mæɡnˈɛɾɪk kˈʌplɪŋz ɐlˈaʊ ɐ fˈɪzɪkəl sˌɛpɚɹˈeɪʃən bᵻtwˌiːn ˈɪnpʊt ænd ˈaʊtpʊt ʃˈæfts, pɹɪklˈuːdɪŋ ðə jˈuːs ʌv ʃˈæft sˈiːlz, wˌɪtʃ ᵻvˈɛntʃuːəli wˈɛɹ ˈaʊt ænd fˈeɪl fɹʌmðə slˈaɪdɪŋ ʌv tˈuː sˈɜːfɪsᵻz ɐɡˈɛnst ˈiːtʃ ɐnˈʌðɚ.
Magnetic couplings allow a physical separation between input and output shafts, precluding the use of shaft seals, which eventually wear out and fail from the sliding of two surfaces against each another.