| 1. Confirm the required holding force | Check the rated pull force, contact area, magnet arrangement, and whether the rating applies to a clean, flat steel plate. | Common shuttering-magnet assemblies are often specified from approximately 900 kgf to 2,100 kgf, depending on size and configuration. Treat the published value as a laboratory reference, not an automatic site guarantee. | Request a signed force-test report showing test method, steel plate thickness, contact condition, measuring equipment, and actual results for the supplied batch. | Prevents under-specification, mold movement, concrete leakage, and costly rework when the magnet is used with different formwork systems. |
| 2. Verify testing and batch consistency | Confirm that testing covers magnetic force, dimensions, switch operation, weld quality, and coating condition. | A practical incoming-inspection plan can sample at least 1% of a large batch, with a minimum of 3 units, while critical projects may require 100% functional inspection. | Ask for a certificate of conformity, inspection checklist, serial or batch traceability, and calibration records for force-measuring instruments. | Reduces the risk of receiving mixed specifications or inconsistent performance across shipments and production lots. |
| 3. Examine corrosion protection | Review the steel housing, exposed fasteners, welds, switch components, and surface-treatment process. | For zinc coatings, thickness is commonly specified in micrometres and should be confirmed against the agreed coating class. Salt-spray results are comparative evidence only and do not exactly predict field life. | Request coating-thickness readings, visual inspection criteria, and a corrosion-test report using a recognized laboratory method such as ISO 9227 or ASTM B117 when applicable. | Important for humid, coastal, winter, or chemically exposed construction sites where corrosion can reduce service life and switch reliability. |
| 4. Read the warranty conditions carefully | Check warranty duration, covered defects, exclusions, claim deadlines, replacement terms, and responsibility for transport costs. | A written warranty of 12 months from shipment or 12 months from commissioning is commonly used in industrial supply contracts; the agreed starting point must be stated clearly. | Request the complete warranty document, not only a quotation statement. Confirm treatment of premature loss of force, housing cracks, switch failure, and manufacturing defects. | Avoids disputes caused by unclear warranty start dates, improper-use exclusions, or different interpretations between countries. |
| 5. Plan maintenance and cleaning | Confirm cleaning procedures, storage requirements, switch protection, and inspection frequency. | Inspect the contact face before each use; remove concrete residue, rust, oil, and steel particles. Keep magnets dry and store them away from impact and excessive heat. | Require a multilingual maintenance sheet covering daily cleaning, periodic force checks, damage reporting, and safe handling procedures. | Correct maintenance preserves contact quality, prevents placement errors, and limits downtime caused by avoidable switch or corrosion problems. |
| 6. Check temperature and working conditions | Verify the maximum operating temperature, exposure to vibration, moisture, chemicals, and repeated impact. | Permanent-magnet performance is temperature-dependent. Many standard assemblies are intended for ordinary construction temperatures, while elevated-temperature applications require specific confirmation from the technical supplier. | Request a rated operating-temperature range and written suitability confirmation for outdoor, hot-climate, cold-climate, or steam-curing applications. | Prevents unexpected force reduction, seal deterioration, or housing damage in demanding regional environments. |
| 7. Evaluate long-term technical support | Assess spare-part availability, response time, replacement policy, documentation, and support after the first shipment. | For international projects, define a written response target such as 1 business day for technical acknowledgement and a documented corrective-action plan for nonconforming products. | Include service-level requirements, spare switch or housing availability, installation drawings, troubleshooting guides, and remote or on-site training options in the purchase contract. | Reliable support reduces downtime, simplifies cross-border communication, and protects the total cost of ownership over repeated casting cycles. |