In steel construction and railing construction, every minute counts. Whether it's stair railings, balcony railings, metal railings, stainless steel railings, glass railings, or other steel constructions – workpieces must be precisely aligned, securely fixed, and processed quickly. This is exactly where one of our customers encountered a typical problem: positioning steel profiles and metal plates took unnecessarily long and required elaborate aids.
With switchable magnets, this process could be significantly simplified – faster, cleaner, and more efficient.
The Customer Project in Practice
A steel construction company, which among other things manufactures constructions for railing construction, custom railings, and metal construction railings, regularly processes square tubes, round material, and steel plates. Before each welding process, the individual components must be precisely positioned.
Previously, various methods were used for this:
- Welding on temporary fasteners
- Clamps on welding tables
- Self-made devices
- Repeated readjustment of the workpieces
This approach caused long setup times and slowed down the entire manufacturing process.
The Problem
Before each welding process, workpieces first had to be elaborately fastened.
This meant:
- additional welding work for auxiliary tabs
- time-consuming loosening of fasteners
- reworking after removal
- constant repositioning of clamps
- restricted work area
Especially with changing components, these work steps quickly added up to several hours per week. This is particularly true for the production of stair railings, balcony railings, or other individual steel constructions.
The Solution: Switchable Magnets
The customer opted for switchable permanent magnets.
These have a special property:
They can be switched on and off.
When switched off, they can be positioned effortlessly. Only when in the desired position is the magnet activated and immediately develops its full holding force.
Particularly practical:
- magnetic on multiple sides
- suitable for round material
- ideal for square profiles
- quick positioning of metal plates
- can be removed without residue at any time
The switchable ON/OFF technology enables precise positioning and significantly facilitates the repositioning of the magnets. In addition, switchable permanent magnets do not require an external power supply and remain largely free of adhering metal chips when switched off.
Before vs. After
Before
- Weld on welding aids
- Mount clamps
- Align multiple times
- Remove aids again
- Rework
After
- Place magnet
- Switch on
- Position workpiece
- Weld
- Switch off magnet
- Remove immediately
The entire setup is significantly faster, and the workpiece remains precisely in position at all times. Especially for projects in railing construction and the production of metal railings, this method of working leads to significant time savings.
The Advantages at a Glance
✅ Significantly shorter setup times
✅ Precise positioning of round and square material
✅ No welding on additional brackets
✅ No obstructing clamps
✅ Quick release due to on/off function
✅ More productivity during welding
The easy dismantling after welding, in particular, saves valuable working time every day. Manufacturers like Magswitch describe the ON/OFF technology as a way to make positioning, fixing, and workflows more efficient.
The Result
After the changeover, the customer was able to significantly reduce the time spent setting up workpieces.
Employees benefit from:
- faster setup
- less rework
- precise alignment
- more efficient welding processes
Especially in series production, these time savings become noticeable after a short period. This benefits companies in steel construction as well as businesses in railing construction or a locksmith for railings that produce individual constructions daily.
Practical Tip
Keep contact surfaces clean.
Dirt, weld spatter, or rust can impair the holding force of a magnet. Before switching on, the contact surfaces should be as clean and flat as possible. This ensures optimal adhesion and precise alignment of the workpiece.
Product Presentation: Switchable Magnets for Steel Construction
Switchable permanent magnets are ideal for:
- Positioning steel profiles
- Fixing metal plates
- Holding round material
- Aligning square tubes
- Jig building
- Welding preparation
The switchable magnet technology allows workpieces to be quickly fixed and just as easily released after the work is completed. This also facilitates the production of stainless steel railings, glass railings, and other custom railings, where precise work is crucial.
What are switchable magnets?
Switchable permanent magnets generate their holding force using permanent magnets. The magnetic effect is activated or deactivated via a mechanical switch.
The advantage over conventional magnets:
- controlled application
- easy removal
- no permanent magnetic effect during positioning
- high flexibility in daily use
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about Switchable Magnets in Steel Construction
1. What materials are switchable magnets suitable for?
They work on ferromagnetic materials such as structural steel or many low-alloy steels. Aluminum, copper, and brass are not magnetic and therefore cannot be held directly.
2. Can switchable magnets replace clamps?
For many positioning and tacking tasks, yes. For highly stressed or safety-critical applications, additional clamping tools may still be useful.
3. Do the magnets also hold round material?
Yes. Depending on the design, switchable magnets are suitable for both round tubes and square profiles and steel plates.
4. Why does the on/off function save so much time?
The magnet is only activated after positioning and can then be released immediately. This eliminates time-consuming prying, welding on auxiliary parts, or repositioning multiple clamping tools.
5. Do switchable magnets require power?
No. These are permanent magnets with a mechanical switching function. They do not require an external power supply to hold workpieces.
6. What should be considered when using them?
The contact surfaces should be clean, flat, and free of weld spatter. In addition, the required holding force should be chosen to match the workpiece.
Conclusion
Switchable magnets are a simple but extremely effective solution for modern steel construction and railing construction. They reduce setup times, facilitate the positioning of workpieces, and accelerate the entire welding process.
The customer project impressively demonstrates how even a small change in the workflow can lead to noticeable time savings and increased productivity. Anyone who regularly manufactures and installs stair railings, balcony railings, metal railings, stainless steel railings, glass railings, or other custom railings benefits from a flexible clamping solution that is quickly ready for use and significantly simplifies daily work. This applies to classic steel construction as well as to metal construction railings and every locksmith for railings.
