West Manufacturing News • March 2026 • Permanent Lifting Magnets for Loading, Unloading Burn/Laser Tables

Eriez offers three common styles of permanent lifting magnets—lever-operated, automatic, and full coverage. These permanent lifting magnets are designed to make quick work of loading and unloading burn/laser tables. “Permanent lifting magnets are suited for carrying semi-finished products, such as machined parts, castings, press molds, steel plates, bars, and tubes,” said a company spokesperson. “They can also add safety and efficiency to cutting table operations.

Permanent magnet systems require fewer operators and helpers than other material handling solutions. They lift and transfer a wide variety of iron and steel parts without slings, hooks, or cables without marring the product’s surface. There is no requirement for an outside power source, thus no concern for dropping parts due to a power outage.”

A lever-operated permanent lifting magnet, the most affordable option, is designed for handling single parts. Manually operated permanent lift magnets offer high capacity and versatility in relation to their size and cost. They are available in rare earth and ceramic. As the operator flips the lever, the internal magnetic elements align to force magnetism into the part to lift it or pull the magnetism out of the part to release it. Manufacturers include handle locking mechanisms to prevent accidental part release. Some models have carefully designed circuits and levers that minimize handle backlash.

Automatic permanent lifting magnets can be considered an upgrade over the lever-operated magnets. These models have an internal actuator that extends and retracts with the lifting and lowering of the hoist. The internal actuator serves as the lever and orients the magnetic elements to lift or release the parts each time the magnet is cycled. Since no operator is needed to flip an external lever, this style is appropriate for loading and unloading sheets and cut parts from burn tables, and anywhere else operators have limited access. These models can be used singly or in multiples on a spreader beam. With ceramic construction and large contact areas, these models advantageous in elevated temperature cutting table environments.

Full-coverage permanent lifting magnets provide automatic, hands-free operation as they can clear large areas of cut parts from a burn table in a single lift. Full coverage systems are designed to handle cut parts and skeletons as well, depending on sheet and table size. Full coverage magnets only require an overhead hoist and an air or electric supply for system activation.

These powerful systems utilize a large, full-contact magnetic surface area, with no gaps in coverage, to unload the table quickly and efficiently. The ceramic magnet circuit can withstand material temperature fluctuations and alleviates power failure concerns.

Permanent lifting magnets vary in size, capabilities, requirements, price, and more. Most are standard, in-stock models available for immediate delivery. There are custom options and add-ons available for specific applications, such as Pole Shoes for handling round tubing, pipe and bar stock, pole extensions for high temperature applications, and contoured pole adapters for odd-shaped parts. Spreader beams and custom lift eyes are common as well to increase safety and efficacy in certain applications.