A magnetic lifter — also called a lifting magnet — is a below-the-hook lifting device that grips a steel load by magnetic attraction rather than by clamping or wrapping. Hook one onto a chain block, electric hoist, jib crane or overhead crane, switch the magnet on against the load, and the magnetic field generated inside the lifter holds the steel firmly through the lift. When the load is set down, switch the magnet off and the lifter releases. No drilling, no slinging, no clamping forces on the workpiece.
For Australian fabrication shops, machine shops, steelyards, and maintenance workshops handling steel plate, sheet, billet, pipe and round bar, the magnetic lifter is the fastest tool in the lifting toolbox. A 1-tonne magnetic lifter cycles a load in seconds — pick up, lift, set down, release — versus the 30+ seconds of slinging and unslinging through holes that don't exist. The trade-off is geometric and material discipline: the lifter only works on ferrous steel, only on flat surfaces, and only above a minimum plate thickness. Get any of those wrong and the load drops.
This guide is the comprehensive reference for magnetic lifters in Australian industry. We cover the three types (permanent, electromagnet, electro-permanent), how Magswitch's switchable rare-earth technology works, the pull-off vs Safe Working Load distinction that catches buyers out, surface and material limits, AS 4991 compliance, and the AIMS range across Magswitch MLAY 1000, MLAY 600 and Prolift lines. Browse the lifting magnet range or call (02) 9773 0122 for sizing help.
Magnetic lifters sit alongside beam clamps, plate clamps, and the slings triple (chain, wire rope, synthetic) in the AU rigging toolbox. Each tool wins on a different combination of load shape, material, surface condition, and cycle frequency.
What a magnetic lifter is — and what it isn't
A magnetic lifter is a rated lifting device that uses a controlled magnetic field to attach to a ferrous steel load. The magnetic field is generated by either permanent rare-earth magnets, an electromagnet (energised coil), or an electro-permanent system that combines both. The load attaches when the magnetic field is engaged and releases when it's switched off.
It's not the same product as a magnetic-base drill stand, a welding ground clamp magnet, a magnetic sweeper, a pickup tool, or a magnetic chuck. Those are positioning, holding, retrieval or fabrication tools. A lifting magnet is a certified rated lifting device that complies with AS 4991:2004 Lifting Devices and is supplied with an individual test certificate, a unique serial number, and a stamped Working Load Limit (WLL).
The simple test: a lifting-rated magnetic lifter is stamped with WLL in tonnes or kilograms, the AS 4991:2004 standard reference, the manufacturer name, a unique serial number, and a minimum plate thickness for the rated WLL. Without those markings, the device is not rated lifting equipment regardless of what it can pick up.
The three types — permanent, electromagnet, electro-permanent
Magnetic lifters fall into three technology categories. Each has a different operating principle, different power requirements, and different fail-safe behaviour.
| Type | How it generates the field | Switching mechanism | Power required during lift | Fail-safe behaviour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent | Always-on rare-earth or ferrite magnets | Mechanical lever moves an iron pole-piece to short-circuit (off) or align (on) the magnetic flux path | None | Stays attached — fail-safe |
| Electromagnet | Coil energised by electric current generates magnetic field | Current on / current off | Continuous AC or DC supply | Drops the load on power loss — battery backup mandatory |
| Electro-permanent (Magswitch) | Two opposing rare-earth permanent magnets; one fixed, one rotating | Mechanical lever rotates the second magnet to either cancel (off) or reinforce (on) the fixed magnet's field | None during lift | Stays attached — fail-safe (mechanical not electrical) |
For most Australian industrial applications — fabrication, machining, steelyard handling, maintenance — the choice is between a permanent magnetic lifter (cheapest entry) and an electro-permanent Magswitch (premium tier). True electromagnets are reserved for very high capacities (10T+) and scrap handling where rapid magnetisation/demagnetisation cycling justifies the cabling and battery backup. AIMS stocks the permanent and electro-permanent types.
How Magswitch electro-permanent technology works
A Magswitch lifting magnet uses two rare-earth permanent magnets stacked vertically inside a cylindrical housing. The lower magnet is fixed; the upper magnet is mounted on a rotating spindle controlled by an external lever. The trick is in the geometry of how the two magnets' fields combine.
