Heating & cooling.

Economy, durability, compactness, and serviceability are today's key criteria for temperature-regulating equipment.

Saving money is the name of the game in heating and cooling equipment at NPE '94. Those savings come in different forms. Energy efficiency is paramount for all products in this category. Use of non-corrosive materials is also important because it maximizes product life. Low maintenance is obviously a time saver and, in the long run, is a money saver, too. Compactness, or small "footprint," is also a plus since plant space is limited and can be very expensive.

BAND AND CARTRIDGE HEATERS

The Value Band heater from Fast Heat, Inc., Elmhurst, Ill., is being introduced as a competitively priced product for heating nozzles on injection molding machines. Also from Fast Heat is the new Expandable Better Band, which has a cuff-like design that expands to the diameter of the heat sink. You can now replace a single burned-out heater in the middle of multiple heaters with little difficulty, the company says. And you can stock one size of Expandable Better Band for two different voltages. Each heater is composed of two pieces with each part rated at half the wattage and voltage of the entire unit.

Look for lower-cost mica heater bands from Omega Heater Co., Ronkonkoma, N.Y. According to President Al Gaudio, the new Advantage Line "offers the same quality for less price." Also new from Omega are "Ultra Thin" ceramic heater bands, which offer "better control and energy savings in the higher temperature ranges," Gaudio says.

New heater bands will also come from Tempco Electric Heater Corp., Wood Dale, Ill. The MI Plus mineral-insulated band heater is said to combine refractory insulation with maximum heat transfer to the process and to maintain high dielectric strength at temperatures up to 1400 F. MI Plus can have watt densities to 150 w/sq in. and can be used with all line voltages up to 480 v.

Watlow Electric Manufacturing Co., St. Louis, Mo., will also exhibit new heaters with high-temperature capabilities. K-Ring nozzle heaters have brass castings with precision-machined inside diameters. This is said to provide maximum heat transfer and an even temperature profile.

Turning to cartridge heaters, a new, patented Non-Stick heater from Heatron, Leavenworth, Kans., features a special factory-applied barrier coating to eliminate the need to apply release agents before installation. This reportedly will save costly downtime when it comes to removing the heater later on and reduces potential for damage to equipment and tools. These heaters are the same size as standard heaters, which also eliminates the need for special boring.

For mold, die, and platen heating situations where the holes are poorly drilled or worn, consider the new SST and QST Split Sheath cartridge heaters from Ogden Manufacturing Co., Arlington Heights, Ill. Independent expansion of each section of the heater is said to create intimate contact with the wall of the hole for excellent conductive transfer. Simple internal design reportedly generates a uniform linear temperature profile. Both products are said to be easily removed from the hole for servicing requirements.

NEW RADIANT HEATERS

The Salamander Bold ceramic heater will debut from Infrared Internationale of North America Ltd., Comstock Park, Mich., a relatively new sister firm to Infrared Internationale Engineering in Wales. Salamander Bold's design reportedly puts an end to loose-fitting and unstable thermocouples because all heaters come with a special spring for easy and secure application. The spring can be moved from element to element as needed. Salamander Bold heaters also have a brighter-colored heat-indicating decal and a new one-piece clip for ease and security in mounting.

First shown at Interplas '93, Infrared's CRP panel will be introduced to the U.S. at NPE. It is a 12 x 12 in., fully wired and insulated steel panel with three large trough emitters. It can be used as a single unit or joined together in multiple configurations.

Watlow's new Raymax 1010 infrared radiant heater is totally sealed and specially designed to resist contamination from plastic drool, water, or solvents.

CHILLERS & COOLING TOWERS

A new line of mini chillers sized for small molding machines will be introduced by Application Engineering/AEC, Inc., Wood Dale, Ill. PCA Series chillers are self-contained, air-cooled units available in 0.5-3 hp with proven, off-the-shelf microprocessor controls. Models of 0.5 and 1 hp use environmentally safe HFC-134a refrigerant.

