An electromagnetic crane is a type of crane with an electromagnetic

lift. Electromagnetic cranes are commonly utilized in lifting and

moving various scrap metals. It does not have the mechanical
'pincers' of a regular crane, instead, it has a large flat magnet which
draws the metallic materials to it.
Using the principle of electromagnetic induction, these large
machines are used to handle scrap ferrous metals, such as iron and
steel, which can be found in junk yards and recycling plants. Beyond
the area of lifting magnetic materials, another use of an
electromagnetic crane is that it makes for smooth and safe stops due
to its solenoid brakes (electrically controlled brakes which can be
turned on and off by a solenoid). These brakes are the ones being
used on movable bridges as it allows the passage of boats and
barges.

How The Electromagnetic Crane Works:

An electromagnet is a type of magnet wherein the magnetic field is
produced by electric current, and the field disappears whenever the
current is turned off. Electromagnets are being utilized in everyday
items, just like loudspeakers and doorbells. An electromagnetic crane
has a large electromagnet which can be turned on and off.
The electromagnet contains an iron core with a wire around it, and
this wire is the medium by which the current travels. The magnetic
strength of an electromagnet relies on the number of turns of the wire
around the electromagnet's core, the current through the wire and the
size of the iron core. Increasing these elements will result in an
electormagnet which is significantly larger and stronger as compared
to a natural magnet (which explains the enormous size of the crane's
magnet). For the electromagnet to be turned off, the core must be
made of soft iron. Therefore, turning on the electricity will enable the
magnet to work, and turning off the electricity will be able to shut it
down.

Dismantling the old crane

Over the past years, the
existing cranes at voestalpine
Rotec GmbH in Krieglach
have been successively
replaced with new and modern
cranes. The magnet crane in
the pickling plant which dates
back to 1967 has recently
been exchanged.

Magnet crane with four electromagnets

The new magnet crane with
magnets
The new magnet crane hoists loads
using four electromagnets attached
to two mobile spreaders. This has
the following advantages:
ideal positioning of the magnets
on the bundles of tubes

better coupling of the magnetic force, and

therefore
a significant increase in safety.

The new crane also has more lifting power and

height, and is easier to operate. A further crane is
scheduled for replacement this year.

Technical data for the new magnet crane:

Breadth: 21 m

Hoisting unit: 10.3 tons

Lifting power on the magnet spreader: 4.8 tons

Lift height: 6.2 m

New category 2 electronic safety control system

Lifiting Battery Magnet Safebat:

The Safebat 10 is the first electropermanent battery
lifting magnet showing the operator on the display
which load can be lifted safely during the lifting
operation.
The power electronics calculated this data within
seconds and automatically while putting the magnet
on the work piece. Sheets from 4 mm thickness can
also be lifted off the stack individually Even
magnetizing and demagnetizing of the
electropermanent battery magnetcan take place

automatically.
Application:
- For flat and round material, as the adhesive surface
is provided with a prism pole shoe.
- Usable for traverse operation with several magnets
- For thin and thick, small and large sheets - also for
multi-shift operation
- For raw material, semi-finished and finished
products
- In mechanical engineering, tool manufacturing,
plant engineering, steel construction, shipbuilding,
steel mill, cutting-, laser operation, transport
company or materials store
Professional advantages:
- Via the pick-up mechanism, the Safebat can be
switched without pushing a button
- The operator can see the safe lifting power on the
display
- No current flows during lifting (only a pulse current
for a few seconds is required for magnetizing or
demagnetizing)
- Current load display indication: the magnetic flow is
currently calculated based on the material, work
piece thickness and air gap, with the safe lifting force
being shown within a few seconds on the display
during uplift
Options:
- Special pole shoe for individual applications
- Services: Test according to German Accident
Prevention Regulations and repair

