TL;DR: Shih Shin Technology manufactures 44 standard solenoid models across five families — open frame (20 models), tubular (7), latching / permanent magnet (7), holding electromagnets (7 sizes, 2–120 kg holding force) and AC laminated (SH-AS series) — plus custom OEM/ODM development. The short version of the selection logic: open frame for compact linear stroke in appliances and locks, tubular for guided long stroke under load, latching when the part must hold position with zero standing current, holding electromagnets when the job is to grip steel rather than move it, and AC laminated when the supply is mains AC. This page maps each family’s size range, power range and typical applications, with links to the full specification tables.
What Is Each of the Five Major Product Series Best Suited For?
When selecting a model, the first common question is how solenoids are categorized: the five major series do not represent higher or lower tiers of specifications, but rather different structural orientations—open frame offers good heat dissipation, tubular can enclose sliding surfaces, and latching maintains position even when de-energized. After confirming the structural orientation, you can narrow down your selection from 44 standard solenoid models.
Open Frame Solenoids
Open frame solenoids are linear actuators built on an open C-frame or U-frame structure, suitable for applications with tight panel space and shorter strokes. This is our series with the largest variety of models—20 models, ranging in weight from 5.4 g to 1,090 g, with continuous (100% duty cycle) power from 0.8 W to 16 W. The open frame provides good heat dissipation and low installation cost, at the expense of higher magnetic leakage compared to closed structures.
Typical applications: Smart locks, home appliances, coin and card-reading mechanisms, vending machine dispensing mechanisms, and small automation actuators.
Specifications: SH-0520 / SH-0530・SH-0626 / SH-0730・SH-0837 / SH-0826・SH-1040・SH-1250・SH-1253・SH-1550 / SH-1585 / SH-1578
Engineering Background: Open Frame Selection Guide: Force-Stroke Curves and Duty Cycles.
Tubular Solenoids
Tubular solenoids enclose the plunger within a cylindrical housing that serves as both stroke guide and magnetic shield. 7 models, weighing from 17 g to 497 g, with continuous power of 4–16.8 W. The enclosed structure provides two advantages open-frame solenoids cannot achieve: side load tolerance over long strokes, and significantly reduced stray magnetic fields when placed near sensors.
Typical applications: Industrial locking mechanisms, heavy-duty latches, and equipment with magnetic sensors adjacent to actuators.
Specifications: SH-T1632・SH-T1939 / T2551 / T3864
Engineering Background: Tubular vs. Open Frame vs. Cylindrical・Magnetic Circuit Saturation and Temperature Rise Calculation for Heavy Industrial Locking・Push-Pull vs. Tubular.
Latching Solenoids (Permanent Magnet Type)
Latching solenoids rely on permanent magnets to maintain position, consuming power only during the switching pulse, with zero standby power consumption. 7 models, weighing from 10 g to 130 g, with operating power of 1–8 W. Whenever a mechanism spends most of its lifecycle in “hold” rather than “move,” this series should be chosen—the energy saved is not negligible, but the difference between “continuous power consumption” and “zero power consumption.”
Typical applications: Battery-powered devices, valves requiring long-term holding, energy-sensitive industrial equipment, and mechanisms requiring fail-safe position retention upon power failure.
Specifications: SH-K0420 / K0520 / K0730・SH-K1037 / K1240 / K1253
Engineering Background: Latching Solenoid Design Guide: Pulse Drive and Zero-Power Holding・Why Latching Solenoids Save Energy.
Holding Electromagnets (SH-ET Series)
Holding electromagnets do not move loads; they attract and hold steel surfaces, with 7 sizes covering holding forces from 2 kg to 120 kg. If your requirement is defined in terms of “kilograms of holding force” rather than “millimeters of stroke,” this is the series you need—see What is the Difference Between Holding Electromagnets and Solenoids? for the distinction between them and linear solenoids.
Typical applications: Door catch holding, fixture clamping, workpiece securing, and safety interlock devices.
Specifications: SH-ET Series
Engineering Background: Holding Electromagnet Selection Guide: The Effect of Air Gap on Actual Holding Force.
