Introduction
We built this halogen heating tube to be a straight swap for your SIPA stretch blow molding machines. Plain and simple. It’s designed to cover the whole Sidel family—from the older SBO models right up to the latest Matrix series—without forcing you to re-tool or rewire anything. Just drop it in. You keep the same thermal profile you’re used to, but with a step up in reliability. No headaches, no downtime.
Power, Voltage, and Geometry — The Real-World Details
This heater runs at 400V and 2500W, giving you the heat density needed to get PET preforms up to temperature quickly. The tube is 300mm long, cut to match the original SIPA heating zone exactly. That means even heating along the entire preform path—no hot spots, no cold bands. Just consistent, predictable warmth. Going with 400V lowers the current draw compared to lower-voltage options. That keeps your wiring cooler and takes strain off the contactors. But higher voltage also needs a stable supply and solid insulation. Treat it with respect—this is a high-energy circuit—and make sure your machine’s cooling airflow is in good shape. High power density gets the job done, but it also raises the heat in the chamber. So before you run full tilt, confirm your cooling system can keep everything within spec.
Materials and Design: Why It Holds Up
We chose a halogen-filled quartz envelope because it can handle rapid heating and cooling without losing output. The halogen chemistry keeps the filament stable over time, so the lamp stays consistent across the whole service interval. Quartz handles the shock of startup and the heat of continuous duty, and it stands up to the chemical environment inside a blow molding cell. For the connector, we went with R7s—the standard double-pin interface. It’s reliable at high temperatures and quick to replace in the field. It carries the full 2500W without depending on fragile solder joints, and it locks into the holder with a solid mechanical fit. That means fewer hot spots at the connection, fewer issues with arcing, and fewer service calls.
What It Means on the Line
This setup is built for PET stretching, where keeping preform temperature repeatable is the difference between good parts and scrap. The 300mm length, 400V power, and halogen quartz design deliver even heat across the whole heating zone, shift after shift. On the plant floor, the payoff is simple: you keep running. You can swap in the replacement without shutting down the machine or reprogramming the controller. The footprint matches, the pins line up, and the thermal behavior feels the same. Now, there is one trade-off to keep in mind. The high wattage and fast ramp-up do add more heat inside the machine cavity. Keep the cooling system clean, make sure airflow is solid, and double-check that your voltage supply is stable. Do that, and you get a heater that works hard, installs fast, and keeps delivering steady output through long shifts.