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AEC Magnetics Blog
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Lowering the threshold for automation--especially for small- and medium-sized companies--is the name of the game in 2025. "This is the year for those who've shied away from automating due to cost of investment, disruption, integration concerns and other issues," said Bill Klaus, president of AEC Magnetics. Optimizing existing production will be big this year. This is due to the the upswing in more 'plug-and-play' -type options. These are affordable solutions that minimize disruption and integration issues."
"We have been magnetics specialists for automated manufacturing since 1961, and we've seen this cycle. Increases in custom solutions reveal new scalable and flexible solutions that, taken together, are more of a drop-in component rather than custom solution. Because we are not re-inventing the entire automation process, the solution is affordable. This synergy has gone on for decades. The products and processes we design in the custom arena always benefit smaller-scale solutions at some poin. This year is that point."
These more scalable solutions offer a quick way to optimize manufacturing with immediate impact. AEC Magnetics solutions can be inserted directly to existing production with minimal hassle and minima impact. "For those wanting minimal change, this is a game changer," said Klaus. "Our core competency is design to build automation solutions, and we love starting at 'design,' for any automation process, but this year we are alredy seeing companies new to industrial magnetics invest in scalable automation. It is cost-effective, not disruptive and gives them a competitive edge.
Flexibility will be key in 2025. "Modular production systems in particular will be big this year," Klaus said. "Enabling or disabling all or part of a production line--quickly--due to demand, economics or design changes will absolutely provide faster return on investment. "The reliability of our equipment is superior. My 43 years of experience as magnetics specialist for automated manufacturing is unmatched. I enjoy solving automation challenges and providing efficiency and value. I would love to talk to you about your application.
Bill Klaus, president of AEC Magnetics, has spent 42 years in automated manufacturing. His company was founded in 1961 specifically to provide magnetic solutions for automated manufacturing. Bill took a few minutes away from designing custom power supplies this morning to talk about trends he expects to see in the new year.
There is a lot of new technology being touted in manufacturing. Would you say that embracing new technology will be the biggest automated manufacturing trend in 2024?
While the new technology is exciting and will certainly be a welcome manufacturing tool, I believe the biggest trend in automated manufacturing next year will be the substantial labor challenge. 2023 saw about 10,000 retirees a day. This is a mass exodus of experience and talent. Add to that the shrinking pool of available workers, and the impact on manufacturing is enormous. I've read one projection that by 2030 there could be more than 2 million jobs unfilled. These numbers iindicate a substantial workforce gap. AEC Magnetics automated solutions bridges that gap by automating manual, repetitive and dangerous tasks. We have known for years our automation equipment mitigates high turnover in production, makes the manufacturing floor safer and allows current employees to transition to more skilled roles, or frees them up for other jobs in the shop. I can tell you this is definitely how it works successfully. I work directly with the manufacturers to design and build solutions that have a low barrier to entry. The operators readily adapt. It is a win-win for the employee and employer.
Do you see 2024 bringing large capital investments to AEC Magnetics?
What we have seen in 2023, which will continue in 2024, is a continuing, gradual evolution in industrial automation. This has actually been going on for 30 years or more. There have been times when high through-put manufacturing required big, complex investments and technology, but we think we will continue to see an increased demand for automation solutions that are simple, affordable and will ease the labor shortage. These solutions are often, if not always, complimentary or companion-type technologies that enhance manufacturing.
What other trends do you see in automated manufacturing?
The perception that automation will displace jobs and render humans unecessary will decrease. Humans will always have a place in manufacturing. Fewer than one in ten manufacturing jobs are completely automated; those that are typically open up other opporunities instead of replacing employees.
In 2024, I see automation--due to the labor shortage--becoming more of a "need to have" rather than a "nice to have." The benefits of AEC automated manufacturing solutions will be very easy to see in the challenging economic conditions predicted for 2024.
Any other thoughts?
There is absolutely game-changing technology coming in 2024. AI, for instance, Do-It-Yourself automation, MAP programs for integrating engineering sosftware and modular hardware--all of it will become more of a part of the landscape in 2024. AEC, however, sees the trend continuiing for scalable automated solutions that integrate seamlessly into a manufacturing process rather than an enormous transition to a completely automated shop. This is exactly what AEC does.
Please, call me, Bill Klaus, and I will take all the time necessary to listen to your automation challenges and work with on on solutions, (800) 635-3954.
