Hertha Metals to build $100 million steel and high-purity iron plant in the U.S.

U.S.-based Hertha Metals is set to build a new facility in Conroe, Texas, to produce steel and high-purity iron. The approximately $100 million investment will be developed at 100 FM 3083, near the company’s pilot plant.

Founded by Laureen Meroueh in 2022, the company has raised approximately $20 million to date through investments from Breakthrough Energy and Khosla Ventures, as well as a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Targeting 99.95%-pure iron production

Hertha Metals aims to produce iron with a purity level of 99.95% using its proprietary technology. High-purity iron at this level is an important input in the production of rare-earth magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines and defense systems.

According to the company, the United States currently sources most of this magnet-grade high-purity iron from overseas, particularly from China. The new facility is intended to increase domestic supply capacity in this segment.

Production without coal-based infrastructure

Hertha Metals says it has developed a single-stage process for producing steel and high-purity iron. By eliminating the coal-based infrastructure used in conventional steelmaking, the company says its technology can reduce production costs by more than 20% and emissions by 50%.

Hertha Metals founder Laureen Meroueh said the technology would enable the domestic production of high-purity iron suitable for use in magnet manufacturing in the United States, helping to establish a new domestic supply chain for critical materials.

In addition to domestic high-purity iron production, the new facility is expected to demonstrate a new production model for lower-cost, lower-emission steelmaking in the United States.