American Made Magnetic Sweepers For Every Application
Starting in the early 1980’s as a manufacturer of industrial magnets, today we are the largest supplier of professional grade magnetic sweepers in the United States and one of the leading suppliers of industrial magnets worldwide. Our first client, “Consolidated Freight-ways” purchased the “Original” Type ALT magnetic sweeper back in the early 1970’s and went on to use our sweepers throughout their system. Shields Magnetics now caters to clients all over the world, from Europe to the Middle East and maintains a dealer network of over 2500 dealers and distributors as well as making one-click ordering available below.
Every Magnetic Sweeper Carries a Lifetime Guarantee on Strength
Utilizing state-of-the-art technology and the most advanced materials available, Shields magnetic sweepers are innovative, functional, and effective. Our entire line of sweepers carries a lifetime guarantee on strength and a full product performance guarantee. All of our industrial magnets originate in the USA.
Vehicle Mounted Magnetic Sweepers
Type ALT Magnetic Sweeper
The Type ALT is the original magnetic sweeper trusted most by industry and the military. Available from 24″-72″ lengths with optional fork pockets.
Load-Release All-Terrain Magnetic Sweeper
Designed for the roughest terrain. This super durable magnet features fork pockets and a quick release bar to easily discard metal debris.
Auto Release Magnetic Sweeper
This versatile magnetic sweeper features a hinged collector plate that makes separating metal debris a snap. Available in widths from 24 to 72 inches.
The Terminator
This wheeled, dual purpose magnetic sweeper can be mounted on a vehicle or pushed as a handheld broom. 48 inch wide with a quick release lever to easily separate metal debris from the magnet.
Enforcer III Forklift Magnet
Our Strongest Forklift Magnetic Sweeper, the Enforcer removes massive amounts of debris and has an Auto Release feature.
Magnetic Brooms and Rakes
Magnetic Nail Sweep
Our Nail Sweep Construction Magnet is a compact, light-weight economically priced hand-held magnetic sweeper. The easy-to-use Nail Sweep easily snaps up nails or other metallic debris from almost any type of worksite including grass, gravel and concrete.
Multi-Surface Magnetic Broom
This wheeled, handheld push magnet works on any surface and has an auto release feature for easy cleaning.
EZ Clean
The EZ Clean Broom Magnet makes clean-up a breeze! Simply pull the top-mounted release handle and the accumulated metal drops – no bending or lifting required. Designed for relatively smooth surfaces such as concrete, hard-packed dirt, and pavement.
Econo-Mag
The Econo-Mag Magnetic Broom is our most feature-packed magnetic broom! Powerful, economical, and lightweight, the Econo-Mag is capable of holding a 50-lb. steel plate! This hard-working magnet is perfect for use on driveways, job sites, and warehouse floors. Its removable handle makes for easy transport and storage!
Tow Behind Magnets
3-in-1 Tow Behind Magnet
Designed primarily to be towed behind a vehicle, the Load-Release Tow-Behind magnetic sweeper functions over any terrain, in any weather condition. Sealed-Bearing, Solid Rubber wheels will never puncture!
MKS4000 Airfield/Runway Tow Behind Magnetic Sweeper
Heavy-duty professional grade towable sweeper for roads and airfields. Features state-of-the art materials and highest quality commercial grade magnets available. Available in 48″, 60″, 72″ 84″ and 96″ width versions.
MKS5000 Pro-Grade Magnetic Sweeper for Rough Terrain
The military grade MKS5000 is the most advanced tow behind magnetic sweeper available. Designed for any environment and surface. Applications include but not limited to Equestrian Facilities, Military Installations, Airports and Municipalities. 100% USA made. Available in 60″, 72″, 84″ and 96″ width versions.
Companies That Rely on Shields Magnetics
Magnetic Sweeper Applications
Shields Magnetics industrial magnets are used in a wide variety of workplace applications. Here are some of the most common industries that use our magnets.
Case Studies
You can prevent ferrous metal from derailing an oil or gas pipeline construction project than using a magnetic sweeper. Pipeline construction projects are happening all across North America as both Canada and the United States aim to create a more energy independent future.
Pipelines are not constructed overnight. From the time a pipeline spread is chosen to the time the line undergoes final testing, construction companies take painstaking measures to make sure that the job is done right the first time, with the least impact to the environment.
Now consider the scale: According to US FERC construction-permit applications from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016, nearly 2,500 miles of pipeline were proposed for land construction. That is the highest level since 2,700 miles were proposed in 1998. According to Oil & Gas Journal, nine of the spreads in 2016 measured 100 miles or more; four proposed projects included more than 200 miles of pipe each!
As you can imagine, projects of that magnitude demand a lot of equipment. Dozers and trench diggers, pipe-carrying booms, not to mention the welding equipment; it takes an arsenal of machinery to complete the construction of a single pipeline spread.
