This section provides an overview for tubular heaters as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 26 tubular heater manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked tubular heater companies as of November, 2024: 1.ISE, Inc., 2.ProTherm Industries, 3.Nexthermal Corp..
Table of Contents
Tubular heaters are heaters with a silicone rubber heater wrapped around a silicone rubber tube or a fluoroplastic tube. It was invented as an applied product of a silicone rubber heater. It excels in flexibility and is expected to keep liquids and gases warm when used in piping. The silicone rubber heater is a surface heating element that replaces metal heaters, which had difficulty in terms of flexibility.
While conventional surface heating elements are mainly made of carbon, silicon rubber heaters are made of patterned nickel alloy resistance wires and can be manufactured according to demand.
The use of tubular heaters is literally to heat tubes. The purpose is to retain heat rather than to heat up. In terms of chemical resistance, it is resistant to mineral oil, water, hydrochloric acid, ammonia water, gasoline, and organic solvents, although conditions are also relevant.
There are also some precautions for use. Outdoor use should be avoided due to increased deterioration, and heaters should be kept below 180°C (350°F), as the resistance is weak at temperatures above 180°C (350°F). Other than the above, chemical resistance is not guaranteed.
The mechanism of a tubular heater consists of a resistance element placed between two silicone rubber sheets (top and bottom). After removing the internal air, the element is compressed and pressed into a thin, sheet-like integrated structure.
The heating wire is sandwiched between the silicone rubber. The heating wire used here is a durable heating wire called nichrome wire, which is often used in electric heaters. Applying voltage to this wire causes the entire sheet to heat up.
The heat resistance temperature of the sheet itself depends on the product but is around 180°C. The heating temperature is completely different. The heating temperature is calculated by the formula: heater area x power density = wattage, and the heating temperature can be obtained by looking at the function graph of wattage and temperature.
The temperature is regulated by thermocouples, platinum resistors, thermistors, and thermostats. Temperature sensors can also be built into the surface of the heater to prevent overheating. The thermostat or temperature sensor can be built into the surface of the heater to prevent overheating, and if used properly, it is a convenient product because of its flexibility chemical resistance, and long service life.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Gamer Process was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. The ISO 9001 registered company is an electric heater manufacturer, providing engineering, design, and manufacturing of heating equipment and systems including control panels, liquid fuel conditioning, pumping, and other engineered systems for industrial, paper, marine, aeronautics, and defense industries. Some of the company’s heating solutions include indirect electric heaters, duct heaters, and process immersion heaters. The company’s non-heating solutions include pressure reduction stations, fuel gas scrubbers, and ammonia unloading stations.
Birk Manufacturing, Inc. is an ISO 13485 and AS 9100-certified manufacturer of flexible heaters and thermal systems that was established in 1989 in East Lyme, Connecticut, USA. The company’s products include flexible heaters for providing uniform temperature control, cartridge heaters for high density heating in enclosures or small spaces, and temperature sensors for monitoring or measuring temperature in a range of environments. The company also provides spare parts and repair services for its clients in the semiconductor, HVAC, and telecommunications industries.
Nexthermal Corp., established in 1986 and based in Battle Creek, Michigan, USA, is a manufacturer and supplier of custom-designed electric heaters. The company's product range includes cartridge heaters, coil heaters, Nextflex flexible tubular heaters, Elstein ceramic infrared radiant heaters, and temperature sensors. These products are used in applications such as plastic and rubber processing, medical equipment heating, food preparation, and hot glue applications. It serves industries like diecast, pig farrowing, poultry brooders, and plastic and rubber. The company offers services such as custom heater design, thermal transfer expertise consultation, and heater performance optimization.
Tempco is based in Wood Dale, Illinois and has been in business since 1972. Tempco is a manufacturer of many types of heating elements and thermocouples with design variations. Tempco is ISO 9001:2015 certified. Temco’s electric heaters and elements include band heaters, cartridge heaters, cast-in heaters, ceramic fiber heaters, coil and cable heaters, drum heaters, enclosure heaters, flexible heaters, heat trace cable, heated hose and tubing, infrared heaters, process heaters, shroud systems, strip heaters, tank heaters, and tubular heaters. Tempco also sells various application accessories and wiring accessories.
Dalton Electric Heating Co., Inc. is a manufacturer of industrial heaters established in 1923 and based in Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA. The company primarily produces its Diff-Therm branded platen heaters for providing even heat distribution and durability in vacuum diffusion pumps, and its Watt-Flex branded cartridge heaters designed for longevity and energy efficiency. The company is ISO 9001-certified, and mainly serves client manufacturers of plastics, composites, and resins. It operates internationally, with distribution operations in North and Central America.
DBK USA, Inc. is an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer and distributor of heating products based in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. The company offers positive temperature coefficient (PTC) surface heaters for efficient heating applications, PTC fan heaters for self-regulating heating applications, and PTC air heaters designed for safe heating in high voltage environments. It also offers custom product development and engineering services for unique projects. The company’s products are commonly used in industrial processing and chemical refining operations.
