Nd-Fe-B Permanent Magnet developer wins 2022 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (QEPrize)
PR94345
LONDON, Feb. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --
-- Dr Masato Sagawa awarded the world's most prestigious engineering accolade
for the development of the sintered Neodymium Iron Boron permanent magnet.
The 2022 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (QEPrize) is today awarded to
Japan's Dr Masato Sagawa for his work on the discovery, development and global
commercialisation of the sintered Neodymium Iron Boron permanent magnet - the
world's most powerful permanent magnet - which has been transformational in its
contribution towards enabling cleaner, energy saving technologies.
Dr Sagawa was announced as the winner of the 2022 QEPrize – awarded annually to
celebrate the critical role that engineering plays in global society – by Lord
Browne of Madingley, Chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering
Foundation.
Dr Sagawa pioneered the development of a sintered rare-earth permanent magnet,
the sintered neodymium-iron-boron (Nd-Fe-B) magnet. His breakthrough innovation
was the creation of a new compound formed by replacing scarce and expensive
cobalt and samarium with more abundant and cheaper iron and neodymium, and at
the same time introducing boron to improve the magnetic properties – the first
step in delivering high performance to a mass market.
Dr Sagawa then led the research and development in the 1980s and early 1990s to
successfully overcome the issues of sudden reduction of magnetic coercivity at
high temperature, most notably by adding dysprosium (Dy) to improve heat
resistance. This resulted in the development of high-volume manufacturing
techniques which successfully commercialised his innovation. For even wider
applications, he continued to develop novel techniques for reducing the amount
of dysprosium or even eliminating its use to help preserve natural resources.
The result was a new magnet for the mass market that almost doubled the
performance of the previous best and successfully turned Nd-Fe-B magnets into a
viable industrial material with wide applications. The new magnet has a
significant advantage in high-efficiency and high-torque density applications,
such as motors and generators for electric vehicles and wind power generation,
and in more general applications where small powerful magnets are required,
including robots, automation systems and domestic appliances.
Not only is the Nd-Fe-B market predicted to be worth over $19.3 billion by
2026, but this type of permanent magnet is also essential to the value chain of
8.5 million electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles in use globally,
demonstrating a prolific impact on the entire economy.
"Receiving the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering is a special moment for
me, as this prestigious prize encapsulates what engineering is all about. The
purpose of engineering is to benefit humankind, and this award inspires
engineers to keep working towards their goals. Engineering is essential to
solving today's most pressing issues, and this includes tackling climate
change. While neodymium magnets have a wide range of applications, one of the
most important is its use for climate economy products, such as electric
vehicles and wind turbines. I am therefore honoured to be part of the
engineering profession's contribution towards the fight against climate change,
and equally as honoured to receive this unique prize," said Dr Masato Sagawa.
"This innovation is inside almost every electric vehicle, and its application
ranges from the smartphone in your pocket to offshore wind turbines providing
clean energy – a material that is supporting our way of life today and our way
of life in the future. That's the essence of engineering; producing and
delivering for humanity again and again. Dr Masato Sagawa's permanent magnet is
the embodiment of that very essence". Lord Browne of Madingley, Chairman, Queen
Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Foundation
"The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering is a true celebration of the
achievements of engineering worldwide, and how they benefit the planet. It is a
fantastic vehicle for engaging people of all ages to demonstrate how
engineering impacts our daily life. This year's prize is awarded to Dr Sagawa
and his innovation of sintered neodymium magnets – an innovation which has had
such an impact both on the way we live now, and how we will live in the future,
especially as we look towards a greener one." Professor Dame Lynn Gladden,
Chair of the QEPrize Judging Panel
Dr Sagawa will be formally honoured at the QEPrize presentation ceremony later
this year. He will receive £500,000 and a unique trophy, designed by the 2022
Create the Trophy winner Anshika Agarwal, aged 17 from India.
Marking a significant milestone in the evolution of the QEPrize, Dr Sagawa
becomes the first laureate since it was announced that the Prize will be
awarded annually, rather than bi-annually. Reflecting the increasing pace of
engineering innovation, this step change will offer further opportunities to
recognise excellence across the whole field of engineering.
To find out more about this year's winning innovation, visit
www.qeprize.org/winners
Interview Requests
For more information or to request an interview with any of the judging panel
please contact qe@edelman.com or:
Lucy Harding lucy.harding@edelman.com +44 (0) 7581 022783
Sophie Isles sophie.isles@edelman.com +44 (0) 7812 734731
Daniel Rowland daniel.rowland@edelman.com +44 (0) 7423 417011
SOURCE Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering
本プレスリリースは発表元が入力した原稿をそのまま掲載しております。また、プレスリリースへのお問い合わせは発表元に直接お願いいたします。
このプレスリリースには、報道機関向けの情報があります。
プレス会員登録を行うと、広報担当者の連絡先や、イベント・記者会見の情報など、報道機関だけに公開する情報が閲覧できるようになります。