When the lever is in the OFF position, the rotating upper magnet is oriented so its north pole sits above the fixed magnet's north pole and its south pole above the fixed south. The two fields oppose each other — they form a closed loop within the lifter housing and almost no flux escapes through the base plate. The lifter is essentially "magnetically silent" — touch it to a steel plate and you feel almost nothing.
When the lever is rotated 180° to the ON position, the upper magnet flips: its north pole is now above the fixed south pole, and its south above the fixed north. The two fields reinforce each other and the combined flux flows out through the base plate and into the load. The lifter develops its full rated grip — anywhere from 100kg to 4,000kg+ depending on the model.
The result is a lifting magnet with the safety advantages of a permanent magnet (no power required, fail-safe under power loss) plus the operational convenience of an electromagnet (rapid switchable on/off). The mechanical lever is the only moving part. The forum consensus on r/AskEngineers and r/Machinists is consistent: Magswitch's switchable design is the engineering benchmark for safe controlled magnetic lifting.
The Magswitch MLAY 1000 is the workhorse single-cell electro-permanent lifting magnet — 1,000 lb (454 kg) Safe Working Load on flat steel ≥25mm thick. The MLAY 1000 series scales by adding cells in line: MLAY 1000x2 doubles the capacity to 908kg, MLAY 1000x3 reaches 1,362kg, and MLAY 1000x4 reaches 1,816kg. The MLAY 600 series follows the same pattern at lower capacity but smaller footprint — useful when access geometry matters more than peak load.
Pull-off force vs Safe Working Load — the most-misread spec
Pull-off force is the maximum force required to detach a magnet from a perfectly-prepared load under laboratory test conditions. Safe Working Load (SWL) is the rated lifting capacity for routine industrial use. The two numbers are different. Pull-off is typically 2.5 to 3.5× the SWL, depending on the manufacturer's design factor. The marketing "1320 lb pulling capacity" or "880 lb pull" stamped on cheap import lifters is the pull-off figure, not the SWL.
Magswitch's official MagDolly manual states the rule plainly: "All magnetic heavy lifting magnets are de-rated for safe lifting. De-rating reduces the magnet's allowed lifting capacity down to the Safe Working Load (SWL)." The de-rating accounts for surface conditions, dynamic loads during the lift, and the inherent variability of magnetic adhesion under field conditions versus a controlled test bench.
| Term | What it measures | Conditions | Use for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakaway / pull-off force | Force required to detach the magnet at the test instant | Lab — perfectly flat, polished, machined, ≥25mm low-carbon steel test plate | Comparison between magnet designs only — never use as lifting capacity |
| Safe Working Load (SWL) / Working Load Limit (WLL) | Rated lifting capacity for routine industrial use | Real-world derated for surface variation, dynamic load, safety factor 2.5:1 to 3.5:1 | The number that goes on the load plan — never exceed |
| Safety factor | Ratio of breakaway to SWL | Typical AU industrial: 3:1 (Magswitch, premium AU brands), 2.5:1 (budget), 3.5:1 (some specialist heavy-duty) | Identifying genuine industrial-grade vs over-stated import claims |
The practical buying rule: ignore the breakaway figure printed on the front of the box, find the SWL on the data plate, confirm the safety factor, and confirm AS 4991 compliance. A "1000lb pulling capacity" cheap import with no AS 4991 stamp is not 1000lb of lifting capacity — typically it's 300-400lb SWL with a 2.5:1 factor, and even that assumes perfect surface conditions.
Surface conditions — flat, clean, thick enough
The three conditions that determine whether a magnetic lifter develops its rated capacity are: surface flatness, surface cleanliness, and plate thickness. Get any one wrong and the SWL drops dramatically — sometimes to a fraction of the marked rating.
Flatness. The magnetic field flows from the lifter's base into the load through the contact area. A flat lifter base on a flat plate face gives 100% contact; a flat lifter base on a curved surface (round bar, pipe, dished plate) gives a tiny line-contact patch that may be only 10-20% of the rated contact area, and the SWL falls proportionally. The forum-validated rule from r/metalworking is direct: "Lifting magnets are only reliably safe when used with flat surfaces. Trusting a lifting magnet to perform safely on curved surfaces is never safe." Some specialist lifters have V-grooves cut into the base for round material — capacity is rated separately for round stock and is typically 30-50% of the flat-plate rating.
