Master Magnets go from strength to strength in magnetic separation technology

The HUB-4 team recently visited Master Magnets in Redditch, Worcestershire to gain an insight into the Master Magnets Brand and its extensive success over the last 40 years. The midlands based Magnetic Separator and Metal Detector manufacturer has developed a reputation as one of the leading technology companies in the recycling, mining and mineral processing industrial sectors and was recently acquired by Bunting Magnetics, one of the world’s leading suppliers of Magnet related technology

Master Magnets was founded in 1978 by Geoff Worley and after growing steadily throughout the 1980s despite the economic challenges, the company was perfectly positioned for the increased demand of magnetic separation technologies in the early 1990s.

At the time, there were high levels of investment in the UK coal industry and globally located mineral processing projects.  Using his considered knowledge, Geoff and his team of engineers developed a range of magnetic separators specifically for those key industries.  For the coal and mining industries, they developed large Electromagnets which would be suspended over conveyors to remove large tramp metal such as pit props and bars.  The drive in Mineral Processing was for the recovery of higher purity non-metallic minerals.  The Induced Roll Magnetic Separator (IMR) and Disc Separator models were designed to accommodate a wide array of applications in this sector and a laboratory where clients could test materials was also established.

The Master Magnets brand became globally recognisable as export sales increased.  In 2003, Master Magnets relocated to Redditch to expand their manufacturing capacity.  As Master Magnets continued to evolve and expand, Worley took partial retirement and handed the reigns of the business to Adrian Coleman.  Coleman had started his career at Master Magnets in 1984 as an apprentice and witnessed the evolution of the company.

“Master Magnets gave me the opportunity to develop my engineering career,” explained Coleman.  “In 1988, they supported me through a four year Mechanical Engineering course at Birmingham University.  This gave me the necessary engineering skills to join the design office.  As the company grew, I took up the position of Production Manager, before becoming Managing Director in 2008.”

In 2017, Worley agreed to sell the Master Magnets business to Bunting Magnetics.  He foresaw the investment needed to maintain Master Magnets’ reputation as a global leader and identified Bunting Magnetics as the ideal partner.

“Master Magnets has developed a long-standing strong identity and reputation as a leader in metal separation technology,” said Simon Ayling, Bunting Magnetics Europe’s Managing Director.  “The acquisition means that we can invest in their manufacturing facility in Birmingham and in the development of new separation technology.  When Geoff Worley founded the company, his aim was to produce well-engineered equipment to solve metal contamination and separation problems.  That challenge has been passed onto us and we are excited by the future.”

The Future
We talked with Jonathan Millington, Marketing Manager for Master Magnets about the future of the group “The acquisition by Bunting of Master Magnets has allowed us to invest heavily in growth and has given the overall group a huge advance in the areas we are extremely strong in such as eddy currents, over-bands, electro-magnets and high intensity mineral separation equipment. This combined strength will allow us to move into many more markets globally and has already seen our best performance to date as a group, greatly surpassing our 2018 targets.

Jonathan gave us a tour of the manufacturing area “With both our production facilities at capacity our order books are full for several months and the investment from Bunting will now allow for expansion onsite here at Redditch to substantially increase our manufacturing capacity to meet future demand. This will begin during 2019 and will see this site grow by around 30%.

“We have a complete testing lab where we can test all kinds of client material that they may send us. We separate their test material into different grades to show the different levels of separation and what can be achieved. These final grades are sent back to the client with a full report and recommendations. This service is free and we welcome test material from potential new clients. We also have a dedicated metal detection ‘clean area’ which is contaminate free and allows us to thoroughly test our metal detectors before dispatch.

A recent new client acquisition for us involved us doing some in-depth test work for them on a stainless steel and an eddy current separator which allowed them to test the machines over a longer period and they were so impressed with the results, that they have now bought a 500mm wide ‘R’ Type Eddy Current Separator from us, with the deal being signed at RWM 2018. This testing process is something that we are happy to offer to potential new clients.

“In terms of exhibitions and our drive into new markets we will be exhibiting at bauma 2019 for the first time as a group and will have a brand new Eddy Current Separator to launch on the stand. This will allow us to talk to potential new clients throughout Europe expanding our reach. Minerals separation is also going to be a growth market for us within Europe, Africa and Asia in 2019.”

With all products manufactured in the UK the combined group employs over 70 employees and has two large manufacturing bases in the UK, one in Redditch and one in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. For more information on Master Magnets please visit www.mastermagnets.com or call +44 (0) 1527 65858.