1000 years of attraction. The mighty magnet deserves its time in the limelight

The ole magnet. From compass trickery to industrial legend.

Bet you’ve used one to stick a job sheet to a metal locker and didn't think much of it. But what if I told you magnets are behind some of the toughest, fastest, and smartest tools in the industrial world?

From holding a grinder part dead still to floating a train at 600 clicks an hour, magnets are working harder than most blokes on a Monday.

This isn’t school science—this is real-world gear that saves time, cuts downtime, and keeps your kit safe. Let’s crack into it. (Not unlike me in Year 8 trying to crack onto [forgotten her name goes here] with the line, 'I think I’m... attracted to you' while I showed her how science-ey smart I was by holding a magnet a centimetre from my 1980's hot sun-melting metal lunch box. I would have shared my rather 'toasty' sammidge with her as well. But I was hungry that day.

***This is seriously interesting. Read on.***

Before they were holding your job steady on the mill or keeping gear locked down on-site, magnets were baffling early explorers. The word "magnet" comes from ancient Greece (Magnesia) where naturally occurring magnetite was first discovered. The Chinese were the first to put it to use as a compass, steering ships long before GPS.

The Birth of Magnetic Science

In 1269, a bloke named Petrus Peregrinus wrote about "magnet poles" and compasses. Fast-forward to 1600, and William Gilbert declared the Earth itself was a giant magnet. His theory changed everything. From there, magnets weren’t just curiosities—they were on their way to becoming tools.

Historical Highlights...love a good timeline progress report...

• 1269: Petrus Peregrinus coins "magnet poles" and explains compass use.
• 1600: William Gilbert publishes De Magnete and theorises Earth as one big magnet.
• Late 1500s: Giambattista della Porta uses iron filings to map invisible magnetic fields.
• 1883–1885: Remy and Böhler perfect steel alloys for magnetism.
• 1897: Oakley S. Walker founds Walker Company and pioneers magnetic clamping.
• 1932: Mishima develops iron-nickel-aluminium magnets, paving way for Alnico.
• 1940s: Vicalloy invented – a new powerful permanent magnet.
• 1960s onwards: Maglev technology begins to emerge.
• By the late 1800s, steel alloys were being engineered for stronger, more reliable magnetic performance. In the decades that followed, magnetic clamping systems started appearing in heavy workshops, mining maintenance sheds, and fabrication yards.

Magnets made life easier—especially in rough environments. Think drill presses in a mobile service unit or quick setups on-site where time’s tight and heavy gear can’t afford delays.

Modern Magnetic Workholding

**Quick Read - Different Types of Magnets and What They’re Good At**

• Permanent Magnets: Always magnetic, no power required. Used for clamping in mills and grinders. Great for remote sites—low maintenance, no heat, long-lasting.
  
  • Example: Neopower – known as one of the strongest for 5-sided machining.
• Electromagnets: Only active when powered. Used in lifting gear, recycling yards, and CNC setups where control matters.
  
  • Example: ELMAX – high force, precision grinding in mass production.
• Electro-Permanent Magnets: Combine both worlds. Only need power to switch on/off. Stay magnetised if power cuts out—ideal for safety and precision.
  
  • Example: Turbomill – tough enough for surface milling, smart enough to avoid tool magnetisation.
• Rare Earth Magnets: Found in EV motors, wind turbines, and top-end electronics. Tiny but mighty.
• Ferrite Magnets: Cheaper, reliable, and still widely used. Not as strong, but perfect for light-duty applications like small motors and speakers.

Want magnets that pull their weight? Pick the right type for your job.

Today, magnetic chucks are essential across mining and heavy industry. They hold parts firm without crushing or marring surfaces. Whether you're grinding a hydraulic component or doing millwork on a crusher part, magnets save time and headaches.

Types of chucks:

• Permanent magnetic: Always on. Ideal for remote work—no power needed.
• Electromagnetic: Powered and adjustable—great for precise shop conditions.
• Electro-permanent: Best of both—secure like permanent, flexible like powered.

Why It Matters in Heavy Industry

Magnetic clamping systems:

• Eliminate distortion (critical for machined fit)
• Speed up repetitive jobs
• Handle irregular or rough-cast components
• Minimise downtime—especially on-site

That means more uptime, less stuffing around, and a safer, cleaner job.

Magnets on the Move: Enter Maglev

Magnetic levitation isn’t sci-fi. Since the 1960s, countries like Japan and Germany have been developing trains that hover above tracks using magnetic repulsion. No friction = insane speed. By 2015, Japan hit 603 km/h with its L0 Series maglev train. Magnets did that.

Maglev Milestones:

• 1971 (Germany): First maglev vehicle hits 90 km/h.
• 1979 (Japan): ML-500R becomes first to exceed 500 km/h.
• 1997 (Japan): MLX01 clocks 552 km/h with passengers.
• 2015 (Japan): L0 Series hits 603 km/h – world record.
• 2003–Today: China launches multiple commercial maglev lines.

Cast of Characters we need to thank for this technology

• Petrus Peregrinus (1269): Named the poles.
• William Gilbert (1600): Made magnetism a science.
• Giambattista della Porta (1500s): First to visualise magnetic fields.
• Remy & Böhler (1880s): Improved magnetic steels.
• Oakley S. Walker (1897): Industrialised magnetic clamping.
• Maria Skłodowska-Curie: Her early work included steel magnetism before radioactivity made her famous.

TL;DR: Magnets Are the Real "Most Valuable Player"

They’re not flashy. They don’t spark. But magnets are doing heavy lifting in your shed, your workshop, your shutdown pit, and your truck toolbox. And the tech just keeps getting better.

Next time you see "just a magnet" – think again. It might be the smartest tool in the shed.

Want to spec magnetic chucks or learn how they can lift your productivity?
Email [email protected] or call 1800 330 318