Car Roof Top Magnets
By Paul Fears | 09 January 2017
Clamping Magnets for Cars and Taxis
This is one of those Magnets that is used globally, but nobody really notices. The Car Roof Top Magnet, commonly used by Taxi drivers around the world.
The Car Roof Top Magnet is designed for applications where high shear strength is required with minimum scratching. It is a magnetic clamping assembly with a soft polyurethane coating. The soft polyurethane coating causes almost zero abrasion but gives a much higher surface friction.
Most magnets have a strong direct pull force but they can be made to slide along a surface with about 20% of the direct pull force when used on steel. The car roof top magnet has a strong direct pull force but the increased friction of the polyurethane means that it takes around twice the direct pull force to get the magnet to slide. This means that the car roof top magnet resists sliding along a ferromagnetic steel surface better than magnets without the polyurethane coating. It can provide immense resistance to shear forces when mounted on a smooth metal surface, as typically found on motor vehicle body parts.
This unique combination removes the risk of scratching paintwork – the polyurethane coating on the base of the magnet is relatively soft and therefore less likely to cause abrasion.
The polyurethane coating of the car roof top magnet also reduces the peel strength of the magnet, making it easier to remove from the metal surface when used for either interior or exterior applications.
The magnet system has zinc coated backing plates for corrosion resistance and there are a wide variety of designs with different screw holes or stud mountings.
The Car Roof Top Magnet is used in a wide range of applications including car roof signs, antenna clamp systems, vehicle tracking units, temporary signage, attaching to boards and pictures for clamping to metal partitions, etc. It is often called a ‘Taxi Magnet’ as it is used within the taxi signs attached to the car roof to hold them securely in place.
Please be aware note that magnets will not attract to panels are made of non-magnetic materials such as aluminium or carbon fibre; the majority of car panels have ferromagnetic mild steel content which magnets will attract strongly onto.
Another use is with use with doors. The unit can clamp onto mild steel strips on doors and provides a good clamping force with very little slip and low noise when clamping.
The Car Roof Magnet is also ideal for lighting fixing assemblies. It clamps securely to mild steel walls and girders with no damage to paintwork and no slippage on vertical surfaces, making it a superb choice for temporary and permanent lighting fixings.
For further information including prices and delivery, please view Car Roof Top Magnets on the e-Magnets UK website or contact our technical sales team on:
- sales.berkhamsted@buntingmagnetics.com
- call us on 01442 875081
- Via the website