Introduction
We built this 400V infrared radiator to slide right into Krones machines—no fuss, no rewiring the whole heating section. Its whole reason for being? Delivering dense, focused heat for PET blow molding, exactly where you need it. It runs on 400V, matches the standard dimensions, and plugs in the same way the original did. In other words, it’s the drop-in replacement you’ve been hoping for.
The nitty-gritty: voltage, power, and fit
That 400V rating isn’t just a number. It lets the heater pack a lot of wattage into a compact tube, so temperatures ramp up fast and stay steady across the neck and body zones. And because 400V is common in many plant power setups, you usually don’t have to add step-down transformers. We also made sure the length and diameter match the heater housing and reflector geometry on Krones lines. So when a heater burns out, you swap it in and get back to work—no tweaking brackets, no fighting clearances. The wattage is tuned to the real thermal load of PET preform heating, so the unit holds setpoint at production speed without endless cycling.
What it’s made of: quartz, coating, and the R7s connection
The tube is quartz, and there’s a reason. It takes thermal shock in stride, which matters in a blow molding cell where things change fast—cold starts, rapid cycling, and the constant rush of air from cooling blowers. Quartz keeps output steady and resists cracking when the heat keeps coming and going. That gold coating? Not just for looks. It reflects infrared energy back onto the preform, so more heat stays where it matters and less is wasted. That boosts efficiency and helps keep nearby parts cooler. And the R7s connector is a straightforward industrial choice. It makes solid contact, handles the current draw at 400V without arcing, and lets you wire it quickly and service it on the line with standard tools.
Why it matters on the line
This setup is built for PET blow molding. High heat density means fast, repeatable heating—so bottle quality stays consistent and your line speed stays stable. Since it fits the original footprint and uses the same connection, installation really is a drop-in job. No re-engineering. No headaches. Here’s the reality check, though: with that kind of power density, your machine’s cooling and airflow have to be up to spec. If the cooling is undersized, the area around the heater will run hotter, and that shortens component life. Keep the cooling system in good shape, and you get dependable uptime and fewer surprise changeouts.