Medium wave infrared heater

electricpre-treatment processesheat treatment

Overview
Medium-wave infrared (MWIR) emission spectrum: 2.6–9.6 µm. MWIR offers strong surface energy absorption for a wide range of industrial materials. Sopara develops medium-wave IR emitters and systems (RadiantLine™ emitters, ThermalCore™ cabinets) engineered for high radiation efficiency, fast dynamic response and long service life, adapted to continuous and batch production environments.

Key performance and advantages

• Response time: < 5 s (system inertia below 5 seconds).
• Heating element temperature: up to 800°C for corrugated ribbon elements.
• Power density range: certified 5–70 kW/m² (maximum density cited 70 kW/m²).
• Radiation efficiency: > 90% (verified by independent laboratory tests).
• Homogeneous surface heating: corrugated-ribbon arrays ensure even energy distribution on dark and light substrates.
• Durability: proven long service life (some units reported >50 years in service); elements tolerant to thermal shock.
• Safety on stops: low inertia enables rapid cooling when production stops, reducing burning risk under arrays.

Emitter families & special variants

• RadiantLine™ emitters (Sopara product line).
• MIR HP Aero V5 — patented high-performance emitter for aeronautical composites (no peripheral cold zones; ±10°C control precision; cycle time reductions up to 4× in some applications).
• MIR HP AGRO / MIR HPagro — ranges for Food & Beverage and wet/clean environments (zero glass options; steel staples detectable by metal detectors; designed for intensive cleaning and stainless-steel installations).
• MIR HP CERA — designed for humid, saline or corrosive environments (zero glass; metal-detection compatible options).

Processes & typical applications
MWIR is particularly suited to processes requiring surface absorption and uniform heating. Representative applications and outcomes include:

• Aeronautical composites: target — thermal homogeneity up to 450°C; solution — MIR HP Aero V5; result — cycles reduced up to 4×, precision ±10°C, adopted by major OEMs.
• Food & Beverage: braising, gratiné finishing and browning in continuous lines; MIR HPagro provides sanitary compatibility and metal-detectable components; results include reduced process time, shorter oven length and high throughput (example: up to 2 t/h braised meat).
• Powder coating & varnish on glass: surface curing without substrate penetration, homogeneous cure on complex geometries and zero defects.
• Textiles & floor coverings: PVC gelation, embossing and continuous polymerisation; replacing quartz with corrugated-ribbon MWIR can lower energy consumption while maintaining speed and temperature.
• Chemical / humid / corrosive environments: dedicated ranges operate reliably where glass-based emitters or other technologies fail.

Complementary systems & control
Sopara combines emitter design with regulation and material expertise. RadiantLine™ emitters integrate with ThermalCore™ cabinets (ThermalCore™ Control Intelligence) to provide zone-by-zone control, native traceability and process regulation validated by laboratory testing (10,000 tests, 30 years of expertise).

Industries served

• Aerospace / aeronautical composites
• Food & Beverage
• Automotive
• Paint & Varnish (glass bottles, perfumery)
• Textiles & Floor Coverings
• Chemical and other humid/corrosive industries

Certifications & range validation
ISO 9001 cited; all emitters tested prior to dispatch; range certified across power densities from 5 to 70 kW/m².

Technical specifications

• Emission spectrum: 2.6–9.6 µm (medium-wave IR).
• Response time / inertia: < 5 s.
• Heating element temperature (corrugated ribbons): up to 800°C.
• Power density: 5–70 kW/m² (maximum 70 kW/m² cited).
• Radiation efficiency: > 90% (independent measurement).
• Service life: certain emitters reported > 50 years in service.
• Design features: corrugated-ribbon heating elements for homogeneity; zero-glass options for food/wet environments; metal-detectable steel staples in AGRO ranges.
• Control & traceability: RadiantLine™ emitters integrated with ThermalCore™ cabinets for zone control and native traceability.
• Patented products: MIR HP Aero V5 (patented emitter, no peripheral cold zones).