Thick PC preforms on the blow molding line are a different animal. They need heat that penetrates, not just a warm surface. Standard IR lamps tend to leave you playing catch-up on temperature, stretching cycle time, and watching rejects pile up.
What matters, technically
We build softening IR lamps for thick PC preforms with 1:1 parameter matching to OEM blow molders—Sidel, Krones, SIPA, Husky, SACMI, and Nissei ASB. Typical builds run 1200–1500 W at 230 V, with quartz or halogen emitters delivering a tight 0.8–1.2 μm spectral peak for fast, deep energy transfer. Dimensions and terminations—R7s, single-ended, 150–250 mm arc length—are spec’d to drop straight into existing heating tunnels and lamp holders without rewiring. The payoff: repeatable preform heating, stable output, and predictable power draw.
Why it lands on thick PC
Thick PC demands energy delivered quickly and evenly across the wall. These lamps hit that profile, shortening the heating window so you can run at the designed cycle rate without over-softening the neck. You get fewer thin spots, tighter bottle weight control, and less scrap. Energy use drops because the lamp spends less time on, and you spend less time swapping lamps. Out in the field, teams see stable output for 5,000+ hours with under 5% drop, so the heating curve stays consistent shift after shift.
The practical details
These are direct-fit replacements, but verify your machine’s lamp spec—wattage, voltage, base type, and arc length—before ordering. If the reflector is worn, you’ll get edge hot spots; replace it to keep the profile uniform. And remember, thick PC absorbs IR differently than PET, so recalibrate the heating profile and watch for neck crystallization. Start with a small batch, log the temperature curve, then lock in the setpoints.