Timeline

Innovations: A Timeline

1922
Major William E. Hoke discovers the magnetic particle crack-finding method during World War I.

1929
A.V. de Forest and F.B. Doane form A.V. de Forest Associates in Pittsburgh, PA.

1929-1934
Years of Development - Doane begins setting up a lab for making magnetic powder and garnering interest.

Doanne

1933
Charles A. McCune is hired to sell to several large and important corporations in the New York area.

1934
The partnership that was formed incorporates and gains the name MAGNAFLUX.

1934 & 1935
de Forest is awarded the companies first patents for: particles of varying dimensions and magnetic characteristics; particles individually coated with lubricating material; and particles coated with non-magnetic material.

1935
C.E. Betz joins MAGNAFLUX as Technical Director to improve the formulation and manufacture of the powders and pastes used in the wet method.

1936
MAGNAFLUX headquarters move to Chicago, IL.

1936
Army and Navy Air Corps agree on a MAGNAFLUX standard to be used in their overhaul shops.

1936-1939
MAGNAFLUX grows from nine to twenty-five employees.

1937
The K-3 portable magnetic particle unit is built to utilize alternating current to inspect railroad parts.

1938
H series is designed to inspect railroad car axles. It becomes instrumental in the concept of low-cost inspection of large volumes.

1938
MAGNAFLUX hires more engineers to help contribute expertise and develops an ingenious 30-point motorized tap switch to keep closer control over the alternating current and an easier way to demagnetize after inspection.

1939
MAGNAFLUX adds strain gauges to its product line which were natural companions in laboratories.

deForest

Betz

1940
Due to growing demand and personnel, a new location is found for MAGNAFLUX, resulting in 11,000 sq. ft., 3,000 additional sq. ft. for office space and 35,000 sq. ft. of vacant adjacent land.

1940
Principles of MAGNAFLUX Inspection is published. Containing 133 pages and 60 illustrations, it becomes the definitive textbook on magnetic particle inspection. To date, 65,000 copies of various editions have been reprinted with the most recent containing 525 pages and 227 illustrations.

1941
World War II - The demands of the war spur many engineering designs and developments such as: specifications for mil specs and baskets for testing tremendous numbers of bolts in aircraft manufacturing; conveyorized high production line test units for inspecting projectiles; the KQ-1 portable rectifier-powered D.C. model and XB-2A powder blower.

1941
Robert C. Switzer meets with Doane regarding his U.S. patent on a method and materials for Fluorescent Magnetic Particle Inspection. These new fluorescent magnetic particles are christened Magnaglo®. A new NDT method is borne out of this discovery and the nonmagnetic fluorescent penetrant method is created. It is given the name Zyglo®.

1941-1945
Over 55 lecture courses are given and approximately 5,000 people (customers) are shown how to use MAGNAFLUX properly. Zyglo is added in 1942.

1942
Aeronautical engineer Greer Ellis is granted a patent for Stesscoat®, a brittle coating used in quantitative stress analysis. During that same year, Continental Motors uses Stresscoat® for design/weight reduction and gets published in LIFE magazine giving widespread exposure to MAGNAFLUX.

1942
MAGNAFLUX participates in national advertising campaigns in such business publications as Metal Progress, Aviation Age, Railway Age, Steel, and Iron Age.

1943
Spotcheck® tool box packaging is used for engine maintenance and even nuclear plant inspections. This test system uses the idea of visible dye penetrants.

1943
Peak production year! During this time, A.V. de Forest performs MAGNAFLUX and Zyglo inspections for the first atomic reactor built at the University of Chicago and used in the production of the atomic bombs released during the war.

1945
World War II ends.

1947
MAGNAFLUX starts producing the ultrasonic resonance thickness measuring device called the Sonizon.

1947
Statiflux®, a method of locating cracks in glass, porcelain enamel, plastics and other non-conductors is created. It is generally referred to as the "electrified particle" inspection method.

1947
Another new inspection method, Partek® is invented. It works on the principle of differential absorption and is typically termed the "filtered particle" inspection method.

