Chinaplas 2012 – infrared heating quality like never before

May 10, 2012 by Cathal Wilson

Now that the dust has settled it seems as good a time as any to unpack a few thoughts from the Ceramicx exhibition experiences at Chinaplas 2012 exhibition at the end of last month.

For sheer volume of visitors and for human traffic the Chinaplas show is a coming force. Ceramicx has re-affirmed its presence at Chinaplas in its Guangzhou location next year and all expect this year’s footfall of 110,000 to be exceeded. The show – and the Chinese plastics industry – will continue to grow.


All in all Ceramicx had an excellent first exhibition. We were looked after well in Hall W1 as an independent supplier by our Chinese agents and distributor. In addition to Chinese business we also made several important connections with plastics industries in Indonesia, India and the Philippines. As Chinaplas grows so will the involvement of countries outside Chinese borders.

95% of success, they say, comes from just showing up. It was a very good move indeed to make ourselves present for Ceramicx at the show, front and centre. We were able to show our first hand product knowledge and able also to walk our Chinese visitors through all the IR technical ins and outs. Nothing beats showing up.

In some ways Chinese industry has now become the most demanding and quality conscious in the world. At Chinaplas 2012 we confirmed for ourselves that the Chinese market has a huge and growing appetite for applications engineering and for knowledge on how our infrared heat emitters can be applied and used to better effect across a multitude of processes.

To date ceramic-based IR emitters have been the stable diet in China.  Ceramicx is now fielding a growing interest in Quartz and Quartz Halogen/Tungsten IR technology and how the different sources of infrared are suitable for different applications.

All in all the Ceramicx Chinaplas experience and our follow through was well worth the learning curve and the time taken. We shall be back again next year with many further improvements and innovations.

Posted in ceramicx, Chinaplas, Infrared, infrared heaters, IR development | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Infrared Heating – a message and mission that is succeeding

April 27, 2012 by Tadhg Whooley

It’s a funny thing – preparing for a large trade exhibition overseas: Above all, the guiding expectation is to be prepared for the unusual and the extraordinary. Anything and everything can happen, and most probably will.

However, some reflection on Ceramicx experiences at America’s triennial plastics show earlier this month leads me to believe that perhaps we have turned a corner in our communication of the benefits of Infrared Heating.

True, the visiting audience, mainly from the US, was from the plastics industry and was generally well informed. I cannot, however, recall a single technical question or conversation point that was wide of the IR mark. Generally all those who stopped to chat were very well informed about the technology.

Tadgh Whooley

It was also very pleasing to see that the most interesting prospects were plastics thermoformers with existing calrod ovens that wanted to upgrade to a more efficient system. For some while now we have known that this is a conversion that is needing to take place worldwide. Enlightened American industry is now grasping this message and the opportunity with both hands. Much American industry is also rapidly changing its attitude to the energy efficiency issues; more bangs per buck per kilowatt hours are now needed. And, as we know, most plastic thermoforming businesses are first in line for just such energy savings.

All counted, at NPE we received several significant thermoforming enquiries in this manner. Our US associate Weco is following these through and we hope to give more case study details later this year.

Other common IR questions at our Florida booth revolved mainly around explanations of the main differences between the different IR heater types: The Weco/Ceramicx booth featured a display unit with a ceramic long wave platen top, quartz medium platen centre and short wave halogen platen bottom. A lot of conversations occurred in front of this demonstration unit.  Another common theme at the show was the time for systems and materials to reach effective operating temperature. Most visitors also wanted to know the most efficient IR heater for their particular purposes.

To be sure, we cannot be certain that the IR heating message has really taken hold in global manufacturing. US-based plastics processors, however, seem to have a much clearer idea of how they can benefit and how Ceramicx can help them to help themselves. These businesses are definitely on the right track. Long may this trend continue – for the US and for the world.

Posted in Infrared Heating, Infrared Heating Experts, NPE, Plastics Thermoforming, Thermoforming, Weco International | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Back to the shop floor

April 17, 2012 by Patrick Wilson

Right now Frank and Cathal Wilson will hopefully be assembling all the pieces of the Ceramicx booth in readiness for the Chinaplas show, which opens in Shanghai tomorrow.

It hardly seems possible that as soon as one large exhibition is processed by Ceramicx another is opening for business on the other side of the world. Here in Ireland I’m still adjusting back from the change in Florida time and from the ebb of some of the enquiries and order processing received at America’s biggest and best plastics exhibition, NPE, April 1-5.

NPE 2012 was a huge learning curve for me. Not only did I have to leave my production manager role behind for a whole week – trusting that all would be well! – it was then in at the deep end in terms of the dynamism at the show; the large variety of enquiries, interest and visitors of all shapes and sizes.

Sure enough, my Spanish and Portuguese language skills came in handy with visitors from Columbia, Peru, Mexico, Brazil, and other parts of South and Central America. There is no doubt that the manufacturing industry is expanding greatly in those parts of the world – and plastics technologies with it. It’s a territory that we shall be cultivating and returning to in the coming months and years. Among the things brought back in the suitcase were several months worth of South American leads, opportunities and new relationships to be cultivated over the short and medium term.

