Posts Tagged 'infrared heaters'

Enterprise succeeding…

December 19, 2011 by Frank Wilson

Our fifth edition of HeatWorks magazine is now on its way to the printers – and in the New Year, readers will be treated to another groundbreaking roster of technical and commercial topics in infrared heating.

On the home front, we are delighted to be giving pages to the ongoing story of the  Ceramicx Innovation Partnership with the University of Limerick (UL). A large vote of thanks for the success of this project is certainly due to the enabling presence of Enterprise Ireland.

Ceramicx has been fortunate in the guiding presence of Enterprise Ireland, especially in the persons of both Dr Tom Bannon and Paul McCloskey. I know that it may break with some protocols to mention the role of individuals. But business is a thing conducted by people, between people. And besides, protocol-breaking is a large part of my job.

Furthermore, the model of the EI Innovation Partnership is the correct way forward for industry; not only for Ireland but in general: As I have said time and again, there is little to no use in science or engineering that has no use – that has no customers or applications. Enterprise Ireland has helped developed a method that keeps both the creative IP of the Universities and the dynamism of the manufacturing sector in service, and in train with each other.

We consequently have very high hopes and ambitions for our new Innovation Partnership with the University of Limerick. We now see it as helping deliver nothing less than world-class performance and leadership for Ceramicx in the manufacture of infrared heating systems.

The deft match-making skills of Enterprise Ireland have been key to this process and have helped and encouraged us to hold this bold forward vision.

True, not all matches are made in heaven – and most partnerships need work in order to work: A skilled match-maker, however, is able to anticipate and smooth over difficulties in custom and practice – as well as provide ‘translation’ services wherever needed.  All this we have benefited from.

Let me say here that Ceramicx very much hopes to extend and deepen our relationship with Enterprise Ireland as we pursue our goals. The quality of its people and the service given has been outstanding and yet – even so – we feel the best is yet to come.

Posted in ceramicx, Frankly Speaking, infrared heaters, Infrared Heating, Infrared Heating Technology, Innovation Partnership, Innovation Partnership Project | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

We make it here

December 6, 2011 by Frank Wilson

Readers of this blog will have surely noticed our fondness here at Ceramicx for good things arriving in threes.

‘Machinery, manpower and materials’ has lately given us another handy three-fold reckoner for our manufacturing needs. And our new Hurco CNC lathe arrived – last month to join our machining centre – and it has again given us a definite boost in the first named category.

From the get-go the Ceramicx strategy and philosophy has been, wherever possible, to keep hold of our destiny and to manufacture everything in-house.

Consequently Ceramicx continues to supply complete infrared heating systems; domestic and industrial.  Not only are we designing, manufacturing and supplying world-class ceramic elements, quartz tubes and other components, we are also investing and upskilling in all the requisite machining and engineering for all bespoke infrared heating applications.

Our new Hurco machine is indeed a substantial investment. Investments are as much about capability as about jobs on the slate this week and the new Hurco has been sourced with the mid to long term future also in mind.

The new machine will be involved in making a large variety of componentry; platens and heat systems for plastics thermoforming machines; rigs for plastics-to-metal bonding; surrounds and reflectors for use in domestic heating, components for terminal blocks and many other applications.

And thanks to the skills of Ceramicx designers and engineers, many new kinds of infrared heaters and infrared heating products have been created this year – where none existed before. The new Hurco will further enhance these capabilities in the months to come.

I therefore urge all of our customers and associates to talk to us about all the detail of their infrared heating needs; including bespoke and custom fabrication; new product ideas; research and development and other ideas.

Infrared heating is an advancing and increasingly popular solution. At Ceramicx we can make it all here – it’s as simple and beneficial as that.

Posted in Infrared Heater Manufacturer, infrared heaters, Infrared Heating, Infrared Heating Solutions, Infrared Heating Technology, Plastics Thermoforming, Thermoforming | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Opening up Fundamentals

November 29, 2011 by Cathal Wilson

Here at Ceramicx we are again looking to publishing our fifth issue of HeatWorks magazine. The enthusiasm for the publication – inside and outside the company remains as keen as ever and will be reflected in the dozen or so articles being lined up for the new contents.

Key among the forthcoming pieces is a contribution written by Dr Tony Robinson, based at Trinity College, Dublin.

Tony’s article will pick up the baton in relation to the fundamentals of infrared heating technology. We always aim to enhance the commercial and technical pieces in the magazine with some more general and educational material on the vast and untapped potential within IR heating.

Our last issue of HeatWorks, for example, included an article that described and discussed the beneficial effects of IR heating on the human body.

In our next issue, Tony will look at the fundamental science and behaviour of IR heating in 3D space. His department at Trinity is doing great measurement and prediction work in that area. It is my hope that this research at Trinity will have profound implications for the way we think and plan our comfort and heating – specifically in the way we design and build heating systems for homes, shops, factories, offices and the built environment: Infrared heating is extremely accurate in the way it can target particular zones and spaces. And a relatively small input of IR heating in the right zone of a building can deliver a very large payback in terms of overall saved energy cost.

