Question 1

What magnetic materials does AIC Engineering manufacture?

Accepted Answer

We produce sintered, bonded, injection-molded and flexible NdFeB magnets, plus SmCo, SmFeN, AlNiCo and ferrite magnets. We also make Halbach arrays, magnetic couplers, encoders, magnetic adsorption assemblies, motor rotor assemblies and Hall-effect sensor magnets.

Question 2

Can you make custom magnets?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our engineers tailor grade, shape, coating and magnetisation pattern to your specification. Rapid prototyping is typically completed in 3–7 days before mass production.

Question 3

What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ)?

Accepted Answer

Stock shop items follow the store's order terms. Custom components vary by specification — contact our team for a project-specific quote.

Question 4

How long does production take?

Accepted Answer

Prototypes are usually ready in 3–7 days. Mass-production lead time depends on quantity, grade and finishing, and is confirmed with each quote.

Question 5

Are your products certified?

Accepted Answer

AIC Engineering is certified to ISO 9001, IATF 16949 and ISO 14001, with about 80% automated production and roughly 20% of revenue invested in R&D, backed by 40+ years of magnetic-materials expertise.

Question 6

Do you ship worldwide?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we ship worldwide and provide custom packaging on request.

Question 7

How do I request a quote or place an order?

Accepted Answer

Send your requirements (product type, quantity, dimensions, operating conditions) through our Contact page. Our online store is currently in testing, so confirmed orders are arranged with our sales team.

Question 8

Which industries do you serve?

Accepted Answer

We serve electric motors, consumer electronics, magnetic sensing, automation, automotive, new energy and medical applications, supplying customers worldwide.

Question 9

Does AIC have any branches or subsidiaries?

Accepted Answer

AIC Engineering Ltd. is an independent company with operations solely in Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

Question 10

What does AIC stand for?

Accepted Answer

AIC stands for "An Iron Calf." The company was founded in 1996 by Mr. Sonny Lau, who was 24 years old at the time. Embracing the fearless spirit of a "newborn calf that is not afraid of the tiger," he likened himself to an "Iron Calf." He deliberately added the word "An" to the beginning of the name to secure a top position in the alphabetical listings of telephone directories—thereby saving on advertising costs—which ultimately gave rise to the acronym AIC, a name now widely recognized within the magnetic industry.

Question 11

What engineering services does AIC Engineering offer?

Accepted Answer

Beyond manufacturing, we provide magnetic application design services: magnetic-circuit analysis, FEA field simulation (flux density, field distribution, force modelling), material selection, and full-cycle engineering support from concept through prototype to mass production. Our engineering team brings 40+ years of application expertise.

Question 12

Can AIC help design a custom magnetic circuit from scratch?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer end-to-end magnetic solution design — from defining requirements and selecting the optimal magnet grade, to FEA simulation, prototype fabrication (3–7 days) and production ramp-up. We optimise for performance targets such as field strength, torque, force uniformity and thermal stability.

Question 13

Where can I find definitions of magnetic-materials terms such as coercivity, remanence and Halbach array?

Accepted Answer

Our Magnetic Materials Glossary page (/glossary) provides concise definitions for coercivity (Hcb/Hcj), remanence (Br), maximum energy product (BH)max, Curie temperature, anisotropy, grain boundary diffusion, Halbach array and more — each entry links to related products so you can move from concept to selection in one click.

Question 14

How do I compare magnetic materials such as NdFeB vs SmCo, ferrite or AlNiCo?

Accepted Answer

The Magnetic Materials Comparison page (/compare) offers side-by-side tables for six common pairings — NdFeB vs SmCo, NdFeB vs ferrite, sintered vs bonded NdFeB, SmCo vs AlNiCo, NdFeB vs SmFeN and rigid vs flexible magnets — covering energy product, max operating temperature, temperature coefficient, corrosion resistance and cost, plus "when to choose X / when to choose Y" guidance and links to related products.

Question 15

Which magnet material should I choose for high-temperature environments?

Accepted Answer

For continuous use above 150–180 °C, SmCo is the primary choice — AIC supplies high-temperature grades with maximum operating temperatures up to 550 °C. Standard SmCo covers 250–350 °C; AlNiCo suits closed magnetic circuits up to ~500 °C where low Hcj is acceptable. Sintered NdFeB reaches 200 °C only in high-temperature grades (SH/UH/EH). See the comparison tables on /compare for temperature coefficient and selection guidance.

