Placid Industries
Placid Industries, founded 1973 and based in Elmira, NY, manufactures precision magnetic particle brakes, clutches, and hysteresis brakes for OEM manufacturers requiring smooth, current-controlled torque across industries such as wire and cable, packaging, medical, automotive, and textiles.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersElmira, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Placid Industries does
Placid Industries, founded in 1973 in Lake Placid, NY and now headquartered in Elmira, NY, manufactures precision magnetic particle brakes, magnetic particle clutches, and hysteresis brakes for OEM integration. Its core technology exploits magnetic particle and hysteresis principles to deliver torque that is proportional to input current and independent of shaft speed, enabling smooth, repeatable torque control across torque ranges from 1 oz.-in to 300 lb.-ft; hysteresis brake models produce frictionless torque across an air gap for long life at high RPM. The company complements its core products with constant-current power supplies, follower-arm potentiometers, ultrasonic sensors, and signal isolation cards to enable complete constant-tension winding systems, and it maintains a replacement-parts business for legacy machinery.
The company sells primarily direct to OEM manufacturers and test equipment integrators across verticals including fiber optics, wire and cable, paper and printing, packaging and labeling, medical, automotive, textiles, food processing, home and appliance, and consumer goods. Commercial off-the-shelf units ship same-day, and custom mounting patterns are available for specific application requirements. Geographic reach is claimed across the USA, Europe, and Asia, although operations are concentrated at a single Elmira site. Placid Industries operates as a division of SEPAC Inc., a complementary precision motion control parent company.
Placid Industries firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Placid Industries
- Legal name
- Placid Industries
- Website
- https://placidindustries.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Placid Industries, founded 1973 and based in Elmira, NY, manufactures precision magnetic particle brakes, clutches, and hysteresis brakes for OEM manufacturers requiring smooth, current-controlled torque across industries such as wire and cable, packaging, medical, automotive, and textiles.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Placid Industries industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Motion Control Components
- NAICS
- Mechanical Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (333613)
- SIC
- Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Electronic Components & Accessories (3670)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Brakes, Clutches & Couplings (Electromagnetic Brakes, Torque Limiters) (IMAGACAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Motion Control Electronics & Controls (Controllers, Drivers, Feedback Interfaces) (IMAHAGAJ)
Keywords
Where Placid Industries is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Elmira
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Placid Industries business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Magnetic Particle Brakes & Clutches: Sale of precision torque control devices including magnetic particle brakes, hysteresis brakes, and magnetic particle clutches. Products range from small units (torque from 1 oz.-in.) to large units (up to 300 lb.-ft.) with various cooling options (fan or pneumatic cooling for large units).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Commercial off-the-shelf products with same-day shipping |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Placid Industries product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Placid Industries designs, manufactures, and sells magnetic particle brakes, magnetic particle clutches, and hysteresis brakes for OEM torque and tension control applications. The company also supplies supporting components such as constant current power supplies, follower arm potentiometers, ultrasonic sensors, and signal isolation cards, along with custom replacement units for legacy machinery. Products are available as commercial off-the-shelf units with same-day shipping or as customized units with specific mounting patterns.
Product overview
Placid Industries offers a comprehensive portfolio of precision torque and tension control products for OEM applications. The core product line consists of Magnetic Particle Brakes (available in small models from B5ZD to B220 with torque ranges from 0.03 to 2500 N-cm, and large models including KB, PLB, and POB series with torque up to 400 Nm) and Magnetic Particle Clutches, both providing smooth, current-proportional torque control independent of shaft speed. Supporting the core brake and clutch products are Hysteresis Brakes for exceptionally smooth torque requirements, constant current Power Supplies for precise current control, Follower Arm Potentiometers and Ultrasonic Sensors for winding system feedback, and Signal Isolation Cards for system protection. The company also offers Replacement Magnetic Particle Brakes and Clutches for legacy machinery. These components are used across industries including Fiber Optics, Wire & Cable, Paper & Printing, Packaging & Labeling, Medical, Automotive, Food Processing, and Consumer Goods.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Magnetic Particle Brakes Self-contained magnetic particle brakes providing smooth and repeatable torque control where torque is proportional to input current and independent of shaft speed. Designed for OEM integration into tension control, load simulation, and soft stop applications, with torque ratings from 1 oz.-in to 300 lb.-ft. Available in small models (B5ZD through B220) and large models (KB, PLB, and POB series).
- Hysteresis Brakes Precision brakes delivering exceptionally smooth torque for torque and tension control applications. Torque is proportional to input current and independent of RPM, with frictionless torque production across an air gap for exceptionally long life even at high RPM. All models except H3 include the Cog-Buster feature. Torque ratings from 2.5 to 250 oz.-inches.
