Glossary and magnetic expertise
Everything about industrial magnetism: overband magnets, eddy currents and lifting.
Master magnetic technologies to optimise your production processes.
A specialist in separation and lifting for almost 80 years, Lenoir-Mec puts its technical know-how at the service of your industrial performance. This glossary was designed to help you master the fundamentals of magnetism and choose the solutions best suited to your operating constraints. From the physics of magnets to safety standards, find here the keys to optimising your production flows and securing your installations.
Fundamentals & Industrial Environment
Magnetic Field
The magnetic field is the invisible zone of influence surrounding a magnet or an electromagnet. It is within this space that attraction forces act on ferrous metals. The further you move from the source (the magnet), the lower the field strength.
Eddy Currents
Eddy currents are electric currents induced within a conductive mass when it is subjected to a varying magnetic field. In our EDX separators, this phenomenon creates a repulsion force that ejects non-ferrous metals (aluminium, copper) out of the material flow. It is the key technology for recovering value from your recycling waste.
CCPU (Factory Product Certificate of Conformity)
Also called a “material certificate”, the CCPU is an official document (often to standard EN 10204) attesting to the physical and chemical properties of the materials used (in particular stainless steel). For Lenoir-Mec, it guarantees the traceability and quality of the steels used to manufacture your equipment.
Gauss (G)
The gauss is
the unit of measurement of magnetic flux density (the surface “strength”). In industry, it is used to check the effectiveness of magnetic bars or plate magnets. Regular Gauss checks are essential to ensure your installations comply with audit standards.
Have the strength of your magnets checked with our Audit service.
ANIA Declaration
The ANIA (French National Association of Food Industries) issues recommendations for food safety. A declaration of conformity with these recommendations guarantees that your magnetic separators meet strict requirements for hygiene and protection against tramp metal.
Ferromagnetic Materials
Refers to ferromagnetic materials (iron, cobalt, nickel and certain alloys), which have the property of becoming very strongly magnetised under the effect of an external magnetic field. These are the materials our separators primarily target.
Read our article on magnetic separators.
Magnetic Separator
Generic term for any device that uses magnetism to sort or purify materials. Whether it is a drum, head pulley or suspended type, its role is to ensure the quality of the finished product and the protection of downstream machines.
Read our article on magnetic separators.
Tesla (T)
The tesla is the international unit of measurement of magnetic flux density (1 Tesla = 10,000 Gauss). It is better suited to describing very strong magnetic fields, such as those generated by our high-intensity separators for stainless steel or fine particles.
Magnet Technologies & Materials
Ferrite Magnet
The ferrite magnet is the standard solution for separating large metal pieces. Highly resistant to corrosion and high temperatures, it offers an excellent performance/price ratio for tramp metal removal in quarries or recycling.
Electro-Permanent Magnet
This technology combines the safety of the permanent magnet with the flexibility of the electromagnet. Electricity is only used to “switch” the state (on/off). In the event of a power failure, the load remains held by the magnets, guaranteeing total safety in lifting.
Discover our complete guide to electro-permanent lifting
Neodymium Magnet (Rare Earth)
Neodymium magnets are the most powerful currently available. They can capture extremely fine ferrous particles or weakly magnetic stainless steel, where conventional magnets fail.
Discover our magnetic purification solutions.
Permanent Magnet
A permanent magnet is made from naturally magnetic materials (such as neodymium or ferrite) that retain their strength without any external energy input. At Lenoir-Mec, we use them to guarantee constant, autonomous separation.
Discover our permanent magnet solutions.
Electromagnet
Unlike the permanent magnet, the electromagnet generates a magnetic field only when an electric current flows through it. This makes it possible to switch the magnetisation on or off at will, offering high power and an adjustable working distance.
Discover our electromagnetic overband magnet models.
Applications: Sorting, Separation & Lifting
Metal Detector
Unlike a magnet, which removes the metal, a detector signals its presence. It is essential for detecting non-magnetic metals (stainless steel, aluminium) that conventional magnets cannot capture, so that the line can be stopped before an incident occurs.
Magnetic Lifting
Magnetic lifting makes it possible to handle steel sheets, blocks or coils without slings or chains. This method improves operator safety and optimises storage space by allowing gripping from above.
Discover our magnetic handling solutions.
ATEX Standard (Explosive Atmospheres)
In areas with an explosion risk (wood dust, grain dust, chemical vapours), magnetic equipment must be ATEX-certified. Lenoir-Mec designs specific separators to guarantee total safety at your classified sites.
Contact us for an ATEX-certified magnetic solution.
Eddy Current Separator (Non-Ferrous Sorting)
The eddy current separator is an essential technology for the automatic sorting of non-ferrous metals such as aluminium, copper or magnesium. Using a magnetic rotor spinning at very high speed, the equipment generates repulsion forces that eject conductive particles out of the flow of inert materials.
Find out more:
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