Cleanliness. Rust scale, paint, mill scale, oil, grease, water, and dirt all interpose between the lifter base and the load. Each layer adds an air gap that the magnetic field must bridge — and magnetic flux drops sharply with air-gap distance. A 0.5mm rust scale or paint layer can reduce capacity by 30-50%. Magswitch's MagDolly manual is explicit: surface preparation requires removing scale, rust, and paint before the lift. The forum direct quote on r/metalworking: "the manual wants you to remove scale/rust/paint as well."
Thickness. Each lifting magnet specifies a minimum plate thickness for the rated SWL. Below that thickness, the magnetic flux saturates the plate and excess field leaks out the back face — capacity drops linearly with thickness reduction. Typical minimums:
| Lifter capacity (SWL) | Typical minimum flat-plate thickness for rated SWL | Below this thickness |
|---|---|---|
| 100 kg | 10 mm | Capacity drops linearly — 8mm typically gives ~80%, 5mm gives ~50% |
| 300 kg | 15 mm | Manufacturer derating chart applies |
| 500 kg (Prolift) | 20 mm | Below 20mm, consult manufacturer derating curve |
| 600 kg (Magswitch MLAY 600) | 15 mm | Magswitch publishes specific derating for thinner stock |
| 1000 kg (Magswitch MLAY 1000) | 25 mm | Below 25mm, capacity derates per Magswitch chart |
| 2000 kg+ | 40 mm+ | Heavy plate only at full rating |
Manufacturer derating curves cover the thickness vs capacity relationship below the minimum. They're worth printing and keeping on the lifter cabinet. For thin sheet stock that falls well below the minimum, vacuum lifters or sheet handling slings are typically the better tools — see our Plate Clamp Guide for the alternative methods.
What magnets DO and DON'T pick up — material guide
Magnetic lifters work on ferrous (iron-bearing) steel only. The strength of attraction depends on the material's magnetic permeability — how readily the material conducts magnetic flux.
| Material | Magnetic? | Lifting capacity (vs rated SWL on low-carbon steel) |
|---|---|---|
| Mild steel (AS/NZS 3678 grade 250/300/350) | ✓ Strongly magnetic | 100% — the rated baseline |
| Cast iron (grey, ductile) | ✓ Magnetic but porous | ~50% — porous structure leaks flux |
| High-carbon steel / spring steel | ✓ Magnetic but harder | ~80-90% — slightly reduced permeability |
| Tool steel (hardened) | ✓ Magnetic | ~50-70% — high carbon and hardening reduce permeability |
| 400-series stainless (ferritic, martensitic — e.g. 410, 430) | ✓ Magnetic | ~50-70% |
| 304 / 316 stainless (austenitic) | ✗ NON-magnetic | 0% — magnet won't pick it up |
| Aluminium (any grade) | ✗ Non-magnetic | 0% |
| Brass, bronze, copper | ✗ Non-magnetic | 0% |
| Lead, zinc, tin | ✗ Non-magnetic | 0% |
| Titanium | ✗ Effectively non-magnetic | 0% |
| Galvanised steel | ✓ Magnetic (steel substrate) | ~95% — galvanising adds tiny air gap; minimal effect |
| Painted / coated steel | ✓ Magnetic (steel substrate) | Varies — paint thickness adds air gap; typical derate 10-30% |
The single most important material rule for AU industrial users: 304 and 316 austenitic stainless steel is non-magnetic. A magnetic lifter will not pick up a 304 or 316 plate. This is the most-cited apprentice trap in welding and fabrication forums. Most architectural stainless, food-grade stainless, and chemical-industry stainless plate is austenitic. For stainless plate handling, use non-marring plate clamps with leather pads or vacuum lifters.
Plate thickness, surface area, and de-rating in practice
The published SWL for a magnetic lifter is the value at full conditions: flat steel, clean surface, plate at or above the minimum specified thickness. For real-world plate that doesn't meet all three conditions, capacity is derated multiplicatively. A worked example shows the maths:
Worked example. Lifting an 18mm thick mill-scale-coated mild steel plate measuring 1500 × 750 mm with a Magswitch MLAY 1000 (rated SWL 454 kg / 1000 lb on ≥25mm clean flat steel).
- Thickness derating. Plate is 18mm against 25mm minimum. Magswitch chart shows ~80% capacity at 18mm. Capacity = 454 × 0.80 = 363 kg.