Used for scrap handling, billet handling in steel industries

Why Lifting Magnets Are Attractive

Compared to slings and chains, they save time and protect
the part. Here are some of the basics of magnetic lifters.
Magnetic lifters are versatile work handling devices that
can be used to move a variety of ferrous metals ranging
from small bundles of rod or scrap to large, heavy blocks.
When used to replace slings and chains, lifting magnets can
improve overall productivity by allowing a single person to
lift a load that may have required two or more people the
old way. The trick is to move the load safely, and to do that
the equipment needs to be properly specified and applied.
Magnetic lifters offer advantages related to both quality
and labor. For example, magnets eliminate the need for
drilling and tapping holes in parts so that eyebolts can be
attached to move them. In many cases, these holes need to
be filled and the surface needs to be refinished, adding
cost to the product.
An example of how a magnetic lift can positively impact
productivity might involve a crate of parts that require
machining. Often the parts are situated in such a package
side by side, to use all of the area in the container. If the
parts are located so that the operator can only access the
parts from above, a lifting magnet can be applied to a
single part, lifting it vertically out of the container.
Assuming the container is filled with round shafts packaged
horizontally, using a strap or chain in place of a magnetic
lifter would require one end of the part to be lifted

manually so that the strap or chain could be passed

underneathjust to lift a single bar. A lifting magnet could
be lowered from the crane above, attached to the desired
piece and lifted out of the container with minimal effort.
Magnets further save time by eliminating blocking and
slinging. They also reduce waste. Because magnets won't
mar metal surfaces, they decrease the potential for the
kind of product damage often caused by chains, hooks and
other mechanical grabs.
Types Of Lifting Magnets

There are two basic types of lifting magnets: permanent

magnets and electromagnets.
Permanent magnets are exactly thatpermanent. These
magnets use permanently magnetized material to build up
the magnetic field.
Permanent magnets used in work sites generally turn on
and off by means of a lever. They can be used to handle
flat materials, as well as round parts weighing up to 2,200
pounds. These kinds of lifters are self-contained and can be
moved without difficulty to various work sites within
machine shops. However, one disadvantage is that
permanent magnets have a restricted lifting capacity.
Electromagnets employ electricity to charge the magnet
and hold the material to the magnet face. Electromagnets
use an energized electrical coil wrapped around a steel
core to orient particles within ferrous materials in a
common direction, thus creating a magnetic field.
Electromagnets are generally built to run on DC current,
creating the need for a rectifier. Unlike permanent
magnets, electromagnets require a constant power source.

This can be viewed as either a detriment or an advantage,

depending upon how the magnet is being used. A power
failure can be catastrophic when using an electromagnet
though universal power supplies and battery backup
systems available in today's market address these concerns.
On the other hand, the ability to vary the current being
supplied to the magnet allows the user more flexibility
than a permanent magnet affords.
Permanent Vs. Electromagnets

Both permanent magnets and electromagnets can be

constructed to produce different types of magnetic fields.
The first consideration in choosing a magnetic circuit is the
job you want the magnet to do. Permanent magnets are
favored when electricity is not readily available, when
power failures are a common occurrence or when
adjustable magnetic force is not necessary. Electromagnets
are useful for applications where varying strength is
required or remote controlling is desired. Magnets should
be used only in the manner for which they were originally
intended. Using the wrong type of magnet for a specific
application can be extremely dangerous and possibly even
deadly.
Many machining operations are performed on thick, blockshaped material. These applications call for permanent
magnets. Many machine shop users believe the greatest
advantage of these magnets is the lack of an electrical
hookup or a recharging requirement.
Permanent magnets feature capacities ranging from 330
pounds to 10,000 pounds. These magnets are easily turned
on and off by simply rotating a lever. A safety latch is
typically built in to ensure that the magnet is not

accidentally turned off while performing a lift. Multiple

magnets can be used for heavier loads that are too long for
a single unit to handle.
Still, there are times when the part to be machined is thin
0.25 inch or thinnerand the part is presented to the
machine operator as one of a stack of similar parts.
Permanent magnets are not designed to lift only one piece
from the stack at a time. Permanent magnets, while
extremely reliable when properly applied, are not able to
alter the amount of magnetism produced. In this case, an
electromagnet with variable voltage control allows the
operator to manage the magnetic strength and select only
one piece from the stack.
Self-contained electromagnets are the most cost-effective
magnets per pound of lift. Capacities can extend up to
10,500 pounds. Reducing costs of equipment and operation,
self-contained electromagnets operate on 115-volt AC
power.
Battery-powered magnets are available. They use a selfcontained gel cell-type battery to expand the lifting
capacity, and they allow handling of flat products, rounds
and structural shapes. Battery-powered magnets can be
moved from hoist to hoist, offering generous lifting
capacity without an external power connection. They do
require periodic recharging.

