American Made Magnetic Sweepers For Every Application
Shields Magnetics has the perfect tool designed to snap up nails, screws, wire and other ferrous metal. We built professional grade magnetic sweepers in the USA in three styles:
- Vehicle Mounted Sweepers
- Magnetic Brooms
- Tow Behind Magnets
Our magnets range in width from an 11 inch nail sweep to a massive 96 inch wide forklift magnet and prices ranging from $89 to $3,000. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology and the most advanced materials available, our magnetic sweepers are innovative, functional, and effective. Every sweepers carries a lifetime guarantee on strength and a full product performance guarantee. All products originate in the USA.
We’ve manufactured industrial magnets since the early 1980s and supply magnets worldwide through our network of global partners. Our magnets are trusted by the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, as well as global leaders in every industry including FedEx, XPO Logistics, McMaster-Carr, and Fastenal.
Government Buyers: GSA Schedule 51V, contract GS-30F-0030X.
Which Magnetic Sweeper Do You Need?
Sweeping from a vehicle or forklift? Choose a vehicle-mounted sweeper. Cleaning by hand? A magnetic broom or nail sweep. Covering acres of lot, track, or runway? A tow-behind magnet. Still not sure? Try our Sweeper Selector Tool or call (800) 799-4408.
Vehicle Mounted Magnetic Sweepers
Type ALT Magnetic Sweeper
The original magnetic sweeper, trusted most by industry and the military. Hangs from any vehicle or forklift and sweeps smooth surfaces clean. 24″–72″ widths, optional fork pockets or wheels, custom lengths available.
Prices starting at $340.00.
Load-Release All-Terrain Magnetic Sweeper
Step on a toe plate and the debris drops off — our patented hinged collector plate makes cleanup a snap. Made for smooth pavement; the Air Force’s go-to FOD magnet. 24″–72″ widths, sweeps at up to 15 mph.
Prices starting at $650.00
Auto Release Magnetic Sweeper
Built for the roughest terrain: gravel, dirt, and broken concrete. Picks up debris from 3–4″ above the surface, and the top-mounted release bar dumps the load in one pull. 36″–84″ widths, fork pockets and eyebolts included.
Prices starting at $399.00
The Terminator
One sweeper, three jobs: push it, tow it, or mount it on a forklift, truck, or ATV. 48″ wide with 4″ of lifting height, it grabs an enormous load of steel over grass, gravel, or broken concrete.
Prices starting at $799.00
Enforcer III Forklift Magnet
The strongest forklift magnet on the market. Strong enough to lift nails from five inches above the surface, with auto release for dumping heavy loads of scrap, wire, and banding. 72″ and 96″ widths.
Prices starting at $2,495.00
Compare Vehicle Mounted Sweepers
| Type Alt | Load Release | A.R. Auto Release | Enforcer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Lifting Height | 4″ | 4″ | 4-5″ | 6″ |
| Sweeper Weight | 32-70 lbs | 45-85 lbs | 35-75 lbs | 250 / 325 lbs |
| Sweeper Widths | 24-96″ | 36-84″ | 24-84″ | 72″/96″ |
| Cleaning Method | Manually cleaned | Top mounted release bar | Bottom mounted release plate | Drop handle levers |
| Terrain | Pavement, dirt, broken concrete | Any | Any | Smooth, even pavement |
Magnetic Brooms and Rakes
Magnetic Nail Sweep
Light-weight (4–6 lbs) and easy to carry, it snaps up nails from grass, gravel, or concrete — from 2″ below the base. 11″–24″ widths, with or without load release.
Prices starting at $89.00, delivered.
Multi-Surface Magnetic Broom
Our most economical broom at just 10 lbs, yet strong enough to hold a 50-lb steel plate. Removable handle for easy storage. Perfect for driveways, job sites, and warehouse floors. 20″ width.
Prices starting at $230.00
EZ Clean
Makes clean-up a breeze: pull the top-mounted handle and the metal drops — no bending, no lifting. Made for smooth surfaces like concrete and hard-packed dirt. 24″ width.
Prices starting at $245.00
Econo-Mag
One broom for every surface, smooth floors to gravel and grass, with adjustable lift height up to 3″ and top-mounted release. 24″–48″ widths, all sizes in stock for same-day shipping.
Prices starting at $95.00
Compare Handheld Sweepers
| Nail Sweep | Multi-Surface Magnet | EZ Clean | Economag | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Lifting Height | 2″ | 3″ Adjustable | 1-1/2″ | 1-1/2″ |
| Sweeper Weight | 4-6 lbs | 28-40 lbs | 38 lbs | 10 lbs |
| Sweeper Widths | 11″-24″ | 24″, 30″, 36, 48″ | 24″ | 24″ |
| Cleaning Method | Manual, Lever Release | Top Mounted Release | Lever Release | Manual |
| Best Uses | Grass/Gravel/Concrete | Gravel/Yards/Floors | Warehouse/Docks | Driveways/Floors |
Tow Behind Magnets
3-in-1 Tow Behind Magnet
Tow it, push it, or mount it on a forklift. Puncture-proof, sealed-bearing wheels roll over any terrain in any weather. 36″–84″ widths (96″ by phone).
Prices starting at $825.00.
MKS4000 Airfield/Runway Tow Behind Magnetic Sweeper
Professional-grade sweeper for roads, tarmacs, and airfields; meets military spec MIL-S-29174B. Sweeps at 2″ clearance up to 13 mph, with patented release trays for fast disposal. 48″–96″ widths.
Call for pricing.
MKS5000 Pro-Grade Magnetic Sweeper for Rough Terrain
Our most advanced tow-behind magnet, military grade and 100% USA made, built for any surface from unimproved ground to pavement. Gas-assisted release handles drop the load with ease. 60″–96″ widths.
Call for pricing.
Compare Tow-Behind Sweeper Magnets
| Product | 3-in-1 | MKS4000 | MKS 5000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Lifting Height | 3″ | 5″ | 4″ |
| Sweeper Weight | 60-110 lbs | 450-650 lbs | 750-1,320 lbs |
| Sweeper Widths | 36-96″ | 60″, 72″, 84″, 96″ | 60″, 72″, 84″, 96″ |
| Cleaning Method | Top Mounted Release | Release Trays/Catch Pan | Gas, Spring Assisted Levers |
| Terrain | Any | Smooth | Any/Pavement/Dirt/Broken Concrete |
Companies That Rely on Shields Magnetics
The U.S. Air Force, Army, and Navy. FedEx, XPO Logistics, and YRC Freight. McMaster-Carr, Fastenal, Lafarge North America, Liberty Tire Recycling, and the City of Dallas. When metal debris threatens tires, equipment, or aircraft, they sweep with Shields.
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.
