When you’re responsible for keeping a feed mill running, the word explosion is one you never want to hear. Yet news stories about dust fires and factory explosions are becoming all too common in the industry. An often-overlooked safeguard in feed mill safety is capturing and clearing tramp metal before it reaches the roller mill during operation.
RMS Territory Manager Luke Zebroski sat down with Kyle Peterson, one of RMS’s engineers, to talk about how magnets fit into a grinding line, why automatic magnet cleaning is changing the game, and what facilities can do right now to reduce risk.
What’s the Real Risk?
“The two main risks we see with people who don’t have magnets are the large pieces of foreign material—like bolts and nuts—that would go through [the grinding equipment] and cause mechanical damage. Also, a lot of these grinding operations are high-dust environments. So when you see that ferrous material go through our rollers, it can create sparks, which can lead to explosions,” Kyle explained.
Downtime from a broken roll is frustrating, but the greater risk is the chain reaction a single spark can trigger in a feed mill.
How Magnets Protect Your Operation
A magnet assembly is typically installed in front of the roller mill, directly in the material stream. As product flows toward the rolls, the magnet captures ferrous particles—everything from small shavings to larger objects like nails, bolts, or washers.
Removing tramp metal before it reaches the rolls prevents mechanical damage, extends the life of grinding equipment, and reduces the chance of sparks in a dust-heavy environment. That’s why many facilities view an industrial magnet for roller mills as a core safety component.
The Challenge: Manual Magnet Cleaning
Magnets only work if they’re maintained. A magnet covered in ferrous material can’t protect your equipment—or your team. But manual cleaning introduces several challenges:
- Inconsistency between operators
- Human error, such as forgetting to clean or not cleaning thoroughly
- Extra downtime during shutdowns
Kyle noted that manual cleaning itself isn’t unsafe—provided operators follow LockOut TagOut (LOTO) procedures and your facility’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Problems occur when operators skip steps or delay cleanings.
What Automatic Magnet Cleaning Does Differently
Manual cleaning leaves too much room for error, so RMS engineered a system that automates the process entirely.
“We developed an automatic magnet cleaner a few years ago, and the main purpose for that was to eliminate the human error of not remembering to clean your magnets or not cleaning them well enough. This is a pneumatic-driven magnet cleaner that’s set up with our automation. After a certain amount of time, that’ll swing a door open automatically and separate the ferrous material off of a stripping plate. It’ll fall into a catch tray, and then that material can be removed out of the catch tray manually.”
Roller mill automatic magnet cleaning prevents missed cleanings, cuts downtime and labor, and reduces exposure to safety risks in your facility.
How RMS’s Auto Magnet Cleaner Works
RMS’s automatic magnet cleaning system integrates directly with roller mill automation. Kyle explained that cleaning cycles can be scheduled based on the site’s needs—every hour, every shift, or whatever makes sense. The system is also equipped with sensors that prevent access while it’s operating, adding another layer of protection for operators.
Practical Steps for Maintenance Managers
Kyle recommends a simple strategy for getting started:
- Install magnets if you don’t already have them.
- Develop clear SOPs for cleaning, including strict LockOut TagOut.
- Train your staff on safe handling and magnet maintenance.
- Evaluate automation to see if an automatic system can counter risk and reduce downtime.
Is Automatic Magnet Cleaning Right for You?
What protects one mill may not be enough for another. RMS evaluates each operation individually to determine where magnets fit best and whether a manual or automated system will provide the most consistent protection.
If you’re interested in finding out which magnet is the right solution, or where it fits best in your process, feel free to reach out to RMS.
Protect Your Operation
Protecting your equipment and your crew starts with the right magnet strategy. Talk to the RMS team today about how our automatic magnet cleaning system can safeguard your grinding operation.
