Not all magnets are equal! Let's discover why.
Every magnet has two poles - positive and negative - that work together to complete its magnetic circuit. Invisible lines of magnetic energy called "flux lines" exit the magnet from the negative pole, seeking to re-enter through the positive pole. The energy created by these flux lines creates the magnetic field.

The Evolution of Nikken’s Magnet Design

Stage 1: Single-Pole Surface Magnets
The oldest type of magnet is the single-pole surface magnet. Each side of this type of magnet consists of a single pole. When viewed through Nikken’s exclusive Magna-View™ Sensor, this type of magnet looks a lot like an eclipse - a big, black dot with a halo effect around the perimeter. The halo you see is caused by the magnetic field, transitioning from negative to positive, as the flux lines enter the positive pole area on the other side. This is one of the most common types of magnets used in our industry.

Stage 2: Alternating Pole Magnets – Linear Design
The next type of magnet featured alternating "stripes" of negative and positive poles, so the flux lines wouldn’t travel as far to complete their circuit. This was a superior magnet for use in active products like insoles, pads and wraps. However, it still had its drawbacks. The stripe design limits the alternating magnetic field from covering all the angles on the surface of the magnet.

Stage 3: Alternating Pole Magnets – Circular Design
In an attempt to provide alternating poles which cross more angles, the circular design was developed as an improvement of the basic, alternating-pole magnet. Although it provided a wider variety of angles of alternating poles, the circular design still wasn’t quite good enough - unless it was positioned exactly centrally. Other companies still utilise this technology today, in products such as insoles and pads. These products often feature small, circular-designed disks side by side. It’s important to recognise that only certain areas are magnetised using this technology. So, not only are many angles missed, but the entire area outside the magnet’s circles is missed completely.

Stage 4: A Nikken Exclusive – The Patented Checkerboard Design
Nikken recognised the limitations of the existing magnet designs. So its engineering experts set out to create an entirely new design - and they succeeded. Nikken’s patented checkerboard design achieved the primary objective - it enabled many more angles to be crossed by alternating poles. In addition, this superior-quality magnet could be used throughout large areas of product, to completely cover the surface of the product - for 100% magnetic coverage. At first glance, it seemed that Nikken had created the perfect magnet.

Stage 5: A Nikken Exclusive – The Patented Equilateral (EQL) Magnetic Design
Our product development engineers were not content with their success. They immediately set out to improve on their checkerboard design! And they created the Equilateral Magnetic design. You may know it as "the triangular board design." A recent technological discovery pointed their research toward something called "field gradient". It was discovered that field gradient was the most important determining factor in the quality of magnets for active products such as insoles, pads and wraps. When viewed under Nikken’s exclusive Magna-View™ Sensor, you can see dark, triangular magnetic areas, separated by light halos. In the centre of each triangle, the magnetic field is the strongest. This design causes a landscape of peaks and valleys of magnetic energy all across the magnet’s surface. These steep peaks and valleys of magnetic energy are called "steep field gradient". The EQL design could also cover all the angles on the entire surface of the magnet! This cutting edge development in magnetic technology makes Nikken’s products truly unique.

The next stage: Flexible, stretchable magnets
Fortunately, the scientists and engineers who work with Nikken can imagine technical innovations that others would never dream about. Nikken’s product development researchers then took their advanced technology to a new level by creating an entirely new product category – flexible, stretchable magnets! EQL Magnetic Technology and flexible Elastomag material are a perfect match. EQL provides a perfectly even, consistent magnetic area. And Elastomag makes it possible to produce a wrap where the entire surface is magnetic. Only a truly visionary group of thinkers could come up with an idea like the Elastomag. Elastomag is the only flexible, stretchable wrap with EQL Magnetic Technology. The only magnetic wrap that’s completely magnetic. The only wrap that has Nikken Far-Infrared Technology, to provide comfortable, breathable warmth (see separate link on Nikken’s Far-Infrared Technology to find out more). And with orthopedic design, the only wrap to offer all of these features together, in a single product. The new Elastomag Support Wraps – an idea like this could only come from Nikken.