A customer who specializes in automation, engineering and product development approached Tempco in need of a heater suitable for a steel rule die attached to an aluminum base. Due to the short height of the die, a thin heater with a width of less than 0.75” was crucial for the application.

Tempco was able to develop a thin silicone rubber heater for the customer. The bend radii on the four corners of the die were gradual. This allowed the silicone body of the flexible heater to bend generously over these four corners as it wrapped around the perimeter of the die. Ultimately, only one heater that was approximately 50” long needed to be used, increasing the simplicity and ease of installation.

Silicone rubber heaters proved to be ideal for this application due to their flexible design and ability to be manufactured at such a thin or narrow width. The heater forms nicely to the outer surface of the die and is able to wrap around and contour to the edges. This will provide more effective heat transfer and minimize contact hot spots. In turn, this will lead to better heater performance and a prolonged heater life.