Eddy-current braking turns unwanted movement into heat with no contact and no wear. It is one of the cleanest ways to slow a fast-moving load smoothly and repeatably.
How it works
When metal moves past a magnetic field, small circulating currents — eddy currents — form inside the metal. These currents create a field of their own that pushes back against the movement, giving a braking force that only acts while things are moving. The force works across a small air gap, so nothing rubs and nothing wears, and the braking energy simply leaves as heat.
Where eddy-current brakes are used
They suit fast, repeated stops where friction pads would overheat, fade or wear out — from transit and launch systems to industrial handling. They also pair naturally with linear-motor propulsion, which is contactless in the same way.
Transit and people-movers
Smooth, quiet retardation that supplements or backs up the primary brake, with no pad dust and no fade on repeated service stops.
Launch and test systems
Roller-coasters, test sleds and catapult-style launchers, where a passive, contactless stop absorbs high energy reliably run after run.
Industrial and material handling
Controlled deceleration of moving carriages and conveyors, where wear-free operation and low maintenance matter more than holding torque.
Permanent-magnet vs powered
An eddy-current brake needs a magnetic field, and there are two ways to make it. A powered version uses electric coils, so the braking force can be switched on and off, but it needs a power supply and control. A permanent-magnet version uses fixed magnets and needs no power to brake, which makes it simpler and fail-safe if the supply is lost. Our product line is built around this approach.
- Permanent-magnet: no power needed to brake and fewer things to go wrong — best where you want dependable, always-on braking.
- Powered: braking you can switch on and off, at the cost of a power supply and control electronics — best where the brake must be commanded.
See our permanent-magnet brakes for the passive, no-power product.
Stopping vs holding
An eddy-current brake slows a moving load, but its force fades to zero as the load stops, so it cannot hold a vehicle still or on a slope by itself. Where something must be held in place, we add a mechanical brake that takes over once motion has stopped.
Why contactless matters
With no physical contact, there are no pads to wear out or fade, and performance stays consistent in rain, ice or on a slope. Maintenance is minimal, and the brake behaves the same way on its thousandth stop as on its first. Every brake is matched to its job and proven on computer models and full-duty simulation before anything is built, so we know it will perform — and stay within its temperature limits — from day one.
Related
Need a brake with no pads to fade?
Tell us the load, speed and stop rate, and we will size a contactless brake to suit.
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