- AEC Magnetics
AEC Magnetics Blog
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4699 Interstate Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45246
Whether you are operating one, or hundreds, of electromagnets, AEC Magnetics stands ready to design and make a system to safely power and control all of them safely, reliably and affordably. Here’s what makes AEC different: Most all companies offer a standard product line and expect you (and your competitors) to modify your work to their product. AEC Magnetics makes power supply solutions for your specific job. Ours work the way YOU work. AEC designs and creates custom features and interfaces that are specifically for your job. Do not waste another minute of redesigning your application to fit a power supply. Let AEC design a custom power supply for you, that works perfectly for your job.
Bill Klaus, president of AEC Magnetics, strongly believes customers should pay only for a power solution that fits their specific needs. “It is unacceptable to expect a customer to accept limitations or modifications because of a power supply,” he said. “We work with you. You do not have to design your work around us, we will design a power solution around you. We are flexible, offer customizable power solutions that easily and affordably interface with your application.” Bill knows what he is talking about. He has designed thousands of power supplies currently at work in manufacturing facilities worldwide. His nearly 40 years of experience in industrial magnetics and manufacturing automation ensures you will receive the deepest industry knowledge, exceptional design, friendly consultation and interaction—all with a guarantee it will work exactly as promised, safely, reliably and economically.
“AEC Magnetics is not in business to sell magnets. We are in business to sell solutions, and AEC custom power supplies are outstanding solutions for our customers. I hope you will call me to discuss your application. We can talk some ideas that may be good solutions for you.”
Manufacturing AEC Magnetics electromagnets requires the same key components we’ve used for 60 years. While the parts haven’t changed, the availability has. Our sourcing agents are working like never before to find the quality components we insist upon for our electromagnets, and do so in the most timely and affordable way possible so we can get a quality magnet in your hands as soon as possible.
The human factor is our most important component: AEC uses specially trained precision technicians to hand-make and hand-test every electromagnet that leaves our facility. While Covid-19 did not shut down our facility, it did slow production and left us with a smaller labor pool.
Steel: AEC electromagnets start with a sturdy steel cases. Steel prices increased 200% from pre-pandemic to July 2021.
Electrical Components: Securing electronic components has been an industry issue since 2018. Capacitors, resistors and other electronic components are even tougher to find since Covid-19 pressures closed some companies.
Copper: Prices are high, but this material is available for now. AEC uses the superior grade magnet wire, will not substitute lower grade materials to save money.
Paint: Paint manufacturers need 27 chemicals to make paint. Finding 26 isn’t good enough; without all 27 they can’t make paint. Paint is expensive, in high demand and we use a significant amount of commercial-grade paint and solvents in our electromagnets.
Epoxy: A big challenge. Prices are up at least 50% this year alone due to dwindling supplies. High demand, lack of producers and Covid lockdowns have made epoxy a tough sourcing challenge.
AEC has been sourcing electromagnet components for 60 years. We know how to do it, we know when we're offered cheap substitutions. We got this, and guarantee we never stop working the sourcing challenge so we can get you your magnet in the least amount of time possible.
An important message from Bill Klaus AEC Magnetics president:
Update 10/12/21: Kompasu typhoon warning closes China's busy Yantian port.
Here is a link to the Bloomberg report on the typhoon warning and its effect on shipping. Historically, China's typhoon season doesn't end until mid-Deember.
"The price and availability of permanent magnets are being significantly affected by recent issues in China.
China produces most all of the world’s permanent magnets.
- Energy Crisis: China is rationing energy due to an energy crisis. The government has just informed manufacturers it is limiting production to four days per week. Plants may only operate four days on and three days off until further notice.
- Covid Policy:China is continuing its zero-COVID strategy and will continue to order closures for even a single COVID case. Zero-COVID is responsible for a number of shipping and manufacturing delays.
- Worldwide Shipping Crisis: China shipping is one part of a worldwide shipping crisis that began with the pandemic; shipments from China are among the containers awaiting offloading, transfer and transportation to their destinations.
- Spring Shut-down: China’s Spring Festival will stop all production from January 15 to February 10, 2022. There is no manufacturing during the Spring Festival.