- Surface derating. Mill scale on the surface adds typically 0.2-0.5mm of low-permeability layer. Conservative derate 25%. Capacity = 363 × 0.75 = 273 kg.
- Plate weight check. 18 × 1500 × 750 mm at 7,850 kg/m³ = 159 kg. Well within the 273 kg derated capacity.
- Margin check. Derated capacity (273 kg) ÷ load (159 kg) = 1.7× margin. Acceptable for a routine lift.
For loads where the margin falls below 1.5× after derating, step up to the next lifter size — MLAY 1000x2 at 908 kg SWL, for example, gives much more comfortable margin on the same plate. Or strip the mill scale before the lift to recover the surface-condition derate.
Hand-held vs hoist-attached lifters
Magnetic lifters split into two product classes by how they're operated.
Hand-held lifters are designed for one person to manually pick up a load using the lifter's integrated handle. Capacities run from 60 kg to roughly 200 kg — small enough to lift by arm strength alone. Used for sheet metal handling, small fabrication work, sheet stack picking, and workshop transfers within arm's reach. The Magswitch Fixed Single Hand Lifter (rated 390 lb breakaway / ~120 kg SWL) and Magswitch Fixed Dual Hand Lifter (rated 780 lb breakaway / ~240 kg SWL with two-person operation) are AU workshop standards.
Hoist-attached lifters are designed to hang from a chain block, electric hoist, jib crane, or overhead bridge crane. Capacities run from 100 kg to 4,000 kg+ and the lifter has a robust shackle or bail attachment at the top. The Magswitch MLAY 600 and MLAY 1000 series and the Prolift 500 kg are the AIMS hoist-attached range. These are the workhorse lifters for heavy industrial steel handling.
The choice is straightforward: weight of routine load. Below 100 kg, a hand-held lifter is faster — no rigging, no overhead structure required. Above 200 kg, a hoist-attached lifter is the only option. Between 100 and 200 kg, it depends on lift height, distance, and frequency.
The Magswitch ecosystem — Hand Lifter, Mag Dolly, MagReach
Magswitch's electro-permanent technology has spawned a family of related products beyond the core MLAY lifting magnets. Several are stocked at AIMS for specialty applications.
- Fixed Single Hand Lifter — manual hand-held lifter, 390 lb breakaway. Single-person sheet handling.
- Fixed Dual Hand Lifter — two-handle version, 780 lb breakaway. Two-person heavier sheet lifting or longer plate handling.
- MagReach 400 — extended-reach magnetic retrieval tool, 400 lb breakaway, 50.5–90 inch reach. Recovery of ferrous items dropped into pits, drains, machinery interiors, or overboard. A specialty product but useful in mining, marine, and heavy maintenance work.
- Mag Dolly 917mm — wheeled trolley with integrated lifting magnet, designed for moving long stock (rails, beams, pipes) along a fabrication shop floor. The magnet engages the steel; the dolly's wheels support the load weight; the operator pushes the assembly along.
For the core lifting application — picking up a load, lifting it with a hoist, transporting and setting down — the MLAY 600 and MLAY 1000 series are the AIMS workhorse range. The ecosystem products fill niche applications that arise in real workshops.
Multi-magnet rigging for long stock
For long beams, rails, or pipes, a single lifting magnet at one point applies a bending moment to the load and concentrates the lifting force at a small contact area. Two or more magnetic lifters connected via a spreader bar or lifting beam distribute the load across multiple pickup points and eliminate the bending stress.
The standard configuration: two lifting magnets, each rated for at least 60% of the load weight, attached at the 1/4 and 3/4 points along the load length, hanging from a rated lifting beam (spreader bar) above. The spreader bar attaches to the chain block or hoist via a single vertical line. Each magnet sees vertical load only — no bending, no side load, no pry force.
Critical: do not rig multiple slings to a single magnetic lifter at angles to vertical. The forum-validated rule from r/Rigging applies to magnets the same as to beam clamps: any side load on the lifter base creates pry forces that can defeat the magnetic adhesion. The lifter base wants to peel off the load. Multi-leg slings need a spreader bar or lifting beam between the slings and the magnet.
For long-stock handling at high cycle rate, the Magswitch Mag Dolly or specialist multi-cell heavy lifter assemblies are purpose-designed alternatives. Contact us for engineered multi-magnet configurations.
