Have you heard of lifting magnets? If so, you might be wondering how they work. Lifting magnets produce the same magnetic field as all other magnets. They are known as “lifting magnets,” however, because they are designed specifically to lift otherwise heavy objects. For a better understanding of lifting magnets, keep reading.
What Are Lifting Magnets?
Lifting magnets are powerful magnets that are designed to lift heavy objects. Most of them consist of an electro-permanent magnet. Electro-permanent magnets, of course, can be controlled. They don’t produce a consistent magnetic field at all times. Rather, elector-permanent magnets can be turned on and off. Depending on the specific type, the power of their respective magnetic field may be adjustable as well. Workers can either increase or lower the strength of an elector-permanent magnet’s magnetic field.
Benefits of Using Lifting Magnets
Lifting magnets offer several benefits, one of which is improved productivity. Manufacturing companies can lift and move components more quickly by using a lifting magnet. They support a wide variety of objects, some of which include steel plates, die casting and forgings. As long as an object is made of a ferromagnetic material, a lifting magnet should support it.
In addition to improved productivity, lifting magnets can protect workers from injury. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), back injuries account for over one-fifth of all work-related injuries. Manually lifting heavy objects can lead to a back injury. With a lifting magnet, workers won’t have to manually lift heavy objects. A lifting magnet will perform this task on their behalf, thus protecting workers from physical injury, including back injury.
You might be surprised to learn just how powerful lifting magnets are there. Most of them contain rare-earth metals that are able to lift very heavy objects. On the low end, a lifting magnet may have a load rating of 220 pounds. On the high end, a lifting magnet may have a load rating of over 13,000 pounds.
Another benefit of lifting magnets is that they support flat surfaces. You don’t have to hook or connect them to objects. You can lift objects simply by placing the lifting magnet directly over them. Even if the object has a flat surface without any hooks or connectors, you can lift it using a lifting magnet.
Lifting magnets are durable and long-lasting. They are often made of nickel plating, for instance, to protect against rust. A layer of nickel is added over the lifting magnet, thereby shielding it from the surrounding environment and subsequently protecting it from oxidation.