t takes careful timing and skill to maneuver steel plate ranging in size from 10 ft. to 70 ft. long. A process of hooks and chains to handle plate created a standing bottleneck for one fabricator specializing in everything from manufacturing boilers to structural steel building components. “We found we were creating the bottleneck when offloading the supply truck, as well as loading and unloading the cutting table,” says Zach Mendenhall, Vancouver facility manager at Greenbery Industrial. Delays as well as worker safety concerns led the manufacturer to Magswitch.

After speaking to Magswitch, Greenbery found that a fail-safe system would be capable of lifting the range of 3/16-in. up to 2-in.-thick plate. “We explored electromagnets and understood there was a concern with dropping the plate when a power failure occurs,” Mendenhall says. “We also looked at vacuum systems but the longevity—or lack of—and maintenance that comes with it was not appealing.”

Magswitch Technologies Group is headquartered in Lafayette, Colorado, with facilities in Michigan as well as Germany, Australia, South Korea and China. The material handling manufacturer also works with distributors worldwide. With 41 issued patents and numerous more pending, Magswitch has evolved from a single innovation in switchable magnets to a raft of technologies that cover many areas of gripping technology across many industry sectors. These technologies enable magnets to create a more efficient, safer and more connected world.

HLS engineers work closely with customers to spec out the best system using finite analysis software systems to build and test units before production to ensure proper ASME lifting standards and magnetic strength testing, while ensuring customer satisfaction. HLS provides RIO reporting, on-site installation, in-field training, recertification and repairs for customers.

Unlike electromagnets, which collapse/turn off in the event of a power outage, Magswitch’s fail-safe technology does not rely on electricity to maintain suction. Equally important is the capability of Magswitch technology to safely hold thin material. Older technology tends to struggle with “destacking” of thin material.

Since installing its Magswitch equipment, Greenbery immediately experienced an improvement in production time and flow. “Loading and offloading our 10 ft. by 40 ft. by 2 in. plate with hooks and chains was very time consuming,” says Mendenhall. “Using the new Magswitch system, we saw upwards of 75 percent reduction in loaded & unloading time(s) and a ROI of less than 18 months. It was a no brainer to [invest] in our material handling process.”