AS 4991:2004 — the Australian standard
Magnetic lifters used in Australian industrial lifting comply with AS 4991:2004 Lifting Devices — the same standard governing beam clamps, plate clamps, and other below-the-hook lifting devices. Compliant magnetic lifters carry an AS 4991 stamp on the body or data plate, plus:
- Manufacturer name and country of origin
- Working Load Limit (SWL) in tonnes or kilograms
- Minimum plate thickness for the rated SWL
- Maximum operating temperature
- Unique serial number traceable to the individual test certificate
- Date of manufacture
The standard requires a design factor of at least 3:1 for permanent and electro-permanent magnetic lifters — meaning the breakaway force must be at least 3× the SWL. For premium AU and global manufacturers (Magswitch, Eclipse, Walmag, Goudsmit), the design factor is typically 3:1 to 3.5:1. For cheap imports (Vevor, no-name) the factor may be quoted as 2.5:1 — at the lower end of the range and without independent AS 4991 verification.
European EN 13155 is the equivalent international standard. AU principal-contractor sites typically require AS 4991 specifically, not just EN 13155. Magswitch certifies its industrial lifting range to AS 4991:2004 plus ISO 9001 quality management.
Pre-use inspection
Pre-use inspection takes 60 seconds and catches the failures before they happen. Six-point check:
| Check | What you're looking for |
|---|---|
| Data plate / WLL marking | Legible SWL, AS 4991, manufacturer, serial number, minimum plate thickness. If you can't read it, the lifter is out of service. |
| Switching lever action | Lever moves smoothly through full travel between OFF and ON positions. Detents engage cleanly. No notching, sticking, or excessive force required. |
| Lock pin / safety latch | Lock pin engages in ON position to prevent accidental release under vibration. Pin springs back out cleanly when released. |
| Base plate condition | Base flat, free of nicks, gouges, chips, or rust pitting. Surface clean and dry. The base is the magnetic contact area — damage = lost capacity. |
| Lifting eye / shackle | Eye not opened up, no visible elongation, no cracks in the welds. Shackle pin secure if shackle is permanently fitted. |
| Test certificate currency | Periodic inspection within 6-12 months. Annual NATA proof-test for hire-fleet equipment on regulated sites. |
The functional pre-use test: with the magnet OFF, place the base on a clean steel test plate. Switch ON. Confirm the magnet attaches firmly (a small pull should not detach it). Switch OFF. Confirm the magnet releases freely. Damaged or sticky-lever lifters go out of service until inspected by a competent person.
Where lifting magnets fail — forum-validated failure modes
| Failure mode | Cause | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Load drops on power loss (electromagnet) | Electromagnet de-energised by power outage, cable damage, or operator error. | Battery backup mandatory. Permanent or electro-permanent (Magswitch) types are inherently fail-safe — no power required during lift. |
| Magnet won't pick up the load (304/316 stainless) | Material is austenitic stainless — non-magnetic. Apprentice trap. | Confirm material before lift. For 304/316 use plate clamps or vacuum lifters. |
| Plate slips or peels off mid-lift | Surface contamination (rust scale, paint, oil), insufficient plate thickness, or curved surface. | Surface preparation per manufacturer manual. Confirm plate thickness ≥ minimum spec. Flat surfaces only unless V-grooved lifter on round stock. |
| Lever rotates partially / weak grip | Lever not fully engaged to ON position; lock pin not secured. | Always rotate lever to detent stop. Verify lock pin engaged before lifting load. |
| Heat-induced capacity drop | Load (e.g. just-welded plate, hot-rolled stock, parts straight from heat treat) above magnet's max operating temperature. | Most rare-earth permanent magnets lose capacity above 80°C; some grades fail above 120°C. Wait for parts to cool before lifting. |
| Pry-off from side-load with multi-leg sling | Operator rigged 4-leg sling directly from the magnet's lifting eye instead of through a spreader bar. | Multi-leg slings always through a lifting beam or spreader bar. Single vertical line direct from hoist. |
| Overload on round bar or pipe | Flat-base magnet used at full SWL on round stock with line-contact only. | Round-stock derating typically 30-50% of flat-plate SWL. Use V-grooved magnet or specialist pipe lifter. |
| Operator misuse / inadequate training | Most documented incidents — see r/Rigging field reports. | Operator licensing (CPCCLDG3001 dogging minimum), manufacturer-supplied training, supervised first lifts on each new lifter type. |
Lifting magnets vs plate clamps vs vacuum lifters
Magnetic lifters are not the only option for handling steel plate. The right tool depends on material, surface condition, cycle rate, and load shape.
