Magnasphere

Reed switches have been ubiquitous across the broad range of security sensor systems in residential, commercial, and government applications. Originally invented in the 1930s for telecommunications, it served as the first line of defense in detecting unauthorized access through doors and windows. However, there’s an often-overlooked vulnerability that undermines its operational efficiency— magnetic defeat. Anyone can use a powerful magnet to easily defeat a reed switch sensor from the outside and gain entry undetected. This is precisely where Magnasphere builds a world of difference with its proprietary magnetic switch technology.

Founded in 2002, Magnasphere is a Wisconsin-based privately held company that specializes in delivering unrivaled magnetic switch technology to residential, commercial, and government security markets. “Our award-winning, patented technology creates new standards in the industry and serves as an affordable and effective alternative to decades-old reed switch sensors,” says Rick Kirschman, the President of Magnasphere.

At its core, Magnasphere’s technology uses the principle of spherical magnetism, where a magnetic sphere—that is not polarity sensitive—is attracted to a ferromagnetic bias ring. When an actuating magnet approaches the switch, the ball is attracted to this field and snaps to the bottom, contacting the electrode and case to close the switch. Built with the ability to respond to a magnet only within a restricted zone, the Magnasphere switch responds only to the actuating magnet. As a result, Magnasphere resists magnetic defeat or tampering and provides highest levels of security contacts adhering to UL 634 Level 2 high security standard for magnetic contacts and sensors.

Magnasphere’s technology and door contact products are highly sought after in the security industry for their robust construction, making them virtually unbeatable and unbreakable. “We pride ourselves on being the only provider of security switches that can potentially resist permanent contact welding when exposed to high voltage discharges,” adds Kirschman. The company’s durable all-metal construction approach prevents the products from breaking when handled roughly before, during, and after installation. The Magnasphere switch is also impervious to the swelling and shifting of doors and windows caused by extreme temperature shifts.

Having such a perfect line of capabilities enables Magnasphere to address the undetected security breaches that generally occur with easily exploitable and fragile reed switch sensors. This helps the company serve as the go-to partner for a wide range of residential, commercial, and government security applications, including the sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) in the U.S. military, national security, and intelligence parlance. More importantly, Magnasphere’s technology has now become the standard for use in the government and military SCIFs around the world.

Magnasphere’s patented magnetic switch technology creates a unique niche in industrial applications with its ability to sense ferrous metal targets along with other capabilities—robust construction and resistance to contact welding and magnetic tampering. The company’s switches have been integrated into a line of mercury-free tilt switch products utilizing this ferrous metal sensing capability and are in use globally in varied applications such as electric vehicle charging stations, kilns, traffic control equipment and handicap vehicles.

Behind Magnasphere’s immense success lies its team dedicated to pushing their boundaries to deliver the best technology solutions to clients. The company houses an unparalleled technical expertise with a team of highly skilled and certified engineers and designers who have extensive experience in magnetic, mechanical, and electrical design. “We’re not just a technology company; we also design, develop, and manufacture sophisticated products that can be easily integrated with a multitude of security solutions and industrial applications,” mentions Kirschman. As an agile company with innovation embedded in its DNA, Magnasphere always strives to enhance its value proposition while making its technology and products highly accessible to its clientele.