Breaking free from rare earths: ams OSRAM’s smart sensor revolution

The world is electrifying at an unprecedented pace. Yet, the scarcity and high cost of rare-earth elements threaten to slow this progress. These critical materials—essential for traditional magnetic sensors—are not only expensive and difficult to source, but also subject to volatile markets and geopolitical risks. What if there was a smarter, greener solution?

The rare-earth challenge

Most magnetic sensors today rely on rare-earth magnets like Neodymium and Samarium Cobalt. These magnets are powerful, but they come with significant drawbacks:
  • Scarcity: Rare-earth elements are difficult to mine and refine, making them expensive and subject to supply chain disruptions.
  • Geopolitical Risk: A large portion of the world’s rare-earth supply comes from a handful of countries, increasing vulnerability to trade tensions.
  • Environmental Impact: Mining and processing rare earths can be harmful to the environment.

ams OSRAM’s game-changing solution

At ams OSRAM, we’re redefining what’s possible with our game changing position sensor portfolio:
 
Works efficiently with ferrite magnets:
  • Ferrites are affordable, rare-earth element free, abundant, corrosion resistant and heat-tolerant
  • Advanced signal processing of the ams OSRAM’s magnetic position sensors makes up for lower magnetic strength of ferrites
 
Offers differential sensing technology:
  • Cancels stray fields
  • Delivers precision even with weaker magnets
 
Includes inductive sensing technology:
  • Requires no magnets
  • Perfect for harsh environments and high-speed control

Design smarter with the POS Simulator Tool

To help engineers and designers make the most of our portfolio, we offer the POS Simulator Tool:
  • Simulate, optimize, and test your setup with both ferrite and rare-earth magnets.
  • Explore different sensor and magnet combinations to find the best fit for your application.

A greener, more resilient future

By pioneering alternatives to rare earth metals, ams OSRAM is building a more resilient supply chain and enabling scalable, sustainable automation. Our innovative position sensors deliver smarter, cleaner, and more affordable solutions—without compromising on performance.

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