Suggested actions:
- Choose AEC. We have the best logistics partners and best manufacturing partners. We refuse to compromise on quality or grade.
- Order now to lock in current pricing and book ocean shipping.
- Order in bulk. AEC offers bulk discounts at certain volumes.
- Request blanket order service. It’s free. You order in volume, we release your magnets on your schedule."
Approxiimately one-half million shipping containers are stuck on cargo ships awaiting unloading at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, with more arriving daily. More than 160 ships are either at harbor in drift areas, or in the berthing or unloading process--a new record. Most experts believe the backup will last months, even years.
Today, ports giant DP World, owner of 90 ports on six continents, said it sees no relief whatsoever in the global supply chain disruptions. The pandemic and an unexpected spike in recovery, along with a truck driver shortage, rail capacity issues and shipping containers stuck in the wrong places, are causing a record backup. Many had expected this to be a short-term challenge, but recovery, said DP, is not on the radar. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem told Reuters today, the opening day of Expo in Dubai, it has plenty of capacity but snarls at other ports has backed up ocean transport worldwide.
AEC Magnetics' logistics partners continue to issue stark warnings about delays in offloading, de-vanning and transporting cargo. "Some have suggested the backlog go to alternate ports, but this is not a simple option, or an option at all," said Bill Klaus, president of AEC Magnetics headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A. "Long Beach and Los Angeles are equipped with dedicated infrastructure to receive the cargo. From unloaders to rail to de-vanning and storage to truck to transcontiinental rail services, these ports are built with infrastructure to serve certain types of cargo, certain carriers and so forth. Pulling into a dock at, say, Seattle or San Antonio isn't really an option."
Klaus recommends advancing orders to give the wide berth to shipping variances. "We have an incredible team watching, and reporting on, our cargo from China, but we never know when a snafu will occur, nor how long the snafu will take to resolve." Klaus said a recent shipment made it off the container ship, was de-vanned and shipped, and had almost reached its destination, when it got stuck waiting for truck service. "A lack of truck drivers caused that particular delay. While we do a good job of serving our customers, there are going to be some delays until the situation eases. Order early to lock in skyrocketing shipping costs and give yourself some extra time."
The backup of container ships awaiting offloading at Southern California reached a record 73 ships last week. The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles receive virtually all sea shipments from Asia, including AEC Magnetics’ permanent magnets from China. In fact, most all of the world’s permanent magnets are mined, processed and produced in China.
While the Port of Long Beach has responded to the Biden administration’s request to adopt 24-hour gate operations at least four days per week, the Port of Los Angeles is holding back, instead focusing on boosting efficiency in its operations. The port director said there is slack in the system connecting in- and out-bound containers to trucks serving inland distribution points; for instance, approximately 30% of trucking appointment slots for transferring cargo go unused each day. The Port of Los Angeles intends to extend operating hours only when trucking, warehousing and other industries also move toward 24-hour operations. At neighboring Long Beach, which runs side-by-side yet independently to Los Angeles, 24-hour operations have begun as a response to encouragement from the White House. Calling its response “bold and immediate,” Long Beach believes its move to 24-hour operations is an important step toward persuading trucking companies, freight railroads and importers to work longer hours too. .
The neighboring ports are choke points in global supply chains that have swamped logistics networks. Though they are processing more than 20-percent more containers than they were before the pandemic, Covid-19, the size of the new Panamax container ships, weather, containers stuck in the wrong ports and labor have snarled shipping, caused shortages and backed up supplies affecting manufacturers, consumers and everything imported.
“This is not limited to seagoing cargo,” said Bill Klaus, president of Cincinnati, Ohio-based AEC Magnetics. The backup is all along the transportation chain. Trucks, trains, distribution centers, local deliveries are all affected.” AEC has a dedicated staff monitoring each shipment and has the capability to carefully track items incoming to, and outgoing from, AEC, but it can be frustrating. “There is not a manufacturer or business untouched by this unprecedented situation, but we are well positioned to meet our customers’ needs at this time.” Klaus emphasizes that AEC Magnetics always has someone who will speak direction to customers, listen to their concerns, answer questions and be there to support them through out the process. "AEC Magnetics has real, live people who are glad when customers call. We are different than most, we enjoy interacting with our customers."