INTEK Corporation, founded in 1996, exists for the purpose of creating process heating equipment consisting of raw electric heater filaments, heating elements, heater modules and industrial ovens. INTEK’s early success came in response to its patented high performance electric infrared heating elements and modular heaters for industrial applications. The high efficiency modular design can be used individually, or as structural building blocks used to create industrial oven designs built by INTEK or any other oven manufacturer.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
INTEK: INTEK works with end users, system integrators, other engineering firms and manufacturers to create industrial oven designs used to enhance product quality, increase production speeds involving process temperatures in the range of 100°F – 1000°F. In addition to the versatile infrared elements, and self-insulated modular heaters, INTEK offers conveyor ovens and batch ovens to the industrial market.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
INTEK: Today’s political, societal, and economic pressures require attention to green initiatives. INTEK’s products fit this initiative with new technology that eliminates carbon emissions. INTEK’s hybrid designs have been well received. This design concept allows the combined benefits of gas and electric convection along with long wave and medium wave infrared energy.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
INTEK: Intek manufactures a full range of industrial heating products. Something as simple as raw electric heating coils or ceramic based heating elements sized to meet specific production requirements of its customers. Complete ovens are also available – from smaller tabletop size lab ovens to full-scale automated production lines up to 150 feet in length and longer. INTEK is also a certified UL 508A panel shop. HMI touch screens, SCATA controls and PLC’s are available to further enhance the process heating application. Robotics and conveyorized material handling are also part of the supporting equipment made available by INTEK.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
INTEK: INTEK works in most every aspect of the process heating market. In mature markets such as Screen Printing and Space Heating, INTEK provides the necessary heating elements and modular heaters. Other, more cutting-edge markets such as carbon fiber, aerospace, enhanced optics, re-purposing organic waste and many other forward- thinking applications.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
INTEK: Given that almost everything manufactured in the world today already uses or can be enhanced by the addition of process heating, there is a never-ending growth potential for process heating systems of the type manufactured by INTEK. From table-top ovens, to pallet size batch ovens, to conveyor ovens hundreds of feet in length the robust INTEK modular designs attract end users, engineers, and manufacturers alike.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
INTEK: The most innovative products marketed are the versatile ceramic based electric infrared heating elements, modular heaters available in common sizes from of 12” x 12”, 12” x 24”, 12” x 36”, 12” x 48” 12” x 60” sizes as well as unlimited custom sizes for virtually any application imaginable. Other innovations are coming in the way of enhanced process controls, robotics, material handling equipment and other processes that precede or follow the heating application process. For example, pre-heating has been found to offer significant performance improvements beyond just subjecting a particular product to the higher required temperatures for more typical curing and drying applications. Zoned heating is an especially effective way to accomplish more complex process heating applications. Heat zones can be large or small as required to achieve even the most complex heating profiles.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2023?
INTEK: INTEK is in the process of integrating more product standardization regarding its manufacturing techniques using specialized CAD software. This will help shorten production lead times without sacrificing any of the robust industrial features that INTEK is known for. This will also be the year that INTEK will expand its collaborative approach with customers, to build on specialized designs required for the needs of its demanding customer base. In today’s business climate manufacturers are looking for ways to set themselves apart from the competition. This requirement cannot always be met by off the shelve industrial components. INTEK works to combine each customer’s vision with over 50 years of industrial design and manufacturing experience to build the custom designed products to meet specialized objectives.
