Advanced Magnetic Engineering

At IMA, engineering is the origin of innovation and efficiency.

Our engineering division combines cutting-edge technical expertise with advanced analytical capabilities to design, develop, and optimize tailor-made magnetic solutions.

To ensure an agile response tailored to the complexity of each project, we structure our technical offering around the following levels of engagement:

  1. Calculation and simulation
  2. Magnetic engineering
  3. Custom magnetic system manufacturing
  4. Magnet prototypes
  5. Magnet validation, certification, and testing

Would you like to learn more about the range of services provided by our engineering department?
Select one of the areas to access the technical information you need:

Calculation and simulation

Ensure your project's performance before manufacturing begins

At IMA, we turn concepts into engineered solutions through the Finite Element Method (FEM). This technology enables us to model and predict magnetic behavior in both 2D and 3D environments, combining your requirements with our specialized expertise. The result is an accelerated development process that reduces uncertainty and optimizes costs from the earliest design stages.

What are the benefits of FEM simulations?

Implementing calculations and simulations in the early stages of a project provides a competitive advantage for your development:

Reduced time-to-market

We accelerate development cycles by validating performance through digital simulation.

Cost and material optimization

We maximize the use of materials such as neodymium, enabling more cost-effective systems.

Risk mitigation

We prevent design and manufacturing issues before investing in physical prototypes.

Functional reliability

Gain an in-depth understanding of the final product’s performance.

Magnetic performance optimization

We do more than simulate data — we predict real-world behavior. By combining FEM software with our engineering expertise, we can accurately determine the critical parameters of your application:

  • We analyze flux and field depth, accurately projecting the magnetic field’s reach within the intended space.
  • We validate switching accuracy and assess the magnetic field’s effect on nearby electronic components.
  • We identify peaks and valleys in magnetic induction to ensure magnetic field uniformity.
  • We determine the maximum attraction and holding force exerted on ferromagnetic objects.
  • We analyze the behavior of switchable systems to ensure clean disengagement.
  • We simulate particle capture performance in liquid flows and industrial powder systems.

Determining magnet quality

Which magnetic grade is best suited to your application? At IMA, we provide technical guidance in selecting the right material to ensure your assemblies maintain their operational strength throughout their service life.

An incorrectly selected magnet may undergo demagnetization due to thermal fluctuations or opposing magnetic fields. Our experts assess these risks to prevent unwanted flux loss.

Magnetic grade classification: from N35 to N52UH and specialty alloys

Each magnetic material is defined by its maximum energy product, typically measured in MGOe (Mega Gauss Oersted), a value that indicates the magnet’s strength.

  • Neodymium (NdFeB): Nxx classifications indicate energy density. The higher the value (such as N52), the greater the magnetic strength within a smaller volume.
  • Temperature suffixes: We help interpret designations such as SH, UH, or EH, which are critical to the component’s thermal stability.

Critical factors in determining the optimal magnetic grade

Our goal is to determine the optimal magnetic grade, evaluating key factors such as:

  • Material behavior in simulation software to predict its response under load.
  • Temperature alters magnetic properties. While neodymium delivers superior performance at ambient temperatures, alloys such as samarium-cobalt offer greater stability in high-temperature environments.
  • The presence of external magnetic fields that could compromise the component’s magnetic integrity.

What simulations and calculations can we perform?

Magnet Strength Calculator

We evaluate and determine the force required to separate a magnet from another magnet or a steel plate.

3D FEM magnetic simulation

After running the simulations, we determine the optimal magnet for the required magnetic field strength of your application, reducing overall costs.

Remanence determination

A measure used to determine the amount of magnetism that remains in a magnet after magnetization.

Determine your magnet’s coercivity

This parameter allows us to assess the magnet’s resistance to demagnetization in the presence of external magnetic fields.

Magnetic engineering

Tailor-made solutions that maximize your project's performance

In the development of cutting-edge technologies, the magnet is a key component within a complex system architecture. At IMA, our engineers do more than supply materials they transform the principles of magnetism into competitive advantages for your application.

Specialization and technical collaboration

Magnetic engineering requires a cross-functional approach, always focused on maximum precision. To achieve this, our engineers work closely with your design teams to ensure that the magnet’s behavior enhances the overall performance of the device.