Question 16

Which material is best when corrosion resistance is critical and coatings are not allowed?

Accepted Answer

SmCo and SmFeN are intrinsically corrosion-resistant and usually need no coating, making them ideal for skin-contact, medical, marine or humid environments where nickel/zinc/epoxy coatings are unacceptable. Sintered NdFeB, by contrast, requires a protective coating. SmFeN also offers a low temperature coefficient (−0.05 %/°C), close to SmCo.

Question 17

What is the difference between sintered and bonded NdFeB?

Accepted Answer

Sintered NdFeB is ~3–4× stronger (35–52 MGOe) and used for high-performance motors and sensors, but is limited to simpler shapes produced by grinding/slicing. Bonded NdFeB (8–12 MGOe) is injection- or compression-moulded, enabling complex shapes, tight tolerances (±0.02 mm) and multi-pole/isotropic magnetisation, at the cost of lower magnetic strength and a 120–150 °C binder-limited temperature. See /compare for the full table.

Question 18

What is a Halbach array and what is it used for?

Accepted Answer

A Halbach array is an arrangement of permanent magnets that concentrates the magnetic field on one side while nearly cancelling it on the other, producing a stronger, more uniform single-sided field without extra material. It is used in magnetic couplers, eddy-current brakes, particle accelerators, magnetic levitation and high-field sensor targets. See the Halbach array entry on /glossary and related products.

Question 19

Can AIC supply high-temperature SmCo magnets for extreme environments?

Accepted Answer

Yes. AIC Engineering manufactures high-temperature samarium cobalt (SmCo) magnets rated for maximum operating temperatures up to 550 °C — beyond standard SmCo grades (250–350 °C) and typical AlNiCo limits (~500 °C). These magnets combine SmCo's low temperature coefficient, high intrinsic coercivity (Hcj) and excellent corrosion resistance, making them ideal for aerospace actuators, downhole oil & gas tools, turbo machinery and precision instrumentation. Share your temperature, field and mechanical requirements and our engineers will recommend the appropriate grade.

Question 20

How do I choose between NdFeB, SmCo and ferrite permanent magnets?

Accepted Answer

Start with four drivers: energy product (size), operating temperature, temperature stability and cost. NdFeB (35–52 MGOe) delivers the strongest flux per unit volume — choose it for miniaturised, high-performance designs (EV motors, sensors, consumer electronics) when continuous temperature stays below ~180 °C (SH/UH/EH grades to ~200 °C); it requires a protective coating and has a Br coefficient of about −0.12 %/°C. SmCo (16–32 MGOe) wins when temperature exceeds 150–200 °C, when flux must stay very stable (Br ~−0.03 %/°C — about 4× better than NdFeB), or when coating is undesirable; standard grades operate to 250–350 °C and AIC high-temperature grades reach 550 °C, with excellent corrosion resistance but cost typically 1.5–3× NdFeB. Ferrite (3.5–4.5 MGOe) is 5–10× cheaper, rare-earth-free and needs no coating, but is ~10× weaker — equal flux needs a much larger magnet; Br coefficient ~−0.18 %/°C and performance drops faster above ~150 °C. Best for cost-sensitive, high-volume uses where size is not constrained (speakers, magnetic chucks, simple motors). Quick rule: maximum flux in minimum volume below ~180 °C → NdFeB; high temperature, low drift or no coating → SmCo; lowest cost, size flexible → ferrite. See /compare for side-by-side tables or contact us with your operating conditions for grade and magnetic-circuit support.

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Permanent Magnet & Magnetic Component Manufacturer

Application Areas

Electric Motor Application

Consumer Electronics

Magnetic Sensing

Permanent Magnet Transmission

Magnetic Adsorption

Magnetic Therapy & Wellness

Products & Services

Magnetic Coupler

Magnetic Gear

Hall Effect Sensor Disc Magnet

Precision Rotary Encoder Magnet

Sintered NdFeB Magnet

Heavy-Rare-Earth-Free NdFeB Magnet

Sintered Samarium Cobalt (SmCo) Magnet

Ferrite Magnet

Professional magnetic materials and solution supplier

ISO Certified

Environmental Mgmt.

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High-Tech Enterprise

Frequently Asked Questions

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