The Heat is on! Watlow’s Innovative Heating Solutions

Watlow Heating Elements
22 October 2024

For over 60 years, Watlow has built a reputation for reliable heating solutions based on the “thermal loop” solution. 

 As a world-class industrial technology, and thermal products leader, Watlow designs and manufactures heating solutions, which include: 

Cartridge Heater: FIREROD 

Watlow designed and manufactured the first swaged cartridge heater in the 1954, and revolutionised the heating element industry.  

A cartridge heater is a tube-shaped, industrial heating element that can be inserted into drilled holes. They provide superior and uniform heat transfer, are resistant to oxidation and corrosion, and durable even at high temperatures. 

Some of the typical applications of FIREROD include freeze protection and deicing of equipment in cold climates or controlled environment, humidity control, patient comfort heating used in medical devices, mould die, and more.  

If you are looking for efficient heating solutions for a commercial kitchen, you may find this article helpful.  

More information about FIRERODs can be found here.  

Heated Tubing: FREEFLEX 

Watlow FREEFLEX is a heated tubing that enables a flexible heat-up and transport system for moving fluids in tubing with internal diameter as small as 0.8mm (about 0.03 in).  

FREEFLEX provides fast, efficient, and responsive heating. It is also flexible and compact, which makes it easy to install. 

This heated tubing is useful for some hospital equipment (e.g., tissue processing machines), water purification systems, 3D printing, and precision cleaning, to name a few.  

For technical specifications, you can find the FREEFLEX product overview here.  

Ceramic Heater: ULTRAMIC 

Watlow ULTRAMIC heaters are ceramic heaters constructed from aluminium nitride (AIN), and incorporate a thermally matched, proprietary heating element that provides reliable performance in challenging applications. 

Since AlN is designed for operations requiring a clean, non-contaminating heat source, ULTRAMIC is especially suitable for semiconductor and medical equipment manufacturing.  

If you have an application requirement that looks like a job for ULTRAMIC, view our detailed product guide here.  

Silicone Rubber Heaters  

Watlow’s silicon rubber heaters are rugged, flexible, thin, and lightweight, making it suitable for a myriad of applications, such as battery heating, HVAC, and food service equipment. 

These rubber pads are made of fiberglass-reinforced silicone that gives the heater dimensional stability without sacrificing flexibility. Due to its thin construction, very little material separates the wire-wound element from the item it needs to be heated up, making the heat transfer rapid and efficient.  

Watlow Silicone Rubber Heaters are particularly helpful where there are space limitations. 

Some of the Silicon Rubber Heater advantages include: 

  • Conformity to the exact shape and size required 

  • Over 80 designs available immediately from stock – so less to no wait time 

  • Moisture- and chemical-resistant  

  • Allows for easy bonding to the part 

See our product description here

For more information, technical advice and assistance, contact ADM