THE STORY: In 1954, George E. Colby and Robert L. Stevenson founded Magnetic Seal Corp. in Smithfield, or MagSeal, and subsequently patented the first magnetically energized rotary seal in 1958. Now, close to seven decades in operation, MagSeal still is family owned, now based in Warren and routinely applies its technology and advances power systems in the aerospace, performance automotive, marine and other diverse industries.
› The MagSeal utilizes magnets, creating mechanical seals that prevent water or oil used by rotating equipment from leaking into the external environment, as well as preventing foreign debris from entering the system.
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› The company makes approximately 50,000 MagSeals per year. Retail prices for the seals are between $300 to $5,000 depending on the size and specifications.
› Boeing, Safran, Pratt and Whitney, Airbus, Honeywell, Rolls-Royce and General Electric are among the companies that use seals made by MagSeal.
› The seals are made of AlNiCo magnets, specialty alloys, O-rings and various grades of carbon graphite. Making the seals involves machining and grinding processes to achieve very tight tolerances required for performance of the part.
› It takes more than 23 people, depending on specification, between 26 to 38 weeks to make the seals. MagSeal currently employs 65.