OMEGA Engineering Inc., founded in Norwalk, CT, in 1962 is a manufacturer of products used to measure temperature and humidity, flow and level, and pressure. The company's product portfolio includes thermocouple probes and assemblies, pressure gauges and switches, and air velocity measurement systems, wireless systems and portable optic sensors. The company serves markets including Automotive and Electric Vehicles, Renewable Energy and Energy Storage and Electronics and IT Infrastructure. The company also offers customer services that include support, custom research projects and customized services.
Protherm Industries was established in 1989 in Nashville, Tennessee and it is a manufacturer, designer, and supplier of heating elements, control panels, and heated hoses. The company manufactures products such as container heaters, controls and control panels, flexible heaters, heated hoses, immersion heaters, and many more. It's products are applicable in composite curing, condensation prevention, freeze protection, process control, and viscosity control. The company complies with NEMA enclosure standards and also has ISO certification.
ISE, Inc. headquartered in Cleveland, OH, is a manufacturer of Instrumentation, Variac (variable transformers), Electric Heating Elements, Sensors (Thermocouple, RTD Temperature Sensors, Proximity Sensors), and Engineered Process Control Solutions. The portfolio of the company includes Temperature Control & Process Control Instrumentation; Digital Panel Metes and Bar Graph Meters; Data Loggers & Recorders; Tachometers, Stroboscopes & Speed Instrumentations; Force Measuring Instrumentations; and many more. The company manufactures Variable AC Power Supplies that provide adjustable AC voltage. The distortion-free output of the company is ideal for sensitive electronic applications, testing devices for agency approval, and numerous other applications.
Durex Industries is an American ISO 9001 certified manufacturer of heaters, temperature sensors, and controls founded in 1980 before its acquisition by the British company Spirax-Sarco Engineering in 2022. Based in Cary, Illinois, the company offers thermal solutions and custom engineering of electric heaters, temperature sensors, process heating systems, and temperature controls. They serve clients in various industries including those in packaging, medical and life sciences, semiconductor manufacturing, and aerospace technology. Durex Industries also provides design, contract manufacturing, and testing services to customers with unique projects.
Rama Corporation, a company established in 1947, is a manufacturer in San Jacinto, California, that specializes in producing industrial heating elements. The company offers various heaters, including cartridge, coiled nozzle, flexible, immersion, and multicell heaters. The products are applicable in aerospace, medical, dental, commercial, plastics, aviation, military, nuclear, electronic, and automotive industries. The company caters to custom orders for individual and bulk purchases to meet customers’ specific demands. Heating elements are designed to meet the specifications of NEMA (National Electrical Manufactures Association) unless otherwise specified by the customer.
Ulanet is a United States manufacturer founded in 1931 that specializes in producing immersion heaters, heating elements, heating controls, tubular elements, and electromechanical thermostats. It offers a line of products that includes immersion heaters, cartridge thermostats, tubular heating elements, screw plug immersion heaters, compact heaters, thermal switches, and heater controls that can be used for all industrial, commercial, and laboratory applications. The company has been listed in the Industrial Quick Search (IQS) directory since 2000.
Backer Hotwatt was established in 1952 and is based in Danvers Massachusetts with offices and subsidiaries across North America, Asia, and Europe. The company is a manufacturer of resistance heating elements to markets including medical devices, semiconductors, photonics, test & measurement devices, and automotive & fuel cells. The company’s standard heating element products include cartridge heaters, sun rod heaters, ceramic heaters, and strip heaters. The company also sells temperature and voltage-controlling devices and accessories such as terminal covers, insulating beads, and various sleeving.
Process Heating Company, Inc. is a manufacturer of industrial pumping and heating systems that was established in 1947 in Seattle, Washington, USA. Under the brand name Lo-Density, the company produces drywell style immersion heaters for industrial materials or fluids, drywell style unitized storage tank heaters for asphalt production facilities, and screwplug heaters for metalworking facilities. It also offers custom design, engineering, and installation services for unique projects. The company mainly serves clients in the industrial processing and manufacturing sectors.
Applebee-Church, Inc., established in 1957, operates as a distributor and manufacturer's representative specializing in electrical heating systems. The company is headquarted in Peach Tree Corners, Georgia with branch offices in the states of Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina. The company offers products and services such as electric heater systems, industrial heating systems, electric comfort heat, and power temperature controls. These solutions cater to needs of both the industrial and commercial heating and control sectors.
Kawai Corporation, established in 1929 and based in Japan, is a manufacturer and supplier of specialized heaters. The company's product range includes Cartridge heaters, Silicone rubber heaters, Pipe heaters, Hose heaters, and Tube heaters. These heaters are used in various applications, from maintaining temperature consistency to ensuring process efficiency. It serves industries such as Medical, Semiconductors, Food, and Automotive. The company offers a suite of services, including thermal analysis service, testing services, The heater doctors, and Kawai's Workflow.