| Method | Best for | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Magnetic lifter | High-cycle ferrous steel handling, flat plate, sheet, billet | Ferrous steel only; flat and clean surfaces; minimum plate thickness |
| Plate clamps | Any plate material (incl. stainless, aluminium); curved or coated surfaces; outdoor work | Slower to fit and remove; teeth-marked plate face (toothed clamps); horizontal type requires pairs |
| Vacuum lifters | Smooth thin sheet (steel, glass, plastic, painted); marking-sensitive surfaces | Surface must be smooth and clean; vacuum loss = load drops; perforated stock won't seal |
| Slings around the load | Any load shape with profiled edges or designed lift holes; non-magnetic materials; outdoor field work | Slowest; needs lift holes or basket geometry; sling damage from sharp edges |
Most production-rate fabrication shops have all three — magnetic lifters for the bulk of routine ferrous work, plate clamps for stainless and outdoor jobs, and slings for special cases. The forum consensus from r/Rigging confirms this: magnets and plate clamps are not competitors; they're complementary tools for different jobs.
AIMS lifting magnet range
AIMS stocks the Magswitch electro-permanent range plus the Prolift permanent magnet line. Magswitch is the AU-engineered premium tier — switchable, fail-safe, AS 4991:2004 compliant, ISO 9001 certified manufacturing. Browse the full lifting magnet collection.
Magswitch MLAY 1000 series — workhorse heavy lifter:
- Magswitch MLAY 1000 — single cell, 1,000 lb (454 kg) SWL on ≥25mm flat steel
- Magswitch MLAY 1000x2 — dual cell, 908 kg SWL
- Magswitch MLAY 1000x3 — triple cell, 1,362 kg SWL
- Magswitch MLAY 1000x4 — quad cell, 1,816 kg SWL
Magswitch MLAY 600 series — compact and accessible:
- Magswitch MLAY 600 — single cell, 600 lb (272 kg) SWL on ≥15mm flat steel
- Magswitch MLAY 600x2 — dual cell, 544 kg SWL
- Magswitch MLAY 600x4 — quad cell, 1,089 kg SWL
Prolift permanent magnet:
- Prolift Lifting Magnet 500 kg — entry-level permanent magnetic lifter, AS 4991 compliant
Magswitch hand lifters and ecosystem:
- Magswitch Fixed Single Hand Lifter — 390 lb breakaway, single-handle
- Magswitch Fixed Dual Hand Lifter — 780 lb breakaway, dual-handle for two-person operation
- Magswitch MagReach 400 — extended-reach retrieval, 400 lb breakaway, 50.5–90 inch reach
- Magswitch Mag Dolly 917mm — wheeled long-stock handling trolley
Need help sizing for your application? Call us on (02) 9773 0122 or contact our team. We can match the right Magswitch unit to your plate thickness, material, surface conditions, and lift cycle.
Selection checklist + how to order
A practical pre-order checklist:
- Confirm material is ferrous steel. Mild steel, structural steel, carbon steel, ferritic stainless = yes. Austenitic 304/316 stainless, aluminium, brass, copper = no.
- Measure plate thickness. Must be ≥ the lifter's minimum spec for full SWL. Below minimum, apply manufacturer derating chart.
- Assess surface condition. Mill scale, rust, paint, oil all derate capacity. Plan to clean to bright steel for full SWL, or apply 25-50% surface derating.
- Confirm load weight with margin. Derated SWL must exceed load weight by at least 1.5× for routine work, 2× for critical lifts.
- Select capacity. Magswitch MLAY 600 single cell for ~270 kg, MLAY 1000 single cell for ~450 kg, larger multi-cell models or two-magnet rigs for heavier loads.
- Hand-held or hoist-attached? Hand-held for <100 kg routine; hoist-attached for >200 kg or repetitive work.
- Confirm AS 4991:2004 compliance on the data plate. Non-negotiable.
- Operator licensing — dogging or rigging licence as required (CPCCLDG3001 for hoist-attached lifting work).