New Challenger Series chillers from Alpha Equipment Co., Fayetteville, Ga., are said to offer rugged performance and a small footprint. An hermetically sealed compressor, non-ferrous tank, and operator-friendly controls are other features cited by the company. Units are available in water- and air-condensed models of 2-10 hp.

A multi-compressor chiller with a new CCU-1000 programmable controller will be shown by Berg Chilling Systems Inc., Scarborough, Ont. It has an optional RS 485 communication port.

A portable, high-efficiency chiller with a small footprint will debut from Conair Tempro, Elgin, Ill. MicroKool Portable Chillers come in 1.5- to 5-ton capacities and air- or water- cooled configurations. These units are said to have high-efficiency pumps and low pressure drop to produce a turbulent flow for optimum heat transfer. Corrosion-free evaporators and plastic reservoirs reportedly provide maintenance-free operation.

More compact, portable chillers will debut from Cooling Technology, Inc., Charlotte, N.C. The water-cooled CPCW series achieves compactness through use of brazed-plate evaporators and condensers instead of the traditional shell-and-tube type. Just 39 x 28 in. of floor space is needed for sizes up to 20 tons and 44 x 28 in. for up to 40 tons. A Y-strainer in the inlet line prevents large particles from entering the condenser.

Chillers from Tool Temp of Switzerland will be exhibited for the first time in the U.S. by its agent, Taiwanese injection-press manufacturer Fortune International Inc. in Somerset, N.J. Compact, portable, closed-circuit water chillers will be shown in a range of capacities for single or multi-machine applications.

Kleen-Rite, St. Louis, Mo., is showing its upgraded water chillers, which provide cooling and temperature control without complicated electronic hardware. These chillers are pre-charged with HCFC-22 and have a non-corrosive water tank and stainless-steel heat exchanger.

The Power Tower from Advantage Engineering Inc., Greenwood, Ind., will be shown in a newly redesigned version. The tower has improved construction, requiring no field assembly. Also, sealed inlet louvers are molded into the tower to minimize leaks. And one tower in the 240-ton range reportedly can provide cooling equal to two standard towers.

A new 300-ton cooling tower from Berg Chilling Systems, Scarborough, Ont., comes fully assembled with non-corrosive construction.

PT Series rotomolded PE pump-tank assemblies for central-cooling systems are being introduced by Conair Tempro. These low-cost pump tanks are offered with reservoir capacities from 180 to 1100 gal and include molded-in covers.

FRP cooling towers with all-corrosion-resistant components will be introduced by Protec Cooling Towers, Inc., Miami, Fla. A gelcoat protects the FRP tower from uv damage. These towers are available in fire-retardant formulations. Protec sources also stress their towers' energy efficiency. They claim that Protec's round, bottle-type cooling towers often operate at half the horsepower of rectangular towers.

MOLD-TEMPERATURE CONTROLLERS

Alpha Equipment will introduce at the show Challenger Series mold-temperature controllers designed along lines similar to its new Challenger chillers.

What is said to be the smallest portable hot-water unit on the market is being introducing by Budzar Industries, Inc., Euclid, Ohio. The Mini BTU system has a cabinet measuring only 11 x 19 in. Pump failures are said to be eliminated because Budzar uses industrial-duty pumps with mechanical seals and TEFC motors selected to be non-over-loading throughout the entire pump curve. Discharge pressure of 30 psi delivers turbulent flow, and all units can be upgraded to 50 psi. PID controller is included.

Conair Tempro's new MicroTemp series of miniature, direct-injection temperature controllers for injection machines up to 75 tons is available with 3 or 6 kw, Incoloy heaters, and 1/3- or 1/2-hp pumps. Standard features include cast construction and microprocessor controls. Cabinet sizes allow placement beneath most molding machines.

DIN Series positive/negative-pressure Thermolator temperature controllers are also new from Conair. These include a three-way ball valve and venturi/jet pump to switch from positive to negative pressure if the mold starts leaking, allowing production to continue until shutdown for mold repair.

Cooling Technology has redesigned its TC line of mold-temperature controllers. They are more compact and use stainless-steel parts. Optional manifolds allow them to service several machines.

