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.