Our expertise enables us to turn technical challenges into robust engineering solutions.

Custom magnet development

Each magnet has unique properties that must be aligned with the requirements of the final application. To achieve this, our specialists evaluate the following key factors:

Specific functionality

We define the exact properties—such as magnetization direction, tolerances, and coatings—based on the magnet’s role within the assembly.

Durability

We project the component’s service life, taking into account exposure to external factors and mechanical stress.

Maintenance and safety

We design systems that facilitate operation and ensure the protection of users and equipment.

Cost optimization

We seek the right technical and economic balance, ensuring the design is scalable and efficient across the supply chain.

Don’t leave your product’s performance to chance. Contact our magnetic engineering team to develop a tailored solution, specifically designed to meet your application requirements.

Custom magnetic system manufacturing

Technology and precision in the manufacturing of critical components

The difference between a prototype and a successful industrial component lies in the manufacturing process. At IMA, we combine high-performance materials with advanced assembly processes to deliver customized magnetic systems, ensuring full traceability and maximum reliability across every production batch.

Ultrasonically Welded Magnets

Using high-frequency sound wave technology, we achieve a structural integration of magnetic components into durable housings, offering a superior alternative to mechanical or adhesive fastening methods.

  • The best solution for encapsulating magnets in thermoplastic housings, creating a sealed barrier against moisture and external agents.
  • During the process, only minimal, localized heat is generated, eliminating the risk of thermal demagnetization. As a result, the permanent magnet retains its full strength.
  • It enables the sealing, insertion, and fusion of parts with tight tolerances, ensuring that all components are correctly aligned and assembled.
  • The housing protects fragile magnetic alloys, preventing particle fracture under continuous stress and maintaining consistent volume and magnetic field performance.
  • By eliminating screws and adhesives, the result is a clean, aesthetically refined assembly with full consistency for high-volume production.

Adhesive bonding of magnets

Using this method, we bond magnets made from virtually any material without thermal stress, ensuring a durable and structurally sound joint through controlled processes.

  • Unlike other methods, adhesive bonding allows magnetic components to be integrated safely and efficiently with metals, polymers, or ceramics.
  • We carry out the bonding process under controlled temperature and humidity conditions to ensure the adhesive’s chemical reaction achieves maximum strength.
  • The process begins with surface cleaning and preparation prior to adhesive application and the start of the curing reaction.
  • We minimize process rejects, ensuring that each bond is reliable from the very first unit, thereby optimizing costs.

Overmolded magnets

By applying a rubber or technical polymer coating, we protect magnetic assemblies against harsh environments, improving both functionality and ergonomics.

  • Full overmolding turns magnets into sealed, dustproof and waterproof components, making it an ideal solution for applications requiring high hygiene standards or exposure to humidity.
  • The polymer surface finish provides a textured grip that prevents slipping, protects contact surfaces, and improves mechanical retention.
  • Our engineering department will support you in selecting the optimal elastomer material based on the chemical, thermal, and mechanical requirements of the application, ensuring the coating does not interfere with magnetic performance.
  • We manufacture magnetic systems ready for final assembly, enabling multiple operations to be integrated into a single step and reducing overall production costs.
  • The coating acts as a shock and vibration absorber, preventing fracture of brittle magnetic alloys and ensuring long-term stable performance.

Injection Molding Magnets

Using an advanced process, we achieve the thermal integration of magnets and polymers into a single solid body, without the need for adhesives, creating hybrid components.

  • We inject plastic directly into the magnet, or polymer–ferromagnetic compound materials, eliminating intermediate assembly steps and resulting in a single, inseparable part.
  • The use of multi-cavity tooling enables high-volume manufacturing with reduced costs.
  • This process allows magnetism to be integrated into geometries that would be impossible to achieve through machining or manual assembly, optimizing both space and weight in the final product.
  • It is particularly suitable for thermoplastics and thermosets with low melting points, ensuring that thermal stress does not affect the magnetic material properties.
  • The finished part is obtained directly from the mold, simplifying the supply chain and minimizing the risk of mechanical mismatch between the magnet and its plastic housing.

Mechanical assembly

We assemble complex magnetic systems using high-precision mechanical joining methods, ensuring maximum quality from the very first manufactured unit.

