Magnetic Powerhouse

On the cusp of completing its 75th year in the manufacture and service of magnetic machine tools, we review how Magna-Lock USA magnetic workholding products have reached all categories of industry within our economy.

Hanchett magnetic chucks

Magna-Lock in the beginning

Hanchett Magna-Lock shop floor

The scope of sub-industries in which Magna-Lock USA products have been present is far-reaching, and their customer base encompasses individual industrialists to large international businesses. This makes Magna-Lock USA a leading manufacturer of electromagnetic and permanent chucks and industrial chuck controls in the world.

With a quick review of economics, the four categories of industries are classified as primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary, while secondary industries are further classified as heavy and light. The manufacturing industry, or secondary category, of the economy earns the largest usage of Magna-Lock USA magnetic workholding, but we must not overlook how their products have touched all four categories.

This feat can be largely attributed to how Magna-Lock USA magnetic chucks and controllers have been requested and included with so many manufacturers’ new machines since their formal beginning in the late 1940s.

Hanchett Manufacturing began in 1889 with the invention of the hand swage for band saws. As their company grew, they added more products. By 1940, they began experimenting with Hermeti-Coil chucks and magnetic workholding. In October of 1948, Ralph V. Hanchett and 2 of his sons-in-law formed a new company, Hanchett Magna-Lock, setting the stage for a magnetic powerhouse to take form.

Hanchett Hermeti-Coil Brochure

Hanchett Magnetic Chucking

The 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s brought much growth to the US magnetics industry before offshoring took off. Magna-Lock USA magnetic chucks played a large part in the success of many machines and were highly sought after by both machine manufacturers and end users. The magnetic chuck is an essential component of a machine.

While searching Magna-Lock USA serial number archives, we find many prestigious machinery manufacturers that have put their trust in Magna-Lock USA magnetic workholding. The following list is just a sample of companies that have purchased Magna-Lock USA magnetic workholding for their machines.

· Arter Precision Grinding Machines

· Boyar Schultz

· Brown & Sharpe

· Clausing Industrial, Inc.

· Covel Manufacturing Co.

· DoALL

· FISCHER

· Gallmeyer & Livingston

· Giddings & Lewis

· Hanchett Mfg.

· Harig Mfg. Corp. (Bridgeport)

· Ingersoll

· K.O. Lee

· Mattison Machine Works

· NORTON

· Okamoto

· Parker Majestic

· Rockford Machine Tool Co.

· SHARP

· SpeedFam

· Sundstrand Machine Tool Co.

· Swisher

· The Thompson Grinder Co.

While some of these manufacturers are no longer in business, many of the machines are still in use and are continually being repaired and remanufactured for continued use. Magna-Lock USA electromagnetic chucks can be remanufactured as well and provide their owners with decades of continued use with proper care and service.

You can find Magna-Lock USA magnetics on planers, mills, surface grinders, knife grinders, and lathes. They are used to hold parts and material for angular machining, milling, rotary grinding, heavy machining, flat grinding, turning, surface grinding, precision grinding, and planing.

In today’s industrial market in the US, many new CNC machines, regardless of their brand, are paired with Magna-Lock USA workholding because of the availability of quick service proximity. While no one chuck design is ideal for every application, Magna-Lock USA can design and manufacture a chuck for your application, including robotics.

Magna-Lock USA Alliance Chuck

FluxMaster Chuck Control

Magna-Lock replacement parts

Today, Magna-Lock USA is a brand of Obsidian Manufacturing Industries, Inc., and continues to partner with machinery manufacturers and end users to provide superior workholding products, including magnetics and vacuum, as well as accessories and remanufacturing services. Magna-Lock USA workholding is sold directly to the end user, or we are happy to work with a third party of your choice. To learn more, visit www.magnalock.com

Obsidian Manufacturing Industries, Inc. is a Rockford, IL, manufacturing company and is the OEM for Magna-Lock USA workholding, MagnaLift & Power-Grip lift magnets, and Arter Precision Grinding Machines, as well as providing surface grinding services. They are located at 5015 28th Ave. in Rockford, IL, with a phone number of 815-962-8700. Check out more at obsidianmfg.com/brands