Magnets: What Are The Different Types?

Magnets magnetically capture and control ferrous contaminants in material process systems. The proper magnetic applications and magnet placements will help you achieve success for removing tramp metal from your product flow.

Magnets magnetically capture and control ferrous contaminants in material process systems. The proper magnetic applications and magnet placements will help you achieve success for removing tramp metal from your product flow.

Magnetic Application – Primary Magnets

Primary magnets are designed to be used in high volume process flows placed inline so as not to introduce any foreign contaminants from external sources into your production facility. They will remove large amounts of ferrous tramp between cleaning cycles giving you peace of mind. These magnets are typically located in plant receiving areas and handle large amounts of materials that tend to damage equipment or bridge in many magnet applications. The magnet circuit design is such that the magnetic field reaches out is maximized while maintaining adequate holding values to gather large amounts of tramp before reaching the saturation point. Primary magnets help to identify risks associated with bringing in ingredients from outside sources allowing you to monitor your vendor product quality.

Primary Magnet Function:

  • Process high volume product flows

  • Remove incoming tramp ferrous

  • Retain large volumes of tramp ferrous between magnet cleaning cycles

  • Vendor monitoring

Where it is used:

Plant receiving areas

MPI Primary Magnets:

Chute Magnets, Free-Flow Magnets

Magnetic Application - Secondary Magnets

Secondary magnets are used in processing areas in front of sensitive pieces of equipment for protection, as well as throughout your process for redundancy which helps to detect process equipment malfunctions. The material flow is typically metered at this point, which enables us to specify your exact application requirements. The magnetic circuits are designed with specific functions, whether that be to maximize the magnetic fields reach out, holding force, or a combination of both.

Secondary Magnet Function:

  • Protect specific plant equipment

  • Detect process equipment malfunctions

Where it is used:

hammer mills, airlocks, screw conveyors, sifters, roller mills, bucket elevators, screeners, pumps

MPI Secondary Magnets:

Plate Magnets

Magnetic Applications Finishing Magnets

The function of a finishing magnet is to maintain your end product quality to your customer. Finishing magnets capture small metal fines from your process ensuring product shipped from your plant, whether going to another manufacturer for further processing or to a shelf for consumer use, contains no ferrous tramp contamination. This protects your brand reputation and financial liability for recalls, as well as consumer protection.

Finishing Magnets Function:

  • Maintain end-product quality

  • Ensure that the product to be shipped from the plant does not contain any tramp ferrous contaminants

  • Consumer protection

  • Brand protection

Where it is used:

packaging systems, bulk load-out areas

MPI Finishing Magnets:

Tube MagnetsGrate MagnetsDrawer MagnetsPneumatic Line Magnets

So what is the best type magnet for my application?

That depends on your reason for looking into magnetic separation equipment, to begin with. Are you looking to protect equipment or the integrity of your product? Your desired results will determine which type of magnet to put into place and where. Keep in mind that no magnet is 100% effective in removing all tramp metal. The amount of tramp it is exposed to couple with the frequency of cleaning has a dramatic effect on your success. If you are finding a lot of metal on your magnet, you can be fairly certain metal has gotten by. Because of this, redundancy in your process is critical with magnetic separation equipment. You should feel comfortable in the amount of metal you are collecting on the last magnet in your process.

Closing Words

At American Scale we strive to bring you informed and useful content on all things scale related. Be sure to check out our legal for trade truck scale system articles about truck scale foundation or how much do truck scales cost. We even have a guide to warranties. We also have articles on scale accessories, common problems to prolong your scales lifespan, weighing applications as well as what scale indicator works best with your junction box. To learn more about bench scales, it would be good to check out our other articles such as “Bench Scale Basics'' andHow Much Does A Bench Scale Cost?”. These articles will help with the basics of bench scale ownership.