Pratik Heat Products, established in 1969 and based in Mumbai, India, is a manufacturer and exporter of industrial heating elements. The company produces products such as coil heaters, ceramic band heaters, thermocouples, high-watt cartridge heaters, and flexible tabular heaters for plastic processing industries. All its products are exported to 26 different countries worldwide to original equipment manufacturers and other users. The company also makes hot runner Molds, flexible tabular heaters, and high-watt density cartridge heaters and holds C.E. certification following which it manufactures all its products.
Sinton group is an electric heating manufacturer headquartered in Yancheng City, China, founded in 2001. Its specializes in producing explosion-proof molten-salt-heater, circulating air duct heaters, electric hot oil circulation heaters, thermocouples, as well as electric heating tubes, accessories, and elements. The company has exported products to 125 countries and regions, with an annual trade volume of over 100 million yuan. Its quality and environmental management system is certified with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ROHS, OHSAS, CCC, and CE.
Lu-Chiuan Heating Elements Ind Co. Ltd. is a manufacturer of heating elements for pasters, electric heaters, sauna heaters, and fryers founded in 1996 and located in Dongguan, China. Specializing in designing and producing heating elements, the company offers a product portfolio that includes stainless steel, aluminium, industrial, and single-tube heating elements. Its heating elements are TUV-certified and have been distributed to worldwide customers, including the United States, Europe, Japan, and Russia. The company's quality management system is ISO-certified.
Drum-Mates Inc. is a designer and manufacturer of industrial liquid processing and container handling equipment established in 1963 in Lumberton, New Jersey, USA. The company’s product lineup includes pumps, mixers, and heaters for drums and intermediate bulk containers (IBCs). It also offers hand dispensing nozzles, custom-engineered lifting equipment, and wholesaling of OEM process equipment. The company’s products are used in industrial processing operations, such as in the food and beverage, chemical, and water treatment sectors.
Acrolab Ltd was founded in 1948 in Windsor, Ontario as Accurate Laboratories where it still presides. The ISO 9001:2015-certified company provides thermal systems products and services for general manufacturing, electronics, automotive, and rubber industries among others. The company’s products include heat pipes, thermocouples, control panels, and other thermal distribution tools. The company provides thermal engineering, thermal simulation, and research & development services for customers. Thermal engineering provides concept development support. Simulations provide analysis to assist in design choice and operational strategies. The research and development group creates new designs for customers.
Wattco was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Lachine, Quebec. Wattco is a manufacturer of electric heating products for use in many utilities including oil and gas, renewable energy, HVAC systems, as well as others. Wattco products include immersion, circulation, inline, flanged, screw plug, pipe, over the side, industrial bore, tubular, finned tubular, strip, finned strip, cartridge, band, silicone rubber, open coil element, duct, finned tubular duct heaters, infrared radiant heaters, as well as other combinations of heaters and control panels.
Thermon Group Holdings Inc., started in 1954 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, is a manufacturer of industrial heating solutions such as heating systems, power, and heat tracing solutions. It has ten manufacturing facilities with over 10,000 customers and has been public since 2011. The company serves its customers through sales, service individuals, and distributors in over 30 countries and also provides recurring facility assessment, turnkey construction installation, and engineering services. All its manufacturing facilities are ISO 9001 certified, and all its products are tested and certified for global use by several approval agencies such as ETL, CSA, and UL.
Vulcan Electric Company, established in 1927 and based in Porter, Maine, is a manufacturer of thermal solutions like temperature sensors, heater assemblies, and metal-sheathed heating elements. It also manufactures thermostats like bulb thermostats, though a majority of its products are custom-designed for specific processes or applications. It manufactures its products exclusively in the USA and has over 90 years of engineering and manufacturing experience. The company offers ISO 17025-accredited thermocouple calibration services for vital process industries such as glass and solar. It also provides temperature sensor calibration services ranging from RTDs at sub-zero temperatures to thermocouples at ultra-high temperatures.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | ISE, Inc. |
9.0%
|
2 | ProTherm Industries |
6.9%
|
3 | Nexthermal Corp. |
6.1%
|
4 | Birk Manufacturing, Inc. |
5.8%
|
5 | Ulanet |
5.4%
|
6 | Condex Wattco Inc |
5.4%
|
7 | Tempco Electric Heater Corp. |
5.4%
|
8 | SINTON ELECTRIC CO.,LTD. |
5.1%
|
9 | Gaumer Process INC. |
5.1%
|
10 | Process Heating Company, Inc. |
4.7%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the tubular heater page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 17 | 81.0% |
China | 2 | 9.5% |
Japan | 1 | 4.8% |
India | 1 | 4.8% |