Our client reached out to us with a dilemma. Their specialty product comes out of the hopper frozen to -200° F, then needs to be packaged immediately. Packaging the product while still cold caused excessive condensation to form as it warmed, damaging and even compromising the packaging.

Initially, the client explored processes whereby the product would be rapidly heated to room temperature by forced hot air. Of course, forced air heat disperses immediately into its environment, resulting in serious inefficiency. It just wasn’t worth the electric bill.

Next, they considered warming their product by heating the conveyor belt carrying it from the hopper to packaging. Electric heaters running under the belt would be far more efficient, but posed their own challenge: what material could handle rapid heating followed by contact with extremely cold materials without a thermal reaction causing it to buckle, warp or bend? Any change in belt shape would create spaces between the heaters and the belt and could seriously disrupt tracking. Clearly, they required a custom solution for extreme temperature change. Read our latest case study to learn about the custom solution we provided.