1953
Headquarters moves locations again into a specifically designed building containing 74,000 sq. ft. on 400,000 sq. ft. of land.

1953
MAGNAFLUX publishes MAGNAFACTS, full of application stories and technical explanations of methodology.

1957
The ED-500 eddy current instrument, named for its inventor, was sold to Pratt & Whitney to help scan spark plug ports in their DC-6 aircraft.

1958
Bondcheck® was created to help with the thermographic process testing new honeycomb-sandwich panels for the B-70 bomber project.

1959
General Mills purchases MAGNAFLUX from Bic Doane who retires after 30 years.

Magnafacts 1953

1960
The FM-100 electrical conductivity meter helps to measure the magnetic and electrical characteristics of pieces.

1963-1972
General Mills wants to focus on consumer goods and sells MAGNAFLUX to Champion Spark Plug Company.

1966
MAGNAFLUX adds 42,000 sq. ft., bringing the total area to 150,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space.

1969
MAGNAFLUX creates a unique x-ray tube development by combining a metal and ceramic tube with no glass envelope. As a result, it is very rugged and can withstand mechanical shock that would normally break a glass tube.

Magnafacts 1967

Magnafacts 1969

1973
Peabody International makes an offer to buy MAGNAFLUX from Champion. They accept, making MAGNAFLUX a wholly owned subsidiary.

1974
The 150KV portable "doubler" x-ray unit is a major improvement in the radiation output and reliability of the equipment.

1977
The 160/320KV constant potential model has the highest quality radiation output and the greatest application flexibility. The first practical application using laser scan flaw detection is applied to roller bearing rollers.

1979
After 50 years of nondestructive testing innovation, MAGNAFLUX is the most trusted name in the NDT industry and the world's largest NDT supplier, employing nearly 1,000 people in manufacturing and testing services.

Magnafacts 1977

1981
Peabody Int'l spins off MAGNAFLUX and several other corporations to form GEO International.

1985
Ownership changes again when Chicago-based Illinois Tool Works, Inc. (ITW) purchases MAGNAFLUX Quality Services (MQS). ITW allows MAGNAFLUX to focus on NDT manufacturing of equipment and materials.

1986
MAGNAFLUX organizes into three separate business units: MAGNAFLUX Products (magnetic particle and dye penetrant systems), MAGNAFLUX X-Ray, and MAGNAFLUX Electronic Products (eddy current and ultrasonic).

1987
MAGNAFLUX installs the first of many enclosed, automated penetrant systems at the Naval Air Rework Facility in Norfolk, Virginia.

1989
MAGNAFLUX opens a new 50,000 sq. ft. chemical plant in DeWitt, Iowa to produce all dye penetrant and magnetic particle materials. State-of-the-art production systems mean shorter turnaround time for customer shipments.

1990
To help customers safely and economically dispose of penetrant wastewater, MAGNAFLUX introduces a family of high performance Ultrafiltration units with processing capacities ranging from 50 - 4,000 gallons per day.

1991
The new MAGNAFLUX ZB-100 becomes the industry's most popular black light almost overnight because it is the safest and most comfortable hand-held black light ever developed for fluorescent inspections.

1992
The Electronic and X-Ray Products business units are divested to focus on the inspection technologies that made MAGNAFLUX famous.

1993
MAGNAFLUX introduces a completely new family of multi-directional equipment for magnetic particle testing. The MD-1000 Series is designed for minimum part handling and increased production capacity with "single shot" part processing.

1994
The chemical laboratory in DeWitt, Iowa develops a new generation of MAGNAFLUX cleaners and solvents that are safer for customers and the environment because they do not contain ozone-layer depleting substances (OLDS).

1995
MAGNAFLUX introduces Resonant Inspection (RI) systems. Used successfully for many years in other applications, the technology is adapted for nondestructive testing.

1995
A 32,000 sq. ft. facility opens for production in Manchester, Iowa. All magnetic particle and penetrant equipment is manufactured in the Manchester plant.

