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Domain: magnequench.com
Stories and comments across the archive that link to magnequench.com.
Comments · 7
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better magnets for electric motors
3) Fans would do better with better magnets. e.g. higher cost.
I was magnet shopping last month, and ran across this article:
Neodymium Magnets Boost Fuel Efficiency: Higher efficiency motors, using neodymium-iron-boron magnets, reduce loading on alternators and batteries.
The company rebuilt electric motors on a car to use super-powerful rare-earth magnets (instead of cheap ceramic magnets), and found that the amps drawn decreased significantly. It's more than just a swap-out though - I think they had to re-wind the motor's wire coils... -
Patents...???
I'm sorry but I can't resist
Quote from magnequench:
Assistant Majority Whip Mike Pence (R-Ind.), who serves on the House Science Committee and whose Indiana district includes the Magnequench world headquarters, stated that "America?s technological leadership is its future. We need to make sure that those who steal intellectual property are brought to the bar of justice."
I still can't accept this when America has such a lame patent acceptance. Just about anything and everything people can think of gets patented in America even before it's actually been created, sometimes it is never intended to be created. Then when someone outside of America comes up with the goods, the patent filed in America comes into play an stifles the innovation created elsewhere.
I wouldn't be surprised to find that when we run out of healthy air to breathe because of the push by a certain firm to use their disgusting HFC patent to peddle products. That they also hold the patent on a device to produce breathable air and any other form used to do this will be an infringment.
All I can say is "Go Nature".
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Re:What I would like...Lots of countries don't give a fried fart about U.S. patents -- outside the U.S. However, they cannot participate in our economy unless they do 'respect' them here.
Interestingly, the U.S. was the "China" of its day when the country was first founded (with a little more freedom for its citizens, of course). Cheap manufacturing, a lack of regard for copyrights and patents from other countries. Plus, the U.S. defaulted on its debts quie a bit.
Slightly hypocritical of us to complain about people doing that to us, now...
Some other people have noted that Magnequench is a Chinese company -- but their World Headquarters is in Anderson, Indiana. So they look like a U.S. firm. They have a "Technology Center" in the RTP area, just up the road from me. They make their materials in China. The Chairman of their Board is Chinese.
However, according to their "timeline," General Motors, Sumitomo Metals and the Chinese Academy of Sciences all discovered neodymium-iron-boron magnets in 1982. Magnequench was created as a "business unit" of GM in 1986. Then, in 1995,
Beijing San Huan New Material High-tech, Inc., China National Non-Ferrous Metals Import & Export Corporation, and an investment group led by Sextant Group, Inc. acquire Magnequench and establish Magnequench International, Inc
So, yes, they appear to be a Chinese company now.
Apparently Sumitomo Special Metals Co. licensed the magnet technology to San Huan New Material High-Tech Inc., which sells the stuff through Beijing San Huan International Trading Co. Sumitomo has this notice on their website:
"Notice : In the United States of America and Canada, you may use Sintered Neodymium-Iron-Boron Permanet Magnets, as the piece part magnet or as it's assembly, manufactured by the [above] licensees ONLY. Use of Sintered Neodymium-Iron-Boron Permanent Magnets made by non-licensee is prohibited by the Patent Law of the United States of America and Canada."
Sumitomo is a Japanese company that got its start in 1918 as Sumitomo Steel Works, Ltd. So it appears that, even though GM invented the stuff here, they sold it to the Chinese who now license it from the Japanese.
Ninbo Konit Industries Inc. is the only Chinese licensee of Magnequench and Sumitomo. They are also the largest manufacturer of NdFeB magnets in China. They are located in the "Ningbo Economic and Technical Development Zone" in Xiaogang, China. I.e., one of the pseudo-capitalist (mercantilist, really) enclaves in otherwise Communist China. Konit is actually owned by San Huan High-Tech New Materials. Apparently Tridus of Rancho Domingo, California founded San Huab New Materials in a joint venture with the Chinese Academy of Science. They claim to be "the only legitimate importing and marketing company for Chinese Sintered Neodymium Iron-Boron permanent magnets in North America."
Apparently these infringement suits have been going on for a while. In 1995, a suit was originated in the PRC and Hong Kong by Crucible Materials Corporation against San Huan New Materials, Tridus and Ningbo Konit, among others. Violation of patent #4,588,439 ("Oxygen containing permanent magnet alloy") was found and a Cease and Desist issued.
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Does anyone bother reading the articles any more?
You know, aside from the obvious "yet-another-patent"-ness of this, there actually are some interesting points to be made, that if anyone (!) had bothered to read the actual article(s), they might have picked up on.
For instance, "Magnequench" is not some Johnny-come-lately. They started as a division of GE back in the mid-'80s. The magnet technology was originally discovered in 1982, and they've had a production plant in operation since 1986. They have physical plants in both the US and China. They actually produce the products that they are suing over, as opposed to a lot of the business-method parasites usually discussed in these forums.
And incidentally, in 1995 the whole shebang was acquired by a Chinese holding company. Yes, a Chinese company suddenly has the potential to drastically affect a large portion of the American computer-manufacturing market. Does anyone think *that* might have interesting repurcussions worth discussing?
And FYI, here is the link to Magnequench's patent guide, which actually lists all of their patents (see especially 5172751), including their so-called philosophy, in case anyone feels like doing more than just barking today.
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Does anyone bother reading the articles any more?
You know, aside from the obvious "yet-another-patent"-ness of this, there actually are some interesting points to be made, that if anyone (!) had bothered to read the actual article(s), they might have picked up on.
For instance, "Magnequench" is not some Johnny-come-lately. They started as a division of GE back in the mid-'80s. The magnet technology was originally discovered in 1982, and they've had a production plant in operation since 1986. They have physical plants in both the US and China. They actually produce the products that they are suing over, as opposed to a lot of the business-method parasites usually discussed in these forums.
And incidentally, in 1995 the whole shebang was acquired by a Chinese holding company. Yes, a Chinese company suddenly has the potential to drastically affect a large portion of the American computer-manufacturing market. Does anyone think *that* might have interesting repurcussions worth discussing?
And FYI, here is the link to Magnequench's patent guide, which actually lists all of their patents (see especially 5172751), including their so-called philosophy, in case anyone feels like doing more than just barking today.
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Karma whorin' for Jesus
Magnequench have a handy guide to their own patents. Bonus points awarded to those who post hyperlinks to US Patents 4496395, 4851058, 4802931, 5411608, 4902361, etc.
Magnequench! Leading innovation in Nd-Fe-B magnets, because only we own the license to innovate! -
Patents are described here
Magnequench (what a name - nearly as lame as Traf-O-Data
It says they have most of them till around 2007 in the States in a bit earlier in Europe and Japan. Guess they wanna max their profits before it's expire time. BTW, the company should be listed as MQI in the Hong Kong stock exchange, but I can't find it anywhere.
-Kraft