In truth, the infant science of infrared heating needs many more champions such as Tony Robinson in order to make explicit and realise the benefits of the technology. HeatWorks magazine, in its own way, is doing its bit.

And I simply encourage all IR practitioners to step forward and share with us your best articles and views for consideration throughout our publishing schedule next year. With the right communications campaigns we can all work for IR development and growth together.

It would be a poor show indeed if Ceramicx itself were unable to walk this talk.  It therefore gives me great pleasure to be allowed the opportunity to be lecturing at Trinity College this Thursday in order to share the IR industrial perspective and to communicate the best of our IR know how to the engineering student audience.

For all interested I will this week be delivering an open lecture on the subject of Ceramic Infrared Emitter Production. The lecture will take place on Thursday December 01 2011: 15:00, Parsons Building Seminar Room 2, Trinity College Dublin. I hope to see you there!

Posted in ceramic heaters, ceramicx, infrared heaters, Infrared Heating, Infrared Heating Experts, Infrared Heating Technology | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Europe remains vital

November 4, 2011 by Cathal Wilson

Our Autumn season of exhibitions continues: No sooner have our Friedr Freek friends in Germany finished telling the world about Ceramicx and infrared heating in plastics manufacture than yet another market opens up.

Last week our partners in Turkey, Ser Rezistans, had a very successful participation in the 21st International Istanbul Plastic Industries Fair. Plasteurasia is fast becoming the gateway event to the important Turkish market and beyond. International participation continues to grow, as do a number of Turkey’s leading OEM markets; in automotive, construction, white goods and high-volume packaging.

Ceramicx products on show at last week's Plasteurasia exhibition in Istanbul, Turkey

Hasan Duman of the company tells us that the high level of business at Plasteurasia includes much interest about Ceramicx Infrared capabilities and products. Ser Rezistans inquiries also included orders from makers of two thermoforming machinery companies who need machines building for new clients.

 

By any standard, Turkish manufacturing is clearly buoyant. Annual Turkish plastics industry growth is generally reckoned to be about thirteen percent and the flavour of this year’s Plasteurasia was very much about the country further selling its features and benefits into the international market places. (We feature more in depth material on the Turkish market in our current issue of HeatWorks magazine – just contact us direct for your copy.)

In truth, and very much despite the current EU shenanigans – there is currently much vitality in many parts of Europe – especially on the outer fringes and within the Central European manufacturing renaissance.

A new technology business like Ceramicx is always looking to couple our infrared heating expertise to that new manufacturing growth and vitality wherever we find it. And fortunately, we are continuing to succeed in searching out new territories.

On that note we now look due south to Barcelona, Spain. Later in the month that country’s trade exhibition, Equiplast, Nov 14-18, is set to be partnered by a brand new event and conference – Eurotec – led by the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE).

Last year’s SPE President, Ken Braney – previously featured in our HeatWorks Magazine – spearheaded this move and we wish Ken and all his team all the best for this bold new venture.

Europe – a patchwork of cultures and opportunities – continues to be of central importance to business and the world economy. Ceramicx for one remains committed to finding and partnering all the positives within that changing picture.

Posted in ceramic heaters, infrared heaters, Infrared Heating, Infrared Heating Experts, PlastEurasia, Plastics Thermoforming | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Map making – from craft into science

October 27, 2011 by Cathal Wilson

As Autumn gets into its stride so too does our new Innovation Partnership project – funded by Enterprise Ireland – and partnering Ceramicx with the University of Limerick.

Our interviewing process for the project team is going well.  Map making – fundamental research – is a funny thing and researchers into scientific fundamentals are also a rare and interesting breed.   In truth – since there is no path to follow – the investigative skills needed for our project will be 90% measurement and science based.

However, the research discipline also requires more than a touch of intuition and common sense – not least to help us not waste time and resource in blind alleys. Good detectives always back their gut instinct in knowing where and where not to look.

Like the map-makers and investigators of old our intent at Ceramicx is to create a new world of infrared heating knowledge so that we and others may follow through with it. Incredibly, although infrared technology was discovered over one hundred years ago, much of the work in heating applications still remains approximate and inexact.

Our fundamental project aim therefore is to collect and verify enough data and process measurement in the infrared production process so as to be able to scientifically engineer and produce what once belonged to a craft process. Added to that, our project will also enable us to make this engineering process robust, repeatable and scaleable – to produce as little or as much as needed.

Frank Wilson, Ceramicx MD and Dr Mark Southern, University of Limerick discuss the next steps in their Innovation Partnership

There will be many twists and turns along the way from here, but from the outset – and together with Dr Mark Southern’s team from the University of Limerick – we are confident of creating the map from the terrain.

As we create our scientific IR knowledge base we shall use this and other communications channels to keep you informed of our discoveries. It promises to be an exciting two years ahead!

A full report on the project – its aims and scope – will be carried in the next issue of HeatWorks magazine. If you missed out on our last issue – just order one up from Ceramicx direct and get yourself on the mailing list.

 

 

 

Posted in ceramicx, infrared heaters, Infrared Heating, Infrared Heating Experts, Infrared Heating Technology, Innovation Partnership Project, IR development | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment