Flying chips are part of everyday life in machining production - but they can pose a major risk on the floor. Oily or greasy metal parts in particular, or those moistened by coolant, pose an increased risk of slipping and can lead to painful accidents. However, regular sweepers are only suitable for removing metal residues to a limited extent, as these quickly get caught in the brushes or even damage the inner workings of the machines. In addition, oily films often remain on the brushes, meaning they have to be cleaned in a laborious process.

The magnetic hand brush from Magna-C is ideal for removing swarf, nails and screws: It can be used to pick up metal parts with just a few hand movements and deposit them in the desired location. © Magna-C

An alternative to cleaning with sweepers or brooms is the use of magnetic brooms from the manufacturer Magna-C. The hand-held device attracts magnetic particles such as chips, nails and screws and thus cleans floors and other surfaces. The function of the magnetic broom remains unaffected by joints or other recesses. As only metallic objects are picked up, they can be easily separated from dust or other residues and reused if necessary. For this purpose, the collection parts can be collected anywhere using the deposit system. A narrow version of the broom is also available especially for the spaces between machines.

Risk of slipping and falling accidents due to oily small parts

In 2016, the number of tripping, slipping and falling accidents in Germany amounted to around 160,000, according to statistics from the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) on accidents at work, with the figures being highest in the industrial and commercial sector, accounting for almost 33%. The main cause of these accidents was the condition of floors and surfaces. Tidiness, cleanliness and the associated regular cleaning are therefore essential in order to guarantee the safety of employees and avoid absences from work. However, small, often oily parts make cleaning difficult, particularly in metal-cutting production and metalworking. They get stuck in the brushes of brooms and sweeping machines and can damage them. In addition, recesses or joints in the floor are often inaccessible for standard sweepers, which is why manual work is often required here. The magnetic hand brush from Magna-C is ideal for such applications: It allows metal parts to be picked up with just one hand movement and deposited in the desired location by pulling on the corresponding hook.

Whether it is screws, nails, shavings or other elements is irrelevant; even the removal of metallic dust is possible. Even dirty, oily or wet particles can be picked up without any problems. © Magna-C

"The only requirement for using the magnetic broom is that the particles to be collected must be made of iron or steel, i.e. they must be magnetic," explains Axel Bartsch, Managing Director of Magna-C. Whether it is screws, nails, swarf or other elements is irrelevant. Even the removal of metallic dust is possible. Dirty, oily or wet particles can also be easily picked up. To do this, the magnetic broom is simply guided by the handle over the surfaces to be cleaned. In principle, it is similar to a standard sweeping brush, but instead of a brush, there is a housing with a magnet at the lower end of the handle, which is supported by two wheels. The encased magnet reliably attracts all metal parts, even if they have fallen into small holes or recesses. Laborious and unhealthy bending is therefore no longer necessary. The smooth-running wheels also enable easy handling without any effort. The ergonomic handle and height-adjustable handle also ensure comfortable working.

As both the handle and the housing are made of aluminum, the weight of the magnetic broom is just 6.6 kg, which also benefits its ease of movement. Only the end caps are made of corrosion-free steel for added robustness. The durable plastic tires also contribute to the longevity of the device. Should they nevertheless be damaged by particularly sharp-edged catch parts, the corresponding spare parts can be reordered from Magna-C and the in-house repair service can be commissioned. "Only extremely strong opposing magnetic fields or temperatures of over 80 °C can have a permanent negative impact on functionality," explains Bartsch.

Conserves resources thanks to reusable catch parts

Once all parts have been picked up or if another pick-up is blocked by other catch parts, the elements can simply be deposited at any desired location. All you have to do is lift the magnet system using two tie rods on a handle bar. © Magna-C

Once all parts have been picked up or if another pick-up is blocked by other catch parts, the elements can simply be deposited anywhere - for example in a collection container. All you have to do is lift the magnet system using two tie rods on a handle. As only metallic elements are attracted, dust or other dirt particles remain on the floor, so that the materials are separated. Depending on their condition, the magnetic parts can then be disposed of properly or reused, which in turn contributes to the company's efficiency. If necessary, the broom can then be cleaned of oil and grease using commercially available cleaning agents.

The magnetic broom is available in different versions. Depending on the aisle width, customers can choose between a total width of 700 and 1,000 mm. A version with a width of just 400 mm is also available for particularly narrow spaces between machines. This has an eyelet at the end of the handle so that the broom can simply be hung up on a hook and stowed away to save space. "We are also happy to advise our customers on which version is suitable for their particular application," concludes Bartsch.

According to documents from Magna-C / am