Improved infrared heating

Not all workpieces are flat and without undercuts. Painting difficult products, protecting them with anti-corrosion coatings or finishing them with colour or gloss can be a real challenge. Electric infrared heaters can be optimally adapted to workpieces and direct the heat precisely dosed to the right place. A combination with an electric convection oven will help to avoid shadow spots. According to the manufacturer, tests show that precisely adapted infrared systems save up to 80% energy.  

The drying of paint is a central point in many production halls. This usually requires a lot of energy and can quickly lead to an immense amount of time in the case of outdated drying systems, which causes a bottleneck in production and enormous costs. Infrared radiation is used in many industrial processes. In this process, heat is transferred in the form of electromagnetic radiation without an intermediate medium.

Carefull adjusted infraret heating

A careful adjustment of the infrared emitters in wavelength, shape and power to the properties of the product to be heated is important for the result. Radiation that is precisely matched to the absorption properties of the coating is quickly converted into heat. Water or other solvents evaporate, while the material and environment remain cooler.

Extensive tests have shown that carbon emitters dry water-soluble coatings much more efficiently than short-wave infrared emitters. According to the manufacturer, a carbon infrared heater requires up to 30% less energy for the drying process than a conventional halogen heater. 

Boosting paint drying with infraret heating

But infrared technology can do more than just replace conventional solutions. In many cases, it also complements existing ovens in a useful way. For example, installing an infrared booster in front of a convection oven often ensures greater efficiency in drying. Complex components in particular benefit from the interaction of these two technologies.

A test line with an infrared booster in front of an electric convection oven – the Vötschoven from Weiss Technik – in the Excelitas Noblelight application center in Kleinostheim enables practical tests. Infrared radiation brings products to the target temperature very quickly, and electric convection ovens ensure homogeneous heating of the parts, even if they have special contours.

Testing for best infraret heating solution

Practical testing helps to optimally configure the subsequent system and gives customers the necessary security for a planned investment. Infrared boosters from Excelitas Noblelight and electric convection ovens from Weiss Technik can later be combined in a modular way. This modular system makes the system configuration flexible. The combination of infrared and hot air has been tested with various products since the furnace line was set up.

Products made of metal were coated with black powder coating. Thermocouples monitored heating in comparison with a convection oven alone as well as in combination with infrared boosters. According to the manufacturer, in most cases there was a significant reduction in the heat-up time of up to 80% when the infrared booster was used.  

Further information: 

Hall 1, Stand 1526 

www.noblelight.com