  • Assembly is carried out in facilities with controlled temperature and humidity, guaranteeing that mechanical tolerances and magnetic properties remain unchanged throughout the process.
  • We implement solutions based on shafts, bushings, and engineered fasteners that simplify magnet integration into your final product, reducing handling time on your production line.
  • We eliminate intermediate operations at your facilities by delivering ready-to-use magnetic assemblies, resulting in direct savings in both cost and time.
  • We design custom fastening systems that solve critical design challenges, offering everything from standard solutions to highly specialized components tailored to the geometry of your application.
  • Our engineers apply audited connection methods to minimize errors, ensuring that each mechanical system performs reliably under the required load and functional testing conditions.

Laser welding of magnets

We use in-house fiber laser welding technology integrated into our production line. This internal capability allows us to manufacture fully finished magnetic components, ensuring hermetic sealing and superior structural strength without relying on external suppliers.

  • This technology is specifically designed for applications requiring complete protection and a flawless aesthetic finish, enabling the production of highly durable, watertight housings for corrosive or hygienic environments.
  • The high energy density of the fiber laser enables deep penetration with minimal thermal impact, preserving the magnetic properties of the internal magnet and preventing potential demagnetization.
  • Precise control of the molten pool produces clean, uniform welds free of surface defects, eliminating the need for post-processing or rework operations.
  • By having this technology in-house, we optimize production cycles and reduce operating costs, enabling faster and more competitive delivery times.
  • Through controlled plasma dynamics, we achieve electromagnetic stirring in the weld pool, which homogenizes the internal structure of the weld and increases the mechanical robustness of the assembly.
  • This station reinforces our commitment to controlling 100% of the manufacturing process, from magnetic design to final product encapsulation.
Laboratorio Ima Magnets

Magnet prototypes

From concept to magnet manufacturing

At IMA, prototype development is a critical stage in mitigating risks and refining product performance. Our engineering team leverages its expertise in materials science to develop magnetic systems using the most suitable alloy, ensuring that the original design is functional, safe, and technically viable before moving into mass production.

Proof of concept

We build and test physical prototypes to obtain precise data on magnetic performance under real operating conditions.

Quality assurance

We verify each sample to ensure that magnetic behavior meets the design specifications.

Production scalability simulation

The prototype allows us to assess large-scale manufacturability and fine-tune the production processes.

Operational efficiency

We design the prototype to minimize cycle time and significantly reduce rejection rates during the manufacturing phase.

Budget compliance

We optimize material selection and bonding methods to keep costs within the defined budget limits.

Certified safety

We validate the structural integrity and system safety to protect both the user and the machinery.

Magnet validation, certification, and testing

Technical precision to the highest industry standards

At IMA, quality is not an option it is a guarantee. While other suppliers carry out only basic checks, we subject every component to a comprehensive quality control process in our testing and calibration laboratory (including ENAC ISO/IEC 17025 accredited services), operating under the industry’s most stringent global standards.

3D optical scanning

We use GOM optical scanning technology to capture the full geometry of components and magnetic systems. This next-generation measurement technique replaces isolated point sampling with a full-field analysis of the part, ensuring absolute precision.

Full geometry capture

Unlike traditional methods, 3D optical scanning generates a point cloud or polygon mesh that records every micron of the object, digitally reconstructing it for detailed analysis.

Early-stage design validation

We determine with high confidence whether dimensions and tolerances are correct before advancing through the production chain, eliminating assembly errors.

Optimization and scrap reduction

The data obtained is highly accurate, allowing us to detect minimal deviations, implement immediate process improvements, and reduce material waste.

Technical and statistical reporting

We produce clear and detailed documentation with statistical measurement data, essential for meeting the quality standards required by sectors such as aerospace.

Cost and time savings

Measurement accuracy prevents costly redesigns or downstream adjustments, accelerating workflows and ensuring consistent quality in long production runs.

Permeameter

We use a permeameter to perform hysteresis curve testing of magnets, analyzing the intrinsic magnetic properties of each material. This technique is essential in the design and validation phase to ensure that magnets strictly meet the specified technical and performance requirements.

Hysteresis curve acquisition (BH curve)

By applying controlled variations in magnetic field strength, we generate the complete curve that defines the magnet’s behavior, allowing us to visualize the relationship between magnetic flux density (B) and magnetic field strength (H).

