Variohm Holdings has recently added Phoenix America, the magnetic encoder and magnetic sensor solutions specialist, to its group of companies. Based in Fort Wayne – IN, the designer, developer and manufacturer of high-resolution magnetic encoder and sensor technologies offers a comprehensive range of cost-effective absolute and incremental encoders, speed and proximity sensors, custom moulded magnets and more. The acquisition provides significant opportunities for both parties: a European marketing platform for Phoenix America and for the five European-based members of the Variohm Group, a USA sales and support channel for its various sensor, measurement and motion control solutions businesses.
Phoenix America was founded in 2000 after purchasing selected assets from the then leader in bonded magnet technologies for the disk drive industry, Xolox Inc. Consolidating its position as a USA market leader for non-contacting, highly robust magnetic sensors over these past twenty years through research and design innovation, the product range now spans several types of rotary encoder and sensor technologies including Hall Effect, GMR, AMR, Magnetoresisitive, reed switch and more. With its expertise centred on the magnetic compounds and magnetic targets as well as the final product design, the range offers specific cost and performance benefits for a wide variety of position feedback and measurement applications including servo motion control, flow sensing, renewable energy systems, textiles and paper processing, robotics and more.
In addition to the non-contacting nature of its magnetic sensor technologies, Phoenix America’s high resolution and high accuracy encoders rely only on the proximity of separate magnet and sensor electronics components – and so do not require bearings or drive shafts as do traditional encoders or other feedback devices. These fully sealed, encapsulated modular parts also provide durability advantages over fragile optical encoder technologies and so offer extremely long life, exceptional robustness and compact installation as well as cost-competitive pricing.
The designer and manufacturer also supplies other magnetic technology products including proximity sensors, speed sensors, angle sensors, gear tooth sensors, servo motor hall commutation sensors, magnet assemblies as well as a custom design services for specialised magnetic sensor applications. Phoenix America is one of the few magnet manufactures outside of Asia using their own developed compounds, internally designed and manufactured tooling and custom magnetising processes.
