Infrared emitter

IRshortwaveround tube

Overview
Short-wave infrared (short-wave IR) technology delivers extremely high controlled power densities, up to 500 kW/m². Quartz tubes heated above 2,000°C provide ultra-fast response (≈1 s) and deep penetration into materials, enabling simultaneous homogeneous heating of surface and core. Radiation efficiency is high (typically 80–95%), transferring energy to the product rather than to the installation.

Key features

• Response time: ≈1 s
• Power density range: 5–500 kW/m²
• Radiation efficiency: 80–95%
• Quartz tube maximum temperature: up to ≈2,000°C
• Suitable for fast-throughput and variable-power processes
• Emitters validated by >10,000 laboratory tests

Advantages

• Rapid response matched to high-speed production
• Deep penetration for thick products, heavy coatings and thermoplastic composites
• Defect-free drying of liquid coatings at appropriate densities (low-density short-wave IR ≈ up to 30 kW/m²)
• Improved safety in solvent environments: quartz tube confines heat and external emitter surface is cooler than many medium-wave emitters
• High energy-transfer efficiency reduces losses to the installation

Processes and typical applications

• Paint and coating drying, thermoset polymerisation, ink drying and pad printing
• Floor coverings and heavy coatings (PVC, foamed PVC, coated textiles)
• Automotive: pre-heating before stamping, reheating heavy masses, thermoplastic composite processing
• Papermaking and very fast inline drying or coating polymerisation
• Applications requiring very high power density over short timeframes

Industries

• Floor coverings / coated textiles
• Automotive
• Papermaking
• Food & Beverage (IR drying/curing processes)
• Aerospace / composites
• Defence & energy
• Construction / interior design
• Technical textiles

Design & system notes

• Effective where other wavelengths are insufficient, particularly above ≈100 kW/m²
• Performance depends on the combination of emitter, control/regulation system and material knowledge
• RadiantLine™ emitters and ThermalCore™ cabinets are designed to operate together for controlled surface rise and core penetration
• Emitters are quality-controlled and tested before dispatch (ISO 9001)

Technical specifications

• Response time (inertia): ≈1 s
• Power density (nominal): 5–500 kW/m²
• Maximum cited density: 500 kW/m²
• Radiation efficiency: typically 80–95%
• Quartz tube operating temperature: up to ≈2,000°C
• Penetration: significantly deeper than medium-wave IR for many materials
• Typical defect-free coating drying density: up to ≈30 kW/m² (process-dependent)
• Laboratory validation: >10,000 tests referenced
• Certification: ISO 9001
• System components: RadiantLine™, ThermalCore™