Better IR Lamps for Your Krones and Sidel Blow Molders
If you’re running PET stretch blow molding, you know the drill. You need the preforms soft enough to blow, but not so hot that you’re scorching the plastic. It’s a delicate balance. We build our heating lamps to be direct swaps for Krones Contiform S and Sidel series—everything from those old-school SBO units to the newer Matrix lines. The “Perfect Fit” Problem Here’s the thing: replacing a lamp isn’t just about finding one that’s the right length. If you throw in a lamp with the wrong voltage or wattage, you’re asking for trouble. Your power controllers might trip, or worse, your heat profile goes completely sideways. We keep our wattage tolerances tight. Why? Because you need that preform to hit the glass transition temperature consistently, from the start of the oven all the way to the end. No cold spots. No surprises. Built for the Grind We use high-purity quartz glass because these things take a beating with constant rapid cycling. We also stick to standard industrial connectors—think R7s or Sk15—so you can just plug them into your existing sockets. No hacking, no wiring changes. We also spent a lot of time on the filament positioning. We made sure the heat flux is centered right on the preform, which stops the lamps from burning out way too early. Getting Them In (And a Quick Warning) Installation is a breeze. You pull the old tube, slide ours in, lock the clips, and you’re done. No drilling. No bending brackets. Just a simple swap. But a word of advice: if you’re tempted to crank up the heat density to squeeze out a few more cycles per hour, keep an eye on your cooling fans. Pushing more wattage means more heat for your oven housing to deal with. If your exhaust can’t keep up, your lamps won’t last nearly as long. Our lamps are built for 24/7 production, but they still need a bit of breathing room to stay happy.