Electro or Permanent
Amick supplies both. Electro magnets run on current, which gives the operator full control of grip and release and suits precise placement. Permanent magnets need no power at all. A lever redirects the field to engage and release, and holding force is constant, which makes them the simpler choice where electrical supply is limited or a self-contained unit is preferred.
The Questions Amick Asks
A magnet's rated capacity is the number on the nameplate. What it will actually hold depends on the load, and that is where sixty years of selling magnets pays off. Amick's team will want to know:
What material. Magnets grip ferrous steel. Most stainless grades, aluminum, copper, and brass are out.
How thick. Thin material cannot carry the full field, and holding force drops with it.
What the surface looks like. Clean and flat is the rating condition. Paint, rust, scale, and rough finishes all reduce grip.
How much air gap. Anything between the magnet face and the steel costs holding force.
How hot. Elevated temperature in the magnet or the load reduces capacity.
What the operation looks like. Plate, structural, bar, billet, pipe, or scrap; one-off lifts or all-day throughput at a service center, fab shop, mill, shipyard, or scrap yard.
Answer those and Amick can point to the right type and capacity rather than the biggest magnet on the shelf.
Inspected Below the Hook
Lifting magnets are below-the-hook lifting devices under ASME B30.20, and Amick's B30.20 inspections include photo documentation of each device, so the record shows condition rather than a checkbox. The same inspectors cover the slings, hardware, and hoists on the rest of the lift.
To size a magnet for your steel or schedule an inspection, call Amick at 412-429-1212 or the link below.