Also introducing mold-temperature controllers will be Delta T Systems, Inc., Butler, Wis. Compact A and B Series water-circulating units are sized for injection machines up to 200 tons. These units have 1/3- and 1/2-hp motors with 4.5- and 9-kw heaters.

The new "T" series of high-temperature control units, also from Delta T, operates at up to 550 F. Each unit includes a low-watt-density heater, long-lasting positive-displacement pumps, conveniently located pushbutton controls, and microprocessor thermostat. Single- and dual-zone units are available with NEMA-1 or NEMA-12 electrics.

Tool Temp mold-temperature controllers from Switzerland will be introduced to the U.S. by Fortune International. Tool-Temp Models TT 155E and TT 160E can use water at up to 195 F or oil at up to 285 F. Model 155 E is an "ultra-compact," portable unit. Fortune also offers Model TT 133 pressurized-water unit with a temperature range up to 285 F. Tool Temp hot-oil units include Models TT 220 and TT 260--both portable, closed-circuit heaters with integral cold-oil expansion vessels. Also from Tool Temp is Model TT 360 portable high-temperature oil heater.

A somewhat unusual type of water-temperature controller from R.E.P.S. of England will be shown by Injection Molding Industries, Birmingham, Mich. ZC (Zone Controller) Series units are closed-loop systems that sense actual mold cavity and core temperatures and pulse water through the mold at maximum available pressure and flow. Pulse rate varies according to the instantaneous temperature sensed in the mold. Different versions have 2- and 4-kw heating and six or 12 zones of heating and cooling. All units have RS232 interface to allow monitoring and control at the molding machine or from a remote location.

A water-temperature controller that is said to increase heat-transfer efficiency and reduce the potential for leaks is being introduced by Mokon Div. of Protective Closures Co., Inc., Buffalo, N.Y. This controller also has a completely non-corrosive construction.

Regloplas A.G. of Switzerland (represented by Marvel Equipment Corp., Farmington Hills, Mich.) will introduce its new 150 ST single-zone oil or water-temperature controller. It reportedly offers the most frequently requested options as new standard features, but its price of around $2300 is 40% lower than before. The 150 ST replaces the model 150 KL and comes in three versions with max. flow rates of 5.8-13.2 gal/min. Dimensions are 8.6 in. wide x 25.9 in. deep.

Also new from Regloplas are the dual-zone model 250 DE and single-zone P160 hot-water unit with 7- or 10-kw heating, 10.4-gal/min flow rate, and 320 F capability.

Petro-Canada Fluids, Mississauga, Ont., is introducing a new product to its line of Calflo heat-transfer fluids. Calflo LT is designed for temperatures up to 527 F and down to -22 F. Calflo products are said to exhibit high purity and thermal stability.

OTHER HEAT/COOL ENTRIES

Alpha Equipment will bring out a coolant filtration system with automatic backwash. It includes a 26-in.-diam., one-piece, polyethylene filter canister and pump with motor.

EMI Corp., Jackson Center, Ohio, will show newly designed water-flow regulators for molds. They have large flow passages that enhance heat transfer and minimize pressure drop.

A new line of heat pipes for injection mold cooling will be shown by Thermacore, Inc., Lancaster, Pa.

For cryogenic cooling applications, Edwards Engineering Corp., Pompton Plains, N.J., is introducing its LN2 liquid-nitrogen vapor-recovery system.

Cito Products, Inc., Watertown, Wis., plans to introduce two software products for thermoplastic processors: One is for heat-transfer control, and the other is described as a "Btu analyzer." No further details were available at press time.

Axiomatics, Inc., Woburn, Mass., is developing a thin ceramic coating that reportedly is capable of rapid heating but has little or no heat retention, allowing it to cool just as rapidly. Potential applications are interior surfaces of hot runners or mold cavities.

What to Look For

* New band and cartridge heaters are lower in cost and easier to install and remove.

* An 11 x 19 in. hot-water controller may be the smallest ever.

* Pulsed-cooling controller responds to cavity pressure.

* Thin ceramic coating may be the mold heater of the future.