What is Magnicon Research and Instrumentation?

Updated

Magnicon is a Berlin-based supplier of high-performance SQUID electronics, low-noise SQUID sensors, customized SQUID systems, metrology systems, and amplifier modules, positioning itself as a worldwide leader in these areas along with the associated measurement know-how. If you are evaluating it as a potential vendor for sensitive magnetic-field or low-noise current measurement, the site is organized around those product lines plus downloads, references, and company information.

What Magnicon offers

The homepage lists the company's product and service categories directly:

Category What it covers
SQUID Electronics Control and readout electronics for SQUID sensors
SQUID Sensors Low-noise sensors for magnetic field measurement
SQUID Systems Customized, application-specific systems
Metrology Systems Measurement systems for metrology applications
Amplifier Modules Amplifier hardware, including the ULCA-1 current amplifier/generator line

The stated focus is physical research and instrumentation, with an emphasis on high performance and low noise rather than high-volume general-purpose electronics.

Evidence of technical depth

The news items on the site show the company works closely with national metrology institutions:

  • ULCA-1 current amplifier/generator — developed with partners who received the Helmholtz Award (endowed with €20,000); Magnicon states it licenses this development and links to PTB and Helmholtz fund pages for details.
  • MCFLL project — a joint research project with PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt) and IAP to develop multi-purpose multichannel SQUID electronics scalable from a few channels to 1,000 or more, suitable for single-stage SQUIDs, two-stage SQUIDs, and TES bias, while keeping moderate costs, low noise, and high bandwidth. Funded by the state of Berlin and the European Regional Development Fund.
  • EURAMET case study — ULCA-1 variants featured in the EMPIR e-SI-Amp project.

For a buyer, this suggests the products are aimed at research and metrology users who need documented low-noise performance, not casual or educational use.

Software and customer access

Magnicon publishes control software for its electronics: SQUIDViewer and the SQUIDViewer DLL (magsv.dll). The site notes that downloads are in a customer area that requires a password, so plan for an account or direct contact rather than assuming open downloads. Version announcements on the page (for example SQUIDViewer v3.3.18 and magsv.dll v0.0.0.11) indicate the software is actively maintained.

Where to find more and how to engage

  • Product details: the SQUID Electronics, SQUID Sensors, SQUID Systems, Metrology Systems, and Amplifier Modules pages.
  • Technical documentation: the Downloads section and the customer area (password required).
  • Background and credibility: References and Links, About Us, and News.
  • Contact: the site invites questions and suggestions through its Contact page; it also lists Jobs.
  • Meeting the team: Magnicon exhibits at conferences — for example KRYO 2024 (September 22–24, Bad Herrenalb, Germany) and LTD20 (July 23–28, Deajon, South Korea).

Is it the right fit?

Magnicon is a reasonable starting point if your work involves SQUID-based sensing, ultra-low-noise current generation or amplification, or custom multichannel measurement systems, especially in a metrology or physics research setting. The site does not publish pricing, so budget and lead-time questions need to go through direct contact. If you need off-the-shelf catalog electronics with public pricing and open software downloads, confirm access and commercial terms with Magnicon before committing.