1996
After 43 years at the Lawrence Ave. address, MAGNAFLUX vacates the old building and moves its sales, marketing and administrative office to the ITW campus in Glenview, Illinois.

9/1/04
Equipment Manufacturing was consolidated to DeWitt, IA.

1994
MAGNAFLUX introduces new Semi-Automatic Penetrant Spray System Developed.

1994
New 14A Aqua-Glo MPI Water Bath developed to meet all major specifications.

1994
PeneCert Materials Testing Services offers Two Levels of Service to fit customers needs.

1996
MAGNAFLUX introduces Spotcheck/Zyglo Jr. portable liquid penetrant kit.

1997
MAGNAFLUX introduces its Flat Magnetizing Coil for use with MPI Equipment and Power Packs.

1997
NEW MagnaVu Cleaner is announced. Finally a cleaner developed specifically for NDT use.

1997
New Y-8 Battery Powered, Portable Black Light introduced.

1998
MAGNAFLUX Rolls out Extensive Web Site

1999
MAGNAFLUX Adds Material Certification, MSDS, PDS capability to their website.

1999
MAGNAFLUX introduces Scrubs in a Bucket to its product line.

2000
Contest reveals that MAGNAFLUX has many MPI units still in use in the field that were built in the 1940's and 1950's and are still in use. Our contest winner was a company named, Speciality Bar, who owned a unit that was built in December 9, 1942.

2000
MAGNAFLUX introduces new MD3-2060 Unit Series with Programmable Logic Controls (PLC)

2000
NEW Zyglo ZA-28 with Dry Developer Collection System manufactured.

2001
MAGNAFLUX acquires Daraclean Aqueous Cleaning Line

2001
MagnaPure Waste Water System is introduced as the MAGNAFLUX's liquid penetrant wastewater solution.

2002
Zyglo Scan Technology is Introduced

2002
NEW MPI Powder Blower is introduced to the MAGNAFLUX Accessory Line.

2002
NEW State of the Art D-2060 Units with new ergonomic design is rolled out.

2002
Brand New ZB-100FMB Black Light introduced for situations when you are checking large parts and wish to energize your MPI Equipment directly from your black light.

2003
MAGNAFLUX redesigns their Spotcheck, Zyglo and Magnetic Particle Kits.

2003
Zyglo and Spotcheck Pens are introduced for customers who wish to have a simple means to rework small areas.

2003
MAGNAFLUX is storing product in their NEW China Warehouse showing commitment to international growth.

2003
NEW ZB-150 FSB (Self Ballasted Black Light) is introduced.

2003
MAGNAFLUX obtains "free television advertising" from the April 3rd "Precious Metals" episode, of CSI, Crime Scene Investigation. CSI featured both the Y-7 Yoke and #8A Red powder. The show showed how our products can be used to reveal serial numbers.

2004
MAGNAFLUX introduces NEW Tam Panel Cleaning kit.

2004
NEW ZB-240 Cool Max Black Light overhead light fixture is introduced.

2004
MX displays global presence at 16th Annual World Conference.

2005
NEW Global Website is Rolled Out, allowing customers to choose their country to be connected to the appropriate MAGNAFLUX company.

2005
NEW Zyglo ZA-1227 and ZA-1633 replace ZA-28 and ZA-37.

2005
Daraclean 282 and 282GF receives Rolls Royce approval.

2005
NASA Contractor (ATK Thiokol) Awards MAGNAFLUX as valuable quality supplier in the manufacturing of their ATK's Reusable Solid Rocket Motor (RSRM) for NASA..

2006
MAGNAFLUX announces the New Generation of 2000 Series, Mobile Power Packs.

2006
NEW MPI 30 Gallon Portable Spray System now available

2006
NEW Digital Test Meter is available.

2006
New Ergonomic Prod Sets are now available.

2007
MAGNAFLUX/ITW acquires Quasar International, Process Compensated, Resonant Test.

2007
MAGNAFLUX introduces new line of Ultrasonic Thickness Gages (MT-21 and MT-2100 Series) Product Line.