Philip Rahm International

What Is Required For Industrial Magnet Maintenance?

Regular industrial magnet maintenance is necessary for keeping equipment in working order. While these devices are usually sturdy and extremely reliable, various environmental stresses will reduce their effectiveness over time. Moisture, heat, electrical currents and physical damage can all affect the power of these devices, preventing them from performing to standard. When this occurs, specialized experts will be needed to restore the equipment to its former capacity.

How does this equipment wear down over time?

Heat is the biggest problem processing facilities have to deal with when trying to keep these devices safe. It’s particularly troublesome for lifting equipment, as the powerful electrical currents they have to work with can cause temperatures to rise several hundred degrees while in operation. At around 220 degrees Fahrenheit, the device will lose nearly a quarter of its pull strength. If exposed to these temperatures for too long, the equipment may be damaged permanently.

Moisture and electrical currents can also corrode and reduce the device’s ability to hold power. Unfortunately, these are common problems every processing facility has to deal with, and they aren’t easily mitigated. Food, agriculture, recycling, metalworking, welding, plastic, mining, petrochemical and welding industries all have to handle large amounts of heat, moisture and electricity so industrial magnet maintenance may be required often to keep their equipment performing well.

How can a processing plant keep their machinery in good shape?

Magnetic Products, Inc. (MPI) can perform detailed performance analytics for a client’s machines, determining what equipment requires attention. During the inspection, MPI’s technicians will verify that the device is working properly and meets all performance standards. The technician will take many photos to help pinpoint any problems and will discuss their findings with the facility’s quality assurance personnel. A detailed written report will help the plant decide how to proceed.

In general, if there appears to be any signs of physical damage or corrosion on the device, it should be performance checked. The effects of heat and electricity are harder to track, but if there appears to be a loss of efficiency during operation, a technician should open up the machine and evaluate its structure.

How is this equipment repaired and how long does it take?

The length and nature of industrial magnet maintenance depends on what equipment needs the attention and how worn down the equipment is. If the device is suffering from a major lack of performance, the conductive material inside the device will likely need to be removed and replaced. If the copper or aluminum material needs to be changed out, MPI will ensure that the replacement fits the proper gage to prevent premature failure. Insulation may be added to the device, and the equipment sealed off with tight welds to keep moisture away.

Once restored, the equipment will be able to provide optimal performance for the processing facility, which will improve safety and efficiency.