Less Weight, More Energy with Flexible Magnets
Arnold offers thin magnets for most of the common print methods used in the print industry today.
Excerpt of article originally published in Digital Output Magazine – Click to read full article.
Marietta, OH: Magnetic and magnetic-receptive materials are well suited for display and point of purchase applications like menus and promotional signs, anything where messaging may change on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. The ease of change out is appealing especially to retail workers with little to no experience handling signage.
Magnets come in various thicknesses. Over the years, “thin” materials have become popular. For the purposes of this article, we define thin magnetic material as anything around 7- to 17-mil or 0.007 to 0.017 inches thick.
What’s the Buzz?
Thin magnetic material is developed and used by a number of different industries. For printing, one of the reasons “thin is in” is because it runs better on printer hardware compared to its thicker gauge counterparts.
According to Stephen McLevey, business development and Flexmag commercial manager, Arnold Magnetic Technologies, the print industry is driving demand. “The material needs to be thinner and lighter so that it can be processed on the printers used in today’s marketplace.”
Debunking Myths
A common misconception is that the thicker the magnet, the more powerful the attraction. Weary of using thinner magnetic material because of this? You shouldn’t be.
“The statement is true as long as the material is of the same grade. We are able to produce a stronger, thinner magnet by using higher energy materials,” says McLevey.
Thin Benefits
Advantages of thin magnetic materials center around weight. This makes it easier to load the media into printer. Another point to consider, lighter weight options reduce shipping costs.
Thinner magnets also conform better to curved and uneven surfaces compared to thicker options, suggests McLevey. This makes thinner gauge magnets useful for vehicle graphics.
Final Thoughts
Thinner gauge magnets are not your traditional materials. Lighter weight magnetic and magnetic receptive substrates with equal – if not more – energy are designed for today’s printers.
About Arnold Magnetic Technologies
Based in Rochester, NY with an operating history of more than 125 years, Arnold is a leading global manufacturer of engineered solutions for a wide range of specialty applications and end-markets, including aerospace and defense, general industrial, motorsport, oil and gas, medical, and energy. From its Technology Center and manufacturing facilities located in the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and China, the company produces engineered magnetic assemblies in addition to high-performance permanent magnets, precision foil products, and highly loaded composites that are mission critical in motors, generators, sensors, and other systems and components. Based on its long-term relationships, the company has built a diverse and blue-chip customer base totaling more than 2,000 clients worldwide. For more information on Arnold, visit https://www.arnoldmagnetics.com.