DryFlow Magnetics

About DryFlow Magnetics

DryFlow Magnetics is an Australian industrial technology company established in 2024 by entrepreneur Brett Boynton and mining entrepreneur Jon Robbeson. The company is focused on commercializing a patented, water-free magnetic separation technology for the mineral processing industry, invented by Ian Kuchel. This development addresses the significant challenge of processing mineral resources, particularly magnetite iron ore, in arid and water-constrained regions. A key advantage of this method is its ability to upgrade low-grade iron ores (below 30% iron) to high-grade concentrates (exceeding 67% iron), which are suitable as feedstock for Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) in green steel production. The technology is effective even with ore moisture levels greater than 10%, avoiding the need for energy-intensive drying. The firm's core technology, the Kuchel Separation Process, utilizes a dynamic stacked magnetic system with solid-state rare earth magnets. This process creates a dynamic induction field along an ore-carrying belt, enabling the efficient separation of magnetic particles from waste rock without the use of water. DryFlow's business model is structured as a 'separation as a service', where it installs its technology on a customer's site and charges a tolling fee based on the processed ore. This eliminates the need for mining companies to make significant upfront capital investments. The company's market extends beyond magnetite to other critical minerals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, and rare earths, and includes applications in reprocessing legacy mine tailings. In December 2025, DryFlow completed a $10 million seed funding round with backing from investors including Orion Industrial Ventures, Virescent Ventures, and Taronga Ventures. The company is deploying its first commercial pilot plant at Peak Iron Mines' Hawks Nest project in South Australia and has secured its first customer in the United States for critical mineral recovery from tailings. Keywords: dry magnetic separation, mineral processing, waterless mining, green steel feedstock, magnetite beneficiation, Kuchel Process, rare earth magnets, critical minerals recovery, tailings reprocessing, mining technology, resource efficiency, arid region mining, sustainable mining, iron ore concentrate, direct reduced iron, toll processing, low-grade ore upgrading, solid-state magnetics, environmental remediation, mineral extraction.