Remanence measurement (Br)

We determine the magnetic flux density that remains in the magnet after magnetization, validating the component’s baseline performance for its final application.

Coercivity evaluation (HcJ and HcB)

We analyze resistance to demagnetization, distinguishing between temporary flux loss and permanent loss of magnetization.

While HcB indicates the field required to reduce the external flux to zero while it is applied, HcJ defines the critical threshold beyond which the magnet undergoes irreversible demagnetization. This is a key parameter to ensure system stability under extreme conditions.

Maximum energy product (BHmax) calculation

We identify the magnet’s point of maximum energy efficiency, allowing us to optimize the material volume required to achieve the desired performance.

3D flux measurement

In critical applications such as sensors, electric motors, or actuators, magnetic orientation accuracy is an essential safety factor. Using our 3D measurement technology, we validate that each magnet’s polarization aligns precisely with design requirements, eliminating any angular deviation that could compromise system performance.

Determination of magnetic moment along the X, Y, and Z axes

We use 3D fluxmeters and advanced software to calculate the actual orientation of magnetization, ensuring that the boundary between the north and south poles is perpendicular to the geometric axis of the component.

Precise synchronization for sensors and actuators

We ensure that the magnetic field distribution matches specifications so that sensors respond at the correct moment, preventing premature triggering or delays that could affect system electronics.

Angular deviation control

We detect minimal deviations in magnetization orientation relative to theoretical specifications, which is critical for motor torque performance in electric machines and the accuracy of actuators.

Detailed validation reports

Each measurement is recorded in a comprehensive technical report, providing the documentation required to validate the safety and reliability of your components for any audit process.

SECTORES

¿Para qué sectores ofrecemos nuestros servicios de ingeniería?

Nuestro departamento de ingeniería magnética aplicada puede aplicar todos los servicios anteriormente mencionados en los siguientes sectores:

Preguntas Frecuentes

Te invitamos a ponerte en contacto con nuestro equipo, para resolver cualquier duda. Además, en esta sección, respondemos a las preguntas más habituales de nuestros clientes.

What is FEM simulation used for?

Thanks to Finite Element Method (FEM) simulation, we digitally model magnetic behavior in both 2D and 3D, optimizing the use of materials such as neodymium and mitigating risk by validating performance without the need for multiple physical prototypes.

What is coercivity evaluation?

Coercive field intensity distinguishes between the coercive force (HcB) of magnetic flux density and the coercive force (HcJ) of magnetic polarization.

  • A permanent magnet loses its magnetic flux density when exposed to a field equal to HcB, but it remains magnetized once the external field is removed.
  • The induced flux density is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the demagnetizing field, so both cancel each other out and the magnet returns to its original state once the external field is switched off — as remanence.
  • Only a field intensity corresponding to HcJ leads to irreversible loss of magnetization, meaning the magnet becomes fully demagnetized and must be re-magnetized. This concept can be similarly defined for electric coercive field strength.

How do I choose the right magnetic grade for my project?

The strongest magnet is not always the best option. Our engineering department evaluates the required magnetic performance, as well as critical factors such as operating temperature and the presence of external fields, to prevent demagnetization and ensure system lifetime reliability.

What assembly methods do you offer to ensure hermetic magnets?

We offer two main sealing technologies: ultrasonic welding (ideal for thermoplastic housings) and our in-house fiber laser welding station. The latter is particularly suited for components requiring stainless steel (INOX) housings with high durability and full hermetic sealing.

Can magnets be integrated into complex plastic parts?

Through injection molding, we thermally integrate magnets and polymers into a single solid body. This is the most efficient method for producing high-volume complex parts, optimizing weight and space by eliminating adhesives and manual assembly steps.

How do you ensure a sensor magnet switches at the exact point?

We use 3D flux measurement technology. This allows us to validate magnetic moment orientation along the X, Y, and Z axes, detecting any angular deviation. In this way, we ensure perfect magnetization alignment so that sensors or actuators respond exactly when required, without delays or errors.

Are your processes certified, for example for the automotive sector?

Absolutely. As you can see on our website, our laboratory includes accredited services according to UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025 (within its defined scope). At organizational level, the company operates under automotive quality standards (IATF 16949) as well as aerospace, defense and military standards (EN 9100). All of this is implemented daily through our integrated quality management system.