In a piece titled “The Importance of Handling Heavy Metal Plate Safely,” The Fabricator underscores the critical significance of safe metal plate transportation within cutting environments, shedding light on an often-overlooked aspect of industrial operations.
The seemingly routine task of moving metal plates using slings and chains can swiftly turn hazardous when taken for granted, resulting in unintended accidents. The ramifications of a mishap, such as a plate slipping or a chain breaking, can inflict severe injuries upon nearby workers. This growing concern has drawn the attention of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), prompting an increased focus on identifying and mitigating potential hazards in the workplace.
Metal fabricators face a unique challenge. Striving to bolster both safety and productivity, companies are seeking ways to ensure the well-being of their existing workforce while remaining compliant with OSHA regulations. As a response, the spotlight is now on innovative material handling technologies that minimize the risk of accidents during plate and workpiece movement.
In this evolving landscape, magnetics have emerged as a key solution for the safe and efficient transportation of hefty and unwieldy metal plates. Magnets offer a level of predictability that proves invaluable, particularly when utilizing magnetic transport devices meticulously crafted for their designated tasks. Moreover, these magnetic tools facilitate hands-off operation during material handling, allowing operators to control them remotely—a crucial element in ensuring worker safety.
Clarifying the science behind magnets, the article dispels misconceptions and emphasizes their practicality. Magnets generate magnetic fields that attract ferrous materials, with lines of force flowing from the north pole to the south pole. This inherent physics-based behavior forms the foundation of magnet technology.
Within the realm of material handling, three magnet types play a prominent role: permanent magnets, electromagnets, and electropermanent magnets. Permanent magnets maintain a constant magnetic field, while electromagnets rely on electric current to create magnetic fields. Electropermanent magnets combine the traits of permanence and switchability through electric pulses. In most industrial scenarios, electromagnets take center stage in material handling applications.
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Photo and article with all rights reserved, courtesy of thefabricator.com