- Magnetic Particle Clutches Self-contained magnetic particle clutches providing smooth and repeatable torque transmission for tension control applications in OEM equipment.
- Power Supplies Constant current power supplies designed for use with magnetic particle brakes and clutches to provide precise current control for torque regulation in OEM systems.
- Follower Arm Potentiometers Precision potentiometers used in constant-tension winding systems for position sensing and feedback control.
- Ultrasonic Sensor Sensor used in winding and tension control applications for non-contact distance measurement and material detection.
- Signal Isolation Card Electronic component for signal isolation in control systems, used to protect sensitive electronics from noise and voltage spikes.
- Replacement Magnetic Particle Brakes Custom replacement brake units manufactured for specialty machinery that has been in use for decades, allowing customers to find replacements for existing machines.
- Replacement Magnetic Particle Clutches Custom replacement clutch units for legacy machinery and equipment that has been in operation for decades.
Companies that use Placid Industries
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments12 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Placid Industries technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Placid Industries partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- SEPAC Inc.corePlacid Industries became part of SEPAC Inc., continuing its tradition of quality manufacturing. SEPAC is a complementary precision motion control company, and Placid Industries operates as a division under SEPAC while maintaining its brand identity and product offerings for magnetic particle brakes and clutches.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Placid Industries competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Magtrol: Magtrol manufactures hysteresis brakes and dynamometers for torque testing and tension control — directly overlapping with Placid's hysteresis brake product line and serving similar test equipment OEMs.
- Warner Electric: Warner Electric is a leading manufacturer of electromagnetic clutches and brakes, directly competing with Placid in industrial electromagnetic torque control solutions for OEMs.
- Nexen Group: Nexen Group manufactures industrial clutches, brakes, and torque control products for OEMs across web tension and motion control applications — directly comparable to Placid's product portfolio.
- Ogura Industrial: Ogura Industrial manufactures electromagnetic clutches and brakes, including powder clutches/brakes, serving OEMs globally — direct competitor in magnetic particle torque control.
- Inertia Dynamics (Rexnord): Inertia Dynamics, a Rexnord brand, produces electromagnetic clutches, brakes, and power transmission products serving similar OEM torque/tension control applications as Placid.
- Merobel: Merobel (an SKF product line) specializes in electromagnetic powder brakes and clutches for tension control — directly comparable technology and use cases to Placid's magnetic particle products.
Broad incumbents
- Lenze SE: Lenze SE is a broad automation and motion control incumbent offering drives, motors, and components whose industrial automation portfolio intersects with Placid's torque/tension applications.
- Parker Hannifin: Parker Hannifin is a diversified motion and control technologies leader whose industrial clutches/brakes and electromechanical systems overlap with Placid's OEM torque control offerings.
- Magnetek: Magnetek manufactures electromagnetic and radio remote controls plus industrial brakes, with overlap in industrial electromagnetic motion control products serving OEMs.
- Moog Inc. Moog is a broad motion control incumbent offering precision components and systems that include electromagnetic actuation technologies adjacent to Placid's torque control products.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Placid Industries social profiles
Digital presencePlacid Industries financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Placid Industries leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Placid Industries funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Placid Industries M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Placid Industries
What does Placid Industries do?
Placid Industries designs, manufactures, and sells magnetic particle brakes, magnetic particle clutches, and hysteresis brakes for OEM torque and tension control applications. The company also supplies supporting components such as constant current power supplies, follower arm potentiometers, ultrasonic sensors, and signal isolation cards, along with custom replacement units for legacy machinery. Products are available as commercial off-the-shelf units with same-day shipping or as customized units with specific mounting patterns.
Is Placid Industries a public or private company?
Placid Industries is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Placid Industries founded?
Placid Industries was founded in 1973. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Placid Industries based?
Placid Industries is headquartered in Elmira, United States, in the North America region.
How does Placid Industries make money?
One revenue line is on record: magnetic Particle Brakes & Clutches.
Who are Placid Industries's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Magtrol, Warner Electric, Nexen Group, Ogura Industrial, Inertia Dynamics (Rexnord) and Merobel. Broad incumbents are Lenze SE, Parker Hannifin, Magnetek and Moog Inc..
Does Placid Industries have an API?
No public API is recorded for Placid Industries.
What industry is Placid Industries in?
Placid Industries's product category is Industrial Motion Control Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGACAK, Brakes, Clutches & Couplings (Electromagnetic Brakes, Torque Limiters), with a secondary code of IMAHAGAJ, Motion Control Electronics & Controls (Controllers, Drivers, Feedback Interfaces). Its NAICS code is 333613 and its SIC code is 3600.