The five most common buyer mistakes — every one of them avoidable:
- Reading the breakaway/pull-off figure as the lifting capacity (it's typically 3× the actual SWL).
- Buying for a stainless steel application without confirming the material is magnetic (304/316 = no).
- Undersizing the lifter for the plate thickness available (thin plate dramatically derates).
- Choosing a flat-base magnet for round bar or pipe handling without checking the round-stock derate.
- Buying a cheap import without AS 4991 compliance to save money on a safety-critical lift.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a lifting magnet used for?
A lifting magnet (also called a magnetic lifter) is a below-the-hook lifting device used to attach a steel load to a chain block, electric hoist, jib crane or overhead bridge crane via magnetic attraction. Common applications include moving steel plate between racks, picking single sheets from a stack, transferring billet between workstations, handling structural sections on a fabrication line, and retrieving ferrous items from drains, pits, or machinery interiors.
What's the difference between a permanent magnet, electromagnet, and Magswitch lifter?
A permanent magnetic lifter uses always-on rare-earth or ferrite magnets switched between pole-piece configurations by a mechanical lever. An electromagnet uses an electric coil that requires continuous power during the lift; power loss = dropped load. A Magswitch electro-permanent lifter uses two opposing rare-earth permanent magnets switched between cancelling and reinforcing positions by a mechanical lever — no power required, fail-safe, and rapidly switchable. Magswitch is the modern AU industrial standard combining the best features of both.
How does a Magswitch magnetic lifter work?
A Magswitch lifter contains two rare-earth permanent magnets stacked vertically. The lower magnet is fixed; the upper magnet rotates on a spindle controlled by an external lever. In the OFF position the two magnets oppose each other, forming a closed loop within the housing — almost no flux escapes. In the ON position the upper magnet flips 180°, so the two fields reinforce each other and full flux flows out through the base plate into the load. The mechanical lever is the only moving part; no electric power is required during the lift.
Will a lifting magnet pick up stainless steel?
Only ferritic and martensitic 400-series stainless grades (e.g. 410, 420, 430). Austenitic 304 and 316 stainless — the most common architectural, food-grade and chemical-industry stainless used in Australia — is non-magnetic; a lifting magnet will not pick it up regardless of plate thickness or magnet capacity. Confirm the grade with a small test magnet before planning a magnetic lift on stainless plate. For 304/316 plate handling, use a non-marring plate clamp or vacuum lifter — see our Plate Clamp Guide.
What's the difference between pull-off force and Safe Working Load (SWL)?
Pull-off (or breakaway) force is the maximum force required to detach a magnet from a perfectly-prepared load under laboratory conditions — flat, clean, machined, low-carbon steel test plate at full thickness. Safe Working Load (SWL) is the rated lifting capacity for routine industrial use, derated from the pull-off figure by a safety factor (typically 3:1) to account for surface variation, dynamic loads, and field conditions. The marketing "1000 lb pull" on cheap import lifters is the breakaway figure; the SWL is typically 300-400 lb. Always read the SWL from the data plate, not the marketing claim.
What plate thickness do I need for a 1000 kg lifting magnet?
Approximately 25mm of flat low-carbon mild steel is the typical minimum thickness for full 1000 kg SWL on a single-cell heavy lifter (e.g. Magswitch MLAY 1000). Below 25mm, magnetic flux saturates the plate and excess field leaks through to the back face — capacity drops linearly. Manufacturers publish derating curves: at 18mm typical capacity is ~80%, at 12mm ~60%, at 6mm ~40%. For thinner plate, step up to a multi-cell magnet (MLAY 1000x2 spreads the flux across more contact area) or use plate clamps instead.
Can I use a lifting magnet on a curved surface or pipe?
Generally no with a flat-base magnet. The magnetic field flows from the lifter base into the load through the contact area; a flat base on a curved surface gives only a tiny line-contact patch and capacity falls to 30-50% of the rated flat-plate SWL. Specialist V-grooved lifters are designed specifically for round bar and pipe — the V-groove maximises contact area against the curved surface. Round-stock SWL is rated separately on the data plate and is significantly lower than the flat-plate rating. For pipe handling, see specialist pipe lifters or use slings.
Why do I need to clean the surface before lifting?
