New venture plans Greater Houston facility to produce rare earth metals, magnet alloys and powders for U.S. and allied manufacturers.
HOUSTON, Texas — November 9, 2026 — 4f Orbital Company, a U.S.-based rare earth midstream manufacturing startup, today announced its formation and the launch of its website, www.4forbital.com. The company plans to establish an initial manufacturing facility in Texas City, Texas, to convert rare earth fluorides into metals, custom alloys and magnet-grade powders used in permanent magnet production.
The initiative targets a critical gap in the U.S. rare earth supply chain: the specialized processing capacity needed to transform rare earth compounds into materials ready for downstream manufacturing. By developing this capability domestically, 4f Orbital aims to expand sourcing options for U.S. and allied manufacturers and support a more resilient supply chain for critical materials.
Addressing the Gap Between Rare Earth Resources and Magnets
Rare earth elements are essential to high-performance permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, aerospace, defense and other advanced industries. Access to raw materials alone, however, does not ensure a reliable supply. Manufacturers also need specialized processing capabilities to convert rare earth compounds into metals, alloys and powders that meet demanding technical specifications.
China holds a dominant position in global rare earth processing and permanent magnet manufacturing, creating supply-chain vulnerabilities for industries that depend on these materials. 4f Orbital aims to help address this imbalance by developing domestic capacity in the midstream segment between rare earth resources and finished magnets.
“Rare earths are only useful to advanced manufacturing when you can reliably turn them into the materials that customers need,” said Thomas Mackey, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of 4f Orbital. “I have spent much of my career converting rare earth fluorides into metals, alloys and powders, and I have seen firsthand how important this specialized manufacturing expertise is. Our goal is to build that capability in Texas and provide U.S. and allied manufacturers with another source of critical materials.”
The company plans to process materials such as neodymium fluoride (NdF₃), praseodymium fluoride (PrF₃), dysprosium fluoride (DyF₃) and terbium fluoride (TbF₃) into rare earth metals, custom magnet alloys and powders.
The planned facility is expected to use established metallothermic reduction and vacuum induction melting technologies, supported by specialized process controls. Its planned products are intended for manufacturers serving electric mobility, renewable energy, robotics, aerospace, defense and other advanced industrial markets.
Why Texas City
Located in the Greater Houston industrial corridor, Texas City offers access to Gulf Coast ports, interstate transportation networks, industrial infrastructure and an established manufacturing workforce. These assets could support the movement of raw materials and finished products while connecting 4f Orbital with the region’s broader energy, chemicals and advanced manufacturing sectors.
The company views the location as a strategic base for developing specialized rare earth processing capacity and serving customers across the United States and international markets.
Building U.S. Industrial Capacity
4f Orbital’s strategy focuses on a technically demanding stage of the supply chain that connects rare earth resources with the materials required for permanent magnet manufacturing. By concentrating on metals, alloys and powders, the company intends to complement domestic mining and downstream magnet production.
“We see this as an industrial capability issue as much as a materials issue,” said Eric H. Fang, Co-founder and President of 4f Orbital. “The United States has an opportunity to strengthen its advanced manufacturing base by rebuilding critical processing capabilities that connect resources to finished products. Our goal is to help close that gap and give manufacturers more resilient sourcing options.”
Potential Opportunities in Saudi Arabia
Beyond its planned U.S. operations, 4f Orbital sees potential opportunities to apply its rare earth processing expertise in international markets seeking to develop domestic manufacturing capabilities.
In Saudi Arabia, Vision 2030 emphasizes industrial diversification and advanced manufacturing. As the Kingdom develops its mineral resources, domestic midstream processing could help capture more value beyond raw material extraction. 4f Orbital believes its expertise may be relevant to these longer-term industrial objectives, subject to technical and commercial evaluation.
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About 4f Orbital Company
4f Orbital Company is a U.S.-based rare earth midstream manufacturing startup developing domestic capacity to produce rare earth metals, custom magnet alloys and magnet-grade powders. The company plans to establish its initial facility in Texas City, Texas, to convert rare earth fluorides into materials for permanent magnet production.
The company’s name refers to the 4f electron orbitals associated with the lanthanide series of rare earth elements. Their distinctive electronic structure underlies magnetic properties that make rare earths essential to high-performance permanent magnets, including neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics and other advanced applications. The name reflects 4f Orbital’s focus on the specialized processing that transforms rare earth compounds into materials for downstream manufacturing.
Through its planned operations, 4f Orbital aims to strengthen U.S. manufacturing capabilities and support a more resilient critical materials supply chain.
Media Contact
Sunny Fu
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- Website:www.4forbital.com