This section provides an overview for dc solenoids as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 11 dc solenoid manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked dc solenoid companies as of November, 2024: 1.Ross Engineering Corp., 2.Strahman Group, 3.Governors America Corp. (GAC).
Table of Contents
A DC Solenoid is an electrical component that converts the electrical energy of electromagnetic force applied to a coil into mechanical energy for linear drive by a moving iron core.
Its function as an actuator is realized by a component that combines a coil with a movable iron core. A typical solenoid is based on a pull-type motion to retract the movable iron core.
By combining various movable iron core tip shapes and driving parts, movements such as "pull, push, stop, strike, and bend" can be achieved at low cost. Therefore, DC solenoids are used not only in industrial machinery applications such as home appliances, ATMs, vending machines, ticket checkers, and automatic doors, but also in various applications in our daily lives.
DC Solenoid is used in a wide variety of applications for machines and devices around our daily life because of its controllability and responsiveness, as well as its movable iron core and tip shape, which enable various movements such as pulling, pushing, stopping, hitting, and bending at low cost.
Major applications include coin sorting machines in vending machines, automatic doors and ticket gates on train platforms, locking mechanisms in parking lots and automatic doors, control devices in ATMs, and delivery boxes installed in condominiums and convenience stores.
The principle of DC Solenoid is based on Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. The electrical energy of electromagnetic force flowing through a coil is converted into mechanical energy for linear drive by a movable iron core.
Compared to AC solenoids, DC solenoids do not generate inrush current when energized and are quieter than AC solenoids. Normally, a DC solenoid consists of the following components: a main frame, a coil, a spring, a fixed iron core, and a movable iron core.
When current flows through the coil, a magnetic field is generated at the same time, and the movable iron core is attracted to the fixed iron core by electromagnetic induction, enabling pull-type operation. While the coil is energized, the movable iron core is attracted to the fixed iron core, and when the coil is de-energized, the movable iron core returns due to spring force.
On the other hand, there is a push type that has a push bar on the fixed iron core to push out the push bar as soon as the movable iron core is attracted to the fixed iron core. By changing these tip shapes, various operations can be realized at low cost.
AC solenoids feature higher starting current and pull force than DC solenoids. However, if an AC solenoid is overloaded and locked during movement, a large current will continue to flow, resulting in coil burnout. Therefore, when adopting AC solenoids, it is important to design them with safety considerations such as thermal fuses and overcurrent protection.
On the other hand, DC Solenoid has a small current and low pull force, so even if a moving part is overloaded or locked, the coil will not be burned out, Therefore, it is necessary to select the right solenoid depending on the operating conditions.
A self-holding solenoid is a solenoid coil with a high-performance permanent magnet that is momentarily energized. The moving part, commonly called a plunger, is attracted and then held in place by the permanent magnet.
With its short energizing time, this linear movable type solenoid is ideal for electrical equipment aiming at ultra energy saving, and is an effective component for extending the operating life of storage batteries and lowering temperature rise, for example. There are two types of solenoids: a one-directional retention type in which the moving part attracts and holds in one direction when the coil is energized, and a two-directional retention type in which the moving part tries to move and hold in two directions by making a series connection of one directional retention type and passing electricity through each coil winding section.
Self-holding solenoids have two types of pole shapes: conical type and horizontal type for one-directional solenoids, and only conical type is standard for two-directional solenoids because the stroke is fixed. Since the magnetic pole shape is used according to the size of stroke and holding force, it is important to carefully check the specifications of each solenoid's characteristic curve in advance.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Littlefuse was founded in 1927 and headquartered in the United States. Littlefuse is a diversified industrial technology manufacturing company with customers globally. Littlefuse has products segments which are electronic, industrial, and transportation. Electronic segment products include fuses and fuse accessories, positive temperature coefficient resettable fuses, polymer electrostatic discharge suppressors, and varistors. Transportation products include blade, resettable, and high-current and high-voltage fuses, as well as battery cable protectors; fuses, switches, relays, circuit breakers, and power distribution modules. The Industrial segment offerings include contactors, transformers, and temperature sensors for use in renewable energy and energy storage systems, electric vehicle infrastructure, HVAC systems.
Ross Engineering Corporation, founded in 1964 and based in Campbell, California, is a manufacturer of a wide range of high-voltage electronic and electro-mechanical devices and is ISO 9001 certified. It stocks over 25 lines of high voltage devices such as voltmeters, relays, and probes used in several fields such as industrial plants, communication transmitters, and power supplies with ranges from 0.01mV to 1,200,000 V. The company is ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certified and has a calibration lab for testing and calibrating dividers, relays, and probes up to 450kV.
Jewell Instruments is headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire. The company serves industries such as aerospace, geophysical, railroad, laboratory, and data acquisition with various measuring devices and sensors. The company has five product segments: Inertial & Tilt Sensors, GEO Instruments & Sensors, Meters & Avionics, Data Acquisition Hardware, and Triplett Test Equipment Tools. Inertial & Tilt Sensors include accelerometers, inclinometers, and inertial measurement unit devices. GEO Instruments & Sensors includes economical high-precision and ultra-precision sensors. Meters & Avionics include panel meters, avionics, and solenoids.
BI-TORQ Valve Automation was founded in 1981 and is now part of STRAHMAN Group. BI-TORQ is a distributor of plant optimization and safety products including valves and actuators used in oil & gas, food & beverage, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and other industries. The company’s primary product lines include thermal shut-off valves, ball and butterfly valves, actuators, and knife gates. The company also sells accessories & repair kits including limit switches, NAMUR solenoids, and spring return handles.
Governors America Corp, also known as GAC, was founded in 1986 and based in Agawam, Massachusetts. GAC is a vertically integrated global distributor of engine control products. GAC serves industries including power generation, mining, transportation, heavy equipment, and marine industries and is AS9100:D and ISO 9001:2015 certified. GAC products are in categories such as actuators, speed controllers, gaseous fuel and ignition management systems, generators, and accessories. GAC’s product design capabilities include software design, electronic component design, as well as mechanical design.
TAKANO CO.,LTD., established in 1941 and located in Tokyo, Japan, is a developer and manufacturer of inspection and measurement systems. The company offers a range of products that include FDM, films, energy,and semiconductors. These systems are used for inspection, measurement, quality control, and research purposes in industries including electronics, automotive, energy, semiconductor, and medical sectors. TAKANO's solutions are used for ensuring product quality, optimizing manufacturing processes, and supporting research and development efforts in diverse applications.
Shinmei Electric Co.,LTD. was established in 1958 and is a manufacturer and supplier of electronic components based in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan. The company produces various electronic parts such as microswitch, solenoid, detection switch, tactile switch, and slide switch. The products have been applied in various usages such as office automation, home appliance, communication equipment, health equipment, and audio equipment. The company has obtained certificate of ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 standard certification.
ETO, founded in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, in 1948 is a manufacturer of drive components, sensors, and electronics. The company's product portfolio includes electronic braking systems with ABS and ESP functions, systems for camshaft valve control, automatic transmissions or injection systems of conventional. alternative drive systems and stationary hydraulics. The company serves markets including Automotive and Electric Vehicles, Transportation and Aerospace and Defense. The company provides services such as Product Selection Guidance, Engineering Support, New Product Design and Development and Custom Manufacturing.
NIDEC COPAL ELECTRONICS was established in Japan in April, 1967 as a specialty manufacturer of electronic components. NIDEC’s offerings have increased to serve the automotive, construction, medical equipment, FA equipment, analytical measuring equipment, and residential security industries. Among the offerings are components for LiDAR, railway pressure sensors, CPAP, dialysis, MRI, and ultrasonography machines, wireless base stations, and power tools. These components include switches, sensors, mirrors, motors, and fans.
Delta Electronics was founded in 1971 in Taipei, Taiwan. Delta Electronics is a global provider of power and thermal management solutions, serving power electronics, automation, and infrastructure. Delta’s power electronics division sells components such as inductors, power and system components such as industrial power supplies and external adapters, fans and thermal management such as DC brushless fans and motors, and automotive electronics. Automation includes industrial automation and building automation subdivisions. Infrastructure includes ICT infrastructure, energy infrastructure & industrial solutions, and display & visualization. Delta Electronics also provides solutions for data center, telecom energy, and EV charging.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Ross Engineering Corp. |
16.4%
|
2 | Strahman Group |
14.8%
|
3 | Governors America Corp. (GAC) |
9.8%
|
4 | ETO |
9.8%
|
5 | Jewell Instruments, LLC |
8.2%
|
6 | Hoshiden Co., Ltd. |
8.2%
|
7 | NIDEC COPAL ELECTRONICS |
8.2%
|
8 | Delta Electronics, Inc. |
6.6%
|
9 | Littelfuse, Inc |
6.6%
|
10 | TAKANO CO.,LTD. |
6.6%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the dc solenoid page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 5 | 50.0% |
Japan | 4 | 40.0% |
Taiwan | 1 | 10.0% |