Modern Permanent Magnets

Dr. John J. Croat obtained a Ph.D. (1972) degree in Metallurgy from Iowa State University in 1972. Following graduation, he joined the Physics Department of the General Motors Research Laboratories, where he was involved primarily with the research and development of permanent magnet materials from rare earth-transition metal alloys. While there, he was instrumental in the discovery of rapidly solidified NdFeB magnetic powder and the development of bonded NdFeB magnets. He also played a key role in the development of the processes and equipment for manufacturing these materials. He received eleven patents in this area, including all of the US composition patents for NdFeB magnets. He has received a number of awards for this discovery including the 1885 Applications of Physics Prize awarded by the American Institute of Physics and the 1986 New Material Prize awarded by the American Physical Society. In 1994 he was the recipient of an Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award by the American Society of Metals.
In 1984, he transferred to the Delco Remy Division of General Motors to help start the Magnequench business unit, which was formed to commercialize NdFeB magnets. Between 1984 and 1995 he held various positions at this company, including Chief Engineer, Sales Manager and, from 1991 to 1995, Managing Director of the business. In 1995, General Motors sold the Magnequench business to a group of international investors and he left the company. In 1997 Dr. Croat helped AMR Technologies create a new NdFeB magnetic powder business. This division was named Advanced Magnetic Materials (AMM) and produced rapidly solidified NdFeB magnetic powder at a manufacturing facility in Nakhonratchasima, Thailand. He served as President of this company until 2004 when AMR Technologies merged with Magnequench to form Neo Materials Technology. Since 2007 he has served as a consultant to the world-wide permanent magnet industry. Dr. John Ormerod obtained his PhD in Metallurgy from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom in 1978. He has more than forty years of research, product development, and manufacturing experience in the area of metals, permanent magnets and magnetic materials. From 1979 to 1990 he worked for Phillips Electronics in the Netherlands and eventually became the General Manager of the rare earth magnet division. Between 1990 and 2002 he held the position of Vice President/General Manager of Arnold Engineering, a manufacturer of a wide range of permanent magnet materials located in Marengo, Illinois. In 2002 John was named President of Res Manufacturing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Res is a manufacturer of stamped metal components, assemblies and value added services to diversified industries. They are a major supplier of components and assemblies to Tesla Motors for their Model S and Model X electric vehicle platforms. In 2014 he founded JOC LLC, a consulting firm which provides a unique combination of business and technical expertise to the Global Magnetics and Metals Industries. Areas of expertise include technology assessment, IP analysis and patent review, industry analysis, operations management, strategic planning, budgeting, new product planning, acquisitions due diligence and sales and marketing consultations. Clients include IP law firms, major magnet manufacturers, magnetic equipment manufacturers, medical device R and D companies, motor manufacturers, tier 1 automotive suppliers and new magnetic material R and D businesses.
John is currently a technical expert evaluating prior art for the Rare Earth Magnet Industry Alliance and has provided expert testimony at several USPTO patent trial proceedings related to various magnetic technologies. Most recently he provided expert testimony on issues of invalidity during the rare earth magnet ITC investigation of a number of Hitachi Magnetics patents on sintered Nd magnets.