AC Laminated Solenoids (SH-AS Series)
AC laminated solenoids operate directly on mains AC power, utilizing a laminated iron core to suppress eddy current losses. The SH-AS series comprises 9 models. Their advantage is a high initial pull force starting from rest, giving them an enduring role in mechanical equipment lacking a DC power supply—yet two behaviors must be addressed during the design phase: high inrush current, and audible buzzing if the pole face or shading coil is damaged.
Typical applications: Mains-powered industrial machinery, textile and packaging equipment, and retrofitting existing equipment.
Specifications: SH-AS10-15
Engineering Background: AC Laminated Solenoid Analysis: Inrush Current, Buzzing, and Specification Design.
Custom Solenoid Development
When standard products do not match your requirements in dimensions, stroke, holding force, or duty cycle, we develop according to your specifications—from magnetic circuit simulation and prototyping to verification and mass production. The starting point for most custom projects is a standard model that is “80% compatible.”
See Custom Solenoid OEM / ODM Development.
What are the differences between the series?
Weight and power figures below are taken from our published specification sheets. Stroke and force values are model-specific and are published on each model’s datasheet rather than as a family range — use the specification links above, or the part number index at the foot of this page.
| Family | Models | Weight range | Continuous power (100% duty) | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Frame | 20 | 5.4–1,090 g | 0.8–16 W | Compact linear stroke, cost-sensitive, good heat dissipation |
| Tubular | 7 | 17–497 g | 4–16.8 W | Guided long stroke, side-load tolerance, low stray field |
| Latching (permanent magnet) | 7 | 10–130 g | 1–8 W (pulse only) | Zero standing current while holding position |
| Holding electromagnet (SH-ET) | 7 sizes | — | 2–24 W | Gripping steel: 2–120 kg holding force |
| AC laminated (SH-AS) | 9 | — | Mains AC | High starting force directly from AC supply |
Not Sure Which Family Fits?
Three questions settle the family in most projects:
1. How long does it stay energised? If the mechanism holds position for minutes or hours, go latching — the standing current of a conventional solenoid becomes a thermal problem long before it becomes an energy bill. If it actuates briefly and repeatedly, open frame or tubular.
2. Is the supply AC or DC? Mains AC without a rectifier points to the SH-AS laminated series. Everything else in the range is DC.
3. Is there a magnetic sensor nearby, or side load on the plunger? Either one points to tubular rather than open frame — the enclosure both contains the field and guides the stroke.
If the requirement is expressed in kilograms of holding force rather than stroke, you are describing a holding electromagnet, not a linear solenoid. If none of the standard envelopes fit, that is a custom development conversation.
Deeper comparisons: Open frame vs tubular · Voice coil motor vs solenoid · Micro solenoids for microfluidics · Rotary solenoids in automation.
How to look up part numbers and specifications?
If you already know roughly what you need, two tools are faster than reading family pages:
The part number index lists all 44 standard models with their datasheets in one table — use it when you have a size or power target and want to see what exists near it.
The cross-reference lookup maps our models against equivalent parts — use it when you are replacing an existing component and need to match an envelope.
Product category pages from our earlier catalogue remain available for open frame, tubular, permanent magnet, electromagnets and laminated solenoids. Further engineering articles are collected in the technical hub.
Why Specifiers Choose Shih Shin Technology
Requirements beyond the catalog are the norm rather than the exception here: about half of our production capacity is dedicated to customer-specific custom products. Customization begins from existing frame series rather than tooling from scratch—which means requirements like mismatched mounting interfaces, strokes off by a few millimeters, or different coil voltages typically do not require the time and cost of entirely new development. First look at the structural orientations of the five major series, and then determine whether modifications are necessary.
Request a Quote or Datasheet
Send us the operating conditions — supply voltage, required stroke, required force at that stroke, duty cycle, ambient temperature and mounting envelope — and our engineers will tell you which standard model fits, or whether the application needs a custom design. Submit your specifications, or email info@solenoids.com.tw.