As China trade tensions mount this week, there is yet another reason to seriously consider locking in permanent magnetics prices and availability right now. Saturday, February 10, is Chinese New Year. (Happy Year of the Dragon!). Unlike Western New Year celebration, during Chinese New Year holiday, all factories close and employees go on holiday for at least two weeks--some up to 40 days! Everybody goes, the doors are shuttered and this includes management, production supervisors, everyone.
In the decades AEC Magnets has been doing business with our excellent China suppliers, we do know that when the factories reopen after the holidays, it is common for the factories to reopen in phases. In other words, workers don't all come back at the same time and it's business as usual. In fact, many workers do not come back at all, forcing factories to replace them quickly. Not great for the quality on the production lines.
We at AEC advise ordering permanet magnets, neodymium, ceramic and all permanent magnets right now if you want them in the first quarter of 2024. Here's why:
- You will avoid delays due to factory shut down and shipping.
- You will avoid delays in replacing inferior products and having your order re-run if we do not approve of the quality.
- You may avoid price increases due to inflation and potential increase in cost of components.
Chinese New Year is also called Spring Festival, again, on February 10 in 2024. The week of Chinese New Year is called Golden Week. Starting 15 days before Chinese New Year and lasting 40 days is Chunyun, or the Spring Festival travel rush. It is thought to be the largest annual human migration in the world., with almost 3 billion passenger journeys, most by train. During this time, factories are closed and then slowly re-open. Each year, we order early to avoid disappointing our customers, but it is not always possible to anticipate customer needs, pricing and quality, so we recommend ordering as soon as possible.
Browse the thousands of permanent magnets we have here, in stock, ready to ship now. Call us at (800) 635-3954, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and remember, If it's Magnetic...It's AEC!
China this week further tightened its grip on the world's rare earth minerals by announcing a ban on exporting all rare earths processing technology. This comes just months after China announced export restrictions on several critical minerals and metals. The 17 rare earth minerals are plentiful throughout the world, but their extraction, processing and refining require looser pollution standards and higher-level technology than the West. The urgent need for rare earths as crucial components of electric vehicles, wind turbines, electronics such as smart phones and defense systems has heightened demand and tightened China's hold on them, with some estimating China's world market share upwards of 90 percent. Meantime, the West continues to struggle to process these minerals due to technical complexities and ravaging ecological concerns.
"The restrictions we are seeing from China right now should be a real wake-up call for those who depend on permanent industrial magnetics," said Bill Klaus, president of AEC Magnetics. "China controls the world's rare earths market and no U.S. or Western company comes close at this time. The West is mining, but it is not yet competitive in extraction and separation. These methods take complex and complicated processes and are hard on the environment, which is ironic since they support 'green' technology. The West is basically in a race to break China's dominance in these areas but is not there yet."
Given the U.S. dependence on China, and with China's tightening of its hold on the market, Klaus strongly suggests that AEC customers who depend on permanent magnets and permanent industrial magnetic equipment consider advancing orders as soon as possible. "I watch the price, availability and quality of permanent magnetics closely and have excellent sources who've I've trusted for decades," he said. "When the restrictions start, the price, availability and quality can be at risk. I encourage customers to lock in the magnets they want, at the current price, availability and quality we can guarantee, while it is still possible." Klaus recommends avoiding any pricing and availability concerns by taking advantage of AEC's blanket order service, whereby you purchase now at today's price, and allow us to release magnets on your schedule. Bulk orders are an excellent option as well, he said, as the price breaks at certain quantities save money.
AEC Magnetics offers industrial magnets--permanent magnets, magnetic tools, electromagnets, power supplies and custom solutions for automated manufacturing. It has been in business for 62 years. Its president, Bill Klaus, has been manufacturing magnetic solutions at AEC for more than 40 years. Call Bill at (800) 635-3954, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If it's' magnetic...it's AEC!
Clever. Versitile. Free. If you call AEC right now, we'll send you a free sample of our flexible magnetic strip. This material is hard to keep in stock. Why is it popular? Its low cost, versatility are two big reasons, but it's easy to cut, punch, machine and slit to your specifications. We offer a variety of colors, with or withouot adhesive and different widths or in sheets. AEC flexible magnetic strip is terrific for hot stamping, as teaching aids, for graphics, bin labels, toys and games, menu boards, novelties and crafts, nameplates, advertising, assembly, fastening, warehouse lables, exhibits, marketing aids, charts, barcodes, displays, signs, schedule boards, thetre, sewiing--and it's great at dampening noise in hard-to-reach places.