In truth, the NPE show also taught me that most nearly every customer, large and small, sophisticated and beginner still has a whole new world of knowledge to explore when it comes to the particular language of Infrared Heating (IR); the issues and the benefits to be learned there.

In conversations about IR I often found myself spending a good deal of time on the groundwork; general and educative aspects. Once that was done you then move into getting great insight into what customers are actually looking for – it’s not always the same as you imagined! And then you start talking to them about solutions to their problems and actual needs. That gets everyone excited. And at the end of the day, we get much closer to our customers, which is the purpose of the show and where we need to be. Job done!

Well not quite. There’s the small matter of that week taken out from your normal job which now needs making up. New business or not, existing orders still need getting out the door. However, as Frank often says, it’s a high-grade problem to have. Ceramicx is looking forward to expansion on all these fronts as we go forward.

Posted in ceramicx, Chinaplas, Infrared Heating, Infrared Heating Experts | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Ceramicx IR heating to warm Chinaplas 2012

April 5, 2012 by Cathal Wilson

It’s a funny experience you know – packaging a suitcase for a trip to China.

Although the world is so much more of a global village today, there are still some essential differences that give me pause for reflection.

That phrase book, for example: I guess it’s a bit late in the day to have any thought of mastering that. Fortunately, language-wise Ceramicx will at least be partnered at all times at the Chinaplas exhibition by Xu Shen of our Beijing-based associate company HDD. Thanks to that facilitation we will have no problem speaking infrared heating to all comers in the Chinese plastics industry.

Those customs and cultural norms? Thankfully, Ceramicx – mainly in the person of my father Frank – now has several years of trading experience. In that regard he and I will be up to speed in our observance and practice of the social details that enable business in China to proceed smoothly.

I guess if I had one wish before getting on the plane it is that our specially created Ceramicx exhibition stand was able to fit in the overhead locker. We have invested a good deal in the design and impact of our image and products and are really looking to making an impression with it. Sadly, of course, that package will travel separately to Shanghai. Once reunited with it and constructed in the exhibition hall – then we can breathe easy.

One thing’s for sure, when Chinaplas 2012 opens for business on April 18th, exhibitor Ceramicx will be celebrating a business trajectory that represents several years of painstaking work.

We will bring to Shanghai the best in traceable and quality European IR technology. The Ceramicx process and our infrared heating products for the international plastics process industries are second to none. We are looking forward to an extremely productive time with Chinese thermoformers, blow moulders, machinery builders and other interests in the plastics reporting.

All to be reported on fully in our next HeatWorks magazine – due out end May 2012. Contact Ceramicx directly to get on our magazine mailing list.

Posted in Chinaplas, Infrared Heating, Infrared Heating Technology, Plastics Thermoforming, Thermoforming | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ceramicx IR heating on show at Chinaplas 2012

March 28, 2012 by Frank Wilson


As Chinaplas 2012 prepares to open its doors once more a new exhibitor – Ceramicx – is waiting in the wings – ready to launch a raft of high quality and in-demand IR heating products for the Chinese plastics processing industries.

Cáthál Wilson

Expectations are running high for Frank and Cathal Wilson who will both make the trip personally and who will both man the Ceramicx exhibition booth in Shanghai from April 18-21, 2012. Hall W1 – Stand T27

According to Frank Wilson, ‘the Chinaplas timing is near perfect for us and for our products. The Ceramicx investment in world-class quality systems, product traceability and performance has all yielded first class fruit  – which is offered to the Chinese market at just the right time.

Frank Wilson

Success in China now means supplying just these qualities into the Chinese marketplace. We believe that Chinese thermoformers, machine builders and Chinese plastics generally will be quick to see the advantages in quality infrared heating (IR) heating performance and in buying these products from Ceramicx.

Wilson adds that ‘our agents in Beijing and our new distributor GSAE has got us off to a great start. Their combined energy and know-how has been invaluable in spreading the Ceramicx word throughout the many markets and provinces of China. And how we have the opportunity of Chinaplas in Shanghai to work with.’

This year’s Chinaplas features a growing eco-emphasis; showing
energy saving servo motors, all-electric injection molding machines, bioplastics materials, and many new recycling technologies.

Frank Wilson says that ‘this kind of emphasis suits Ceramicx down to the ground. Not only do we insist on energy management and measurement as part of our customer service we are also aiming to use alternative energy sources in order to make our ceramic elements the lowest carbon footprinted in the world. Chinaplas will give us some excellent clues and orientation to help us satisfy these new environmental markets.’

Ceramicx will be exhibiting its infrared heating solutions in the so called Rest of the World hall at China. As befits geography the Ceramicx stand will be positioned between the British and USA pavillions

Posted in Infrared Heating, Infrared Heating Consultants, Infrared Heating Solutions, IR development, Thermoforming | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment