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MPI History

MPI, based in southeastern Michigan, is a worldwide provider of both magnetic and non-magnetic material handling solutions. MPI leads the industry by continuously engineering inventive magnetic equipment and advancing customer education, though significant investments in research and development and proactive product training.

Founded in 1981, MPI was formed to advance development of permanent magnet technology used in industry. Along with the company’s initial mission to engender research and development, the founders also focused on customer education, which would allow users to better select and maintain purchased equipment. These cornerstone principles still guide the company and its management team. The year 2021 marks 40 years of business operations for MPI | Magnetic Products, Inc., the leading manufacturer of metal control solutions. MPI provides peace of mind by manufacturing reliable industrial magnetic and metal control equipment that removes contaminants, separates, or conveys metal in the production process. Inflation was at all-time high in 1981 when MPI's founder and CEO, Keith Rhodes, had a vision to substantially change the way magnets were designed and used in the industrial, metal forming and food industries. Keith knew that customers wanted education regarding the proper use, capabilities, and limitations of magnetic equipment. He also believed in an environment where highly skilled entrepreneurial people could collaborate in as a team and enjoy working to reinvent magnetic products and be rewarded for their success, so he set out to form MPI. The beginning years were tough. Keith did not foresee the hardships MPI would face as a new manufacturing company in a severe recession, but MPI weathered through the difficult 1980’s. Proving that an educated customer is an MPI customer, enabled the company to survive and thrive during those difficult early years to become the leader in product innovation. “I have always been fascinated with the rules of physics and how they drive the principles of magnets and related technologies such as metal detectors. I wanted to take that passion and share the basics of physics and how they relate to these products to fill the void where magnets can improve work efficiency,” states Keith Rhodes. “When it comes down to it, MPI helps educate manufacturers on how to control their metal. Whether using a conveyor to move metal, or a magnetic separator to capture and remove unwanted metals from a process line, MPI can provide a solution that exceeds our customer’s expectations.” MPI’s first products were designed for food production. Through attrition of food production process equipment, metal contaminants could potentially be introduced in the product flow and needed to be removed. By listening to customers’ needs to improve product quality, reliability, efficiency, and plant safety standards, MPI introduced a complete line of manual quick-cleaning and automatic self-cleaning permanent magnetic separators. “Magnets need to be cleaned to operate at peak performance.” Rhodes adds “At the time, not all plant operations had the staff for maintaining regular cleaning cycles or the ability to reach some of the magnet installation locations”. MPI revolutionized the overall performance and reliability of magnetic separation equipment by designing the Easy Manual Quick-Clean and Automated Self-Cleaning permanent magnets. Soon, MPI’s new concepts became the industry standard. Headquartered near Detroit, The Motor City, Rhodes knew the importance of the region’s reliance on automotive manufacturing. By hearing the struggles of local companies, Rhodes sought to assist industrial manufacturers with the necessary solutions to move parts or scrap metal throughout their facilities without equipment failure. MPI established a full line of conveyor products that improve production throughput by providing the most reliable parts handling and scrap removal equipment. Never settling for the status quo, the company set an industry record by building the world’s longest single beltless magnetic conveyor at 101’ long. Products continue to evolve with the recent fabrication of a complete scrap metal conveying system measuring over 450’ long. Deemed as a critical infrastructure supplier during the Covid-19 pandemic, MPI remained operational and supplied products vital to the industrial, transportation, food, and healthcare industries. MPI continues to invent, engineer, manufacturer and service magnets, material handling and electronic inspection systems for thousands of domestic and international companies.

MPI’s first goal was to improve the performance of permanent magnetic separators. Within five years, MPI was to implement dramatic changes in equipment design that remain in place today. As a result of MPI’s engineering and development, easy-to-clean manually operated permanent magnets and self-cleaning automatic permanent magnetic separators are common worldwide. MPI is proud to have set the industry standard for permanent magnet separator equipment design and performance.

As MPI has grown over three decades, the same focus on product development and improvement has remained, and has been expanded to include magnetic conveying, automation and material handling equipment systems as well as metal detection.

From its beginnings, MPI recognized the need to educate customers to understand, evaluate and specify their applications, as well as to select and maintain magnetic equipment. Promoting and sponsoring industry education ensures that users are able to determine and understand both the expectations and limitations of equipment before investments are made. A basic understanding of the workings of magnetic equipment allows users to determine whether existing equipment can meet process expectations or whether new equipment should be considered. MPI staff is frequently invited to speak at multinational corporations, engineering firms, industry associations and educational institutions on topics related to magnets and their application in industry.

Going forward, MPI will continue its tradition of advancing product performance and expanding its line of metal control systems and material handling equipment solutions. By interacting closely with its customers and focusing on a market-driven product line, MPI has positioned itself to readily meet the challenges of today’s dynamic global economy.

MPI History Timeline

2021

MPI patents Intell-I-Mag® the revolutionary next step in magnetic separation

Releases Magnet Audit 2.0 program

MPI celebrates 40 years of business operations

2020

MPI expands Automation and Workholding products

2019

MPI builds a 224′ Beltless Magnetic Conveyor Central Scrap System

MPI patents the Sanitary Toolless Drawer Magnet

2017

MPI standardizes all equipment on American-made drive packages

2017

All MPI Regional Sales Managers become Certified Food Safety HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) managers

2015

MPI begins offering subscribed service plans for continued product validation

MPI receives USDA certification in the dairy category and meat and poultry category for its plates, grates, drawers, and liquid trap magnets

MPI patents a magnetic separator system for the recycling industry

2014

MPI patents its electric shakers

MPI adds checkweigh and X-Ray inspection to its electronic inspection product line

2013

MPI becomes a certified UL/ETL 61010-1 USA & CSA/Canada and 508A electrical panel shop

2012

MPI launches its new noble purpose statement: Protecting and Moving the World through Innovation

2011

MPI celebrates its 30th anniversary

2010

MPI becomes the distributor for Cassel metal detection and checkweighing equipment

MPI patents its first-generation electric shaker conveyors

2007

MPI becomes the distributor for Eclipse Magnetics products in North America

2006

MPI patents the seal-less pneumatic shaker conveyor and introduces the next generation electric shaker

2001

MPI patents the seal-less pneumatic beltless magnetic conveyor

MPI patents its automatic Self-Cleaning Drawer Magnet

2000

MPI’s founder is profiled for his business success and continued growth.

1995

MPI introduces its pneumatic shaker

MPI is featured in the Detroit Free Press for its growth into Europe and Mexico.

MPI expands its manufacturing facility, doubling capacity

1994

MPI’s building wins an award and is featured in Metal Construction News Magazine.

1993

July 1, 1993 – MPI relocates to Highland, Michigan, into its newly constructed state-of-the-art R&D and manufacturing facility, more than doubling its current operations

January 21, 1993 – Groundbreaking of the future site of MPI’s current manufacturing facility.

1991

MPI patents the reciprocating Drawer Magnet

1990

MPI begins its metal fabrication services business unit

1989

MPI patents the magnetic can-laner conveyor

1985

MPI relocates and doubles its manufacturing operations

1984

MPI introduces Magnet Audit Services

1983

MPI introduces its first version of the educational training presentation “A Magnet is Not Just A Magnet”

MPI introduces the first generation family of self-cleaning permanent magnetic separators with its Self-Cleaning Chute Magnets

1981

MPI begins operations in Walled Lake, Michigan

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