How Magnetic Sweepers Help American Pipeline Workers
All that equipment needs to stay running. Rogue pieces of metal can cause flat tires or get into other equipment and cause malfunctions. Flat tires and equipment failures are expensive. While there is no specific data on the cost impact of equipment failure for pipeline construction projects, the costs are obvious. Any delay in work results in lost man hours and projects fall behind schedule.
There’s no better insurance policy to prevent ferrous metal from derailing an oil or gas pipeline construction project than a magnetic sweeper. Mounted on vehicles, magnetic sweepers pick up errant metal that causes flat tires and cause other construction equipment to break down.
Once construction is complete, a pipeline must be integrity tested. Any debris, including metal, in or around the pipeline can negatively affect a test. Handheld magnetic sweepers pick up the smallest pieces of ferrous metal from around pipeline welding sites and trenches before it can ruin a test.
Shields Magnetics is the Go-To Magnetic Sweeper for Several Pipeline Companies
Shields Magnetics has been serving the oil and gas industry for more than a decade. Companies in the United States and Canada trust our products because they have a lifetime guarantee on magnetic strength and they are made from the highest quality materials. Put simply: they work and they are reliable.
Here’s a short list of pipeline companies who have purchased our products:
- PPS Companies: PipelineSupply.com (Houston, TX)
- Precision Pipeline, LLC (Eau Claire, WI)
- OJ Pipelines (Alberta, Canada)
- Pipeliners Warehouse (Houston, TX)
- Piping & Equipment/Fairmont Supply (Houston, TX)
Police in Phoenix enlisted the help of magnets to help find evidence in a serial shooter case in April 2017.
3TV originally reported that dive teams searched a canal near 10th Street and Indian School. While police would not say specifically what they were looking for, the news report showed that police were using large magnetic sweepers to dredge the canal. The magnet shown during the broadcast looks like our multi-surface magnetic broom.
3TV said police have identified 23-year old Aaron Saucedo as a person of interest in the case. Saucedo was arrested in connection with a murder in 2015. Saucedo reportedly lives two blocks away from the canal where dive teams searched, leading to speculation that he could have disposed of evidence in the canal.
Seven people were killed and two others were wounded in the unsolved shootings that happened in Phoenix between March 17 and July 11, 2016. Investigators believe that a total of nine incidents were committed by the same shooter or shooters.
Law enforcement agencies around the world frequently use underwater lifting magnets to search for evidence related to crimes. Here are three other interesting cases involving magnets:
- March 17, 2017: Magnet fisherman finds Derringer in San Francisco lake
- March 5, 2017: Using a powerful magnet, police find SUV lost in Kalamazoo River
- February 27, 2016: Gun found in dunny drop linked to murder and disappearance
Shields Magnetics has provided magnetic sweepers and handheld underwater magnets to law enforcement agencies across the United States.
Please contact us if you work with a law enforcement agency and are interested in learning more about using magnets in your investigations.
When horses and the jockey line up for the Kentucky Derby, all of the attention is focused on the animals, the pageantry, and the history of the race. Few people appreciate the man-power and equipment spent preparing the one-mile dirt oval or the effort required to get a horse to the starting line.
The course is harrowed, rolled and graded each day following morning training to ensure that track conditions are ideal for the race. Track conditions are such a critical component, that the status of the course is updated daily on the Churchill Downs website.
The video below gives you an idea of what a track looks like when it is prepped, and the sort of impact that hooves have on the racing surface.
Even with regular maintenance, unwanted items find themselves embedded in the dirt. Several other race courses, including the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in California use our tow behind magnets to remove metal debris from the track and surrounding areas. Other smaller, handheld sweepers are useful for cleaning stables. These smaller sweepers can also be stored in horse trailers and taken along to facilities where a horse is temporarily kept during transport.
Most Kentucky Derby contenders have a value of at least $100,000. There are some exceptions, like last year’s winner California Chrome, who was bred for just $10,000 and had earned $1.1 million prior to winning the race. Getting a horse to the Derby is incredibly challenging, as the horses are young.
A horse is required to be a three year old, meaning that they usually have less than a year of racing under their belt. At a year old, they a trained to get used to the weight of a saddle and eventually a rider. They also begin getting accustomed to the starting gate. In their second and third year, more time is spent training on a track and racing against other horses. Then to qualify for the Derby, they have to earn points in qualifying races.
Given the amount of time and money invested on thoroughbred race horses, the cost of a magnetic sweeper is a small fee for the piece of mind it gives the horse owner and trainer.
Track operators should think of magnetic sweepers as an insurance policy for trainers and their horses. Regular sweeping ensures that horses will not get metal debris lodged in their hooves. Even one injury caused by metal debris could permanently damage the reputation of a horse racing or boarding facility.
If you are interested in learning more about using our magnetic sweeping equipment at your equestrian facility or racetrack, please contact us.
