Switchable magnetic technology customized for creative applications

Magswitch creates products by adapting its switchable magnet technology to each customer’s specific requirements. We either modify our existing product or develop groundbreaking new products in order to adapt to any industry.

Based in Lafayette, Colorado, Magswitch has collaborated with numerous companies, including Lincoln Electric Co., Cleveland. The private-label magnetic welding products with Lincoln Electric have allowed Magswitch technology to expand its reach across the welding industry.

Magswitch strives to make the process collaborative the whole way through, handling everything from engineering to packaging to marketing. Our marketing competencies include designing packaging artwork, promos, flyers and social media exposure.

A recent collaboration with a digital dentistry customer required Magswitch to customize its Magswitch MagJig 150. The custom switchable magnet secures the printing platform while the printing process occurs, replacing a manual process that previously required twice the effort.

Global mineral exploration company Boart Longyear needed a solution that would allow its field workers to lift and transport drill rods, which are used to keep the ground secure while drilling.

Their workers were bending over and lifting each drill rod by hand or using a heavy metal clamp. That resulted in potential pinch points on their hands when lifting, so we developed a magnetic hand lifter specifically for their drill rods and casings. We’re in the last stage of the project and are about to secure the first production order.

It’s been cool to see the product improve through user feedback over several iterations. Now, we have a product that will fit our customer’s needs.

Safety First

Worker safety is driving many of the inquiries among customers that have reached out to Magswitch. Mobility is a major concern for our customers, and that taps into safety. Companies want safer ways to do things. They want a tool to be lighter and more ergonomic as well.

An example is a tool that we developed for a company that cleans and maintains grease traps. The tool is called the MagDolly, which is essentially a dolly equipped with a standard heavy lifting magnet.

This company had a specific weight requirement since the dolly would be unloaded from a truck multiple times a day. So, we provided them with a tool weighing less than 30 lbs. that provides an ergonomic and safe solution. The end users are no longer bending over at odd angles and hurting their backs to remove lids multiple times a day.

Magnets are being used in ways not typically considered. End users can complete simple motions, such as lifting or mounting, or sealing two objects together. What better way to reliably seal two large, heavy, ferrous objects than by holding them together using powerful magnets instead of welding or bolting?

As alloys evolve, so must switchable magnet technology. We are constantly adapting and launching products that focus on thinner and higher strength steel.  Alloys like boron are being used to strengthen steel used in automotive parts, requiring stronger holding forces on thin, alloyed steel.

The auto industry in general is moving towards thinner metals, and our research and development team is continually working on optimizing our holding force beyond that of a traditional magnetic gripper.

Painted surfaces and other coatings must remain aesthetically clean. Surfaces damaged by hoisting up metal using magnets become a problem.

Adaptation

Customers are also working with materials underwater, requiring high levels of ingress protection. Our research and development teams are busy working out new ways to apply our technology to a wide range of scenarios and workplaces.

We’ve adapted by expanding our focus beyond our original patented core technology. By taking that approach, we’ve opened new opportunities for technology that can be applied to custom products. If a customer needs a solution for thin-gauge material or painted steel, we can provide a much more compact solution compared to what we could just two years ago.