Magnetic flux drops sharply across air gaps. Rust scale, paint, mill scale, oil, grease, water, and dirt all act as low-permeability layers between the lifter base and the load — each layer reduces effective flux transfer. A 0.5mm rust scale or paint layer can reduce capacity by 30-50%. Magswitch's MagDolly manual is explicit on this: surface preparation requires removing scale, rust, and paint to bright steel before the lift for the rated SWL. Without preparation, the lifter is operating in the manufacturer's derating zone.
Do lifting magnets comply with AS 4991?
All lifting magnets stocked at AIMS for industrial use comply with AS 4991:2004 Lifting Devices, the Australian standard governing below-the-hook lifting equipment. Each unit carries an AS 4991 stamp, manufacturer name, SWL, minimum plate thickness, serial number, and ships with an individual test certificate. Magswitch additionally certifies to ISO 9001 quality management. Australian principal-contractor sites typically reject lifting equipment that carries only the European EN 13155 mark — AS 4991 is the AU site requirement.
What happens to a lifting magnet if the power fails?
Permanent and electro-permanent (Magswitch) lifting magnets are inherently fail-safe — they require no power during the lift. The magnetic field is generated by permanent rare-earth magnets, and the switching mechanism is purely mechanical. Power loss has no effect on the magnetic adhesion. Electromagnet lifters are not fail-safe — they require continuous current during the lift, and power loss causes the field to collapse and the load to drop. For this reason, AU industrial sites overwhelmingly choose permanent or electro-permanent technology. Where electromagnets are used (very high capacity, scrap handling), battery backup systems are mandatory.
How hot can a lifting magnet get before losing capacity?
Most rare-earth (neodymium-iron-boron) permanent magnets used in industrial lifting magnets begin to lose magnetic strength above 80°C and lose strength dramatically above 120°C. Standard-grade neodymium magnets are rated to 80°C max operating temperature; high-temperature variants (SH, UH grades) reach 150°C. Loads coming straight from welding, heat treatment, hot-rolling, or annealing must cool to below the magnet's max temperature before lifting. The data plate specifies the maximum operating temperature for the unit — exceed it and capacity is unreliable.
Can I rig a multi-leg sling to a single lifting magnet?
No — not without a spreader bar between the slings and the magnet. Multi-leg slings applied directly to a single magnetic lifter's lifting eye apply pry forces at angle to the base plate; the lifter base wants to peel off the load, defeating magnetic adhesion. The correct rig is a single vertical line from the hoist to the magnet's lifting eye, or two/more magnets attached to a rated lifting beam (spreader bar) with the slings connecting from the beam to the load. Same rule applies to beam clamps and plate clamps.
Does a lifting magnet damage the load surface?
Generally no. The base of a lifting magnet contacts the load over a flat area with no biting teeth, no clamping pressure, and no edge contact. Surface marks from a lifting magnet are typically minimal — magnetic residue (which wipes off) and possible light contact marks if the base is dragged across the load. For finished or polished steel surfaces, the lifter is gentler than a toothed plate clamp. The exception is if the lifter is dropped onto the load (mechanical damage from impact) or if magnetic particles contaminate the load surface — relevant for some food-grade and pharmaceutical applications.
What's the difference between Magswitch MLAY 600 and MLAY 1000?
The MLAY 600 is rated 600 lb (272 kg) SWL per cell on ≥15mm flat steel; the MLAY 1000 is rated 1,000 lb (454 kg) SWL per cell on ≥25mm flat steel. Both use the same electro-permanent technology but the MLAY 1000 has larger rare-earth magnets, a heavier base plate, and requires thicker plate to develop full SWL. The MLAY 600 is the choice for medium-capacity work on plate around 15-20mm; the MLAY 1000 is the choice for heavier capacity on plate ≥25mm. Both ranges scale by adding cells in line — 1×, 2×, 3×, 4× configurations multiply the single-cell SWL.
Can a lifting magnet pick up aluminium, brass or copper?
No. Aluminium, brass, copper, lead, zinc, tin, titanium, and most non-iron metals are non-magnetic and will not be picked up by any lifting magnet regardless of capacity. The magnetic field cannot grip non-ferrous materials. For aluminium plate handling, use plate clamps or vacuum lifters. For aluminium sheet, vacuum lifters with smooth-surface cups are the standard tool. For brass, copper, or other non-ferrous metals, slings around the load through lift holes or rigged in a basket configuration are the typical method.