Getting Started With Magnetic Lifters

Lifting magnets, whether electric or permanent, all have a

rated capacity listed on the nameplate. This capacity
relates to a particular thickness. If the magnet is being

used on a material that is thinner than the material it was

rated on, the capacity will be reduced. Lifting magnets
may be used in multiples on beams to augment the amount
capable of being lifted. When multiple magnets are used to
lift loads, the magnets should be spaced evenly to carry the
whole load. Materials have a tendency to sag when
unsupported, so magnets should be sized properly to
support the load. When loads are being lifted and rotated
to a shear position, it should be noted that the magnet's
capacity drops to about one-fourth of what the nameplate
states. Additionally, materials tend to slide when subjected
to shear forces. Therefore, much care should be taken in
these applications.
Larger magnets present on overhead cranes are dedicated
to the crane mechanism and its range of movement.
Multiple magnet mounts give overhead cranes a lifting
capacity limited only by the crane itself. The fundamental
components of these systems include the magnet or
magnets suspended from the crane hook(s), and a spread
beam if necessary.
Given that magnets operate on DC, a combination AC to DC
rectifier and magnet controller is mounted on the crane.
This device converts the crane power from AC to DC and
turns the magnet on and off.
Remotely operated lifting magnets can be cab controlled,
or they can be controlled through a pendant switch or a
remote control transmitter. These systems are used to deal
with single or multiple plate, whether in storage areas,
loading or unloading of trucks, or loading and unloading of
cutting tables.

A trained professional must install the magnet. The supplier

will usually send out personnel to evaluate the application
and handle the installation process. Electromagnets require
greater setup time and additional equipment because of
the DC electrical connection. Electromagnets are also
outfitted with battery backups in case of power failure.

The advantage would only be in scrap yards involving

the electro-magnetic handling of ferrous-metals.
unfortunately stainless steel is non-magnetic there are
electric cranes which run on bridge-like structures but
these are not electro-magnetic these have some tactical
advantages of very precise control, solenoid brakes
which are electro -magnetic, and safety and low noise
also they do not pollute.
These are normally used indoors in factories and
warehouses.
They usually have (dead man) controls which revert to
neutral or stop if the operator lets go they spring back to
the central position again aiding safety.
Disadvantages are as follows:
They only attract ferrous (Iron containing) metals and
not even all of them.

 Stainless Steel is Non-magnetic, it thus can be used on

compass housings (like the Sperry Iron Mike) but is not
attracted to magnetic fields.
It is not possible to fine-tune the electromagnet to adjust
for this.
This would be useful in recycling beverage cans, which
are nearly all Aluminum.
Though some food cans have steel tops as they work
with magnetic can openers. This is common with Cat
Food. By the way Crane Magnets ONLY function
normally on DC.

Applications:

It helps in lifting quite heavy objects.

It starts it properties of attraction and repulsion
on our command.

It is usually used in garbage dumps as helps in

lifting garbages.

It helps in separating the steel and iron materials

from the garbage.

Control

Even the strongest natural magnet cannot lift a

heavy steel object, such as an automobile, but
industrial electromagnets can. Another advantage of
electromagnets is that the magnetic force can be
controlled by switching the current that flows through
it on or off.

Huge, strong electromagnets are employed in

heavy industrial cranes, such as those in salvage
yards, to lift, move and drop heavy iron or steel
objects. These electromagnets are typically
contained in a heavy cage or machined steel casing,
insulated from the copper or aluminum windings
inside.

Lifting

Braking

In addition to their lifting capability,

electromagnets are also employed in the braking
systems of certain types of heavy-duty cranes. These
are typically coupled at the rear of the crane motor,
together with a fan that ensures air circulation.