. Chief executive Jun Y. Lee described a planned value chain focused on Western nations and strategic allies such as South Korea. His intended chain would cover procurement of essential rare-earth materials through to manufacture of the finished magnets.

JS Link was also nearing completion of a permanent magnet facility in Yesan, with annual capacity of 1,000 tons. A pilot production run there was anticipated for September 2025. Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson identified the Muscogee County School District, Columbus Technical College and Columbus State University as participants in preparing the regional workforce. Senior project manager Jacob Lee represented Georgia’s economic development Global Commerce team on the Columbus project, working with the Development Authority of Columbus, Georgia Quick Start and Georgia Power. Georgia’s project announcement

A separate Malaysian agreement

Lynas Rare Earths signed a memorandum of understanding with JS Link on 24.07.2025 to develop a permanent magnet value chain in Malaysia. The proposed manufacturing facility would be near Lynas’s advanced materials plant in Kuantan.

The companies envisaged a 3,000-tonne-capacity facility for neodymium-iron-boron, or NdFeB, permanent sintered magnets. Their cooperation would also cover Lynas supplying light and heavy rare-earth materials to support magnet production. The memorandum was non-binding and subject to a definitive agreement.

Lynas chief executive and managing director Amanda Lacaze said manufacturers were seeking new permanent magnet suppliers. She proposed combining Lynas’s rare-earth supply capabilities with JS Link’s magnet manufacturing technology and expertise.

JS Link is headquartered in Seoul and listed on KOSDAQ under code 127120. Previously known as DNA Link, it has a magnet division focused on rare-earth permanent magnets. In July, the company’s Korean factory was still under construction, with first production expected during 2025. Lynas’s dated exchange announcement