IPG Photonics Corporation
Laser Heating & Drying

Laser Heating & Drying

What is Laser Heating & Drying?

Laser heating and drying is an innovative application of laser light that projects a laser beam over a wide area to heat and dry target materials. The power density of the beam is typically lower than that of the comparatively focused beams used for other materials processing applications like cutting and welding. The size of the projected light is easy to control, allowing for targeted application of heat that virtually eliminates the waste heat generated by traditional heating methods.

Laser heating is a highly efficient and sustainable method of heat treatment for a variety of applications including battery foils, powder coat, and paint drying. Faster than traditional convection furnaces and more energy efficient than infrared lamps, laser heating and drying solutions offer a unique combination of high throughput and low operating costs.

Advantages of Laser Heating & Drying

  • Extremely high energy efficiency up to 55%​
  • Targeted heating – lasers direct energy only onto the targeted area and do not radiate waste heat into the factory​
  • High-speed process up to 10X faster than convection furnaces​
  • Laser heaters are “cold” furnaces that support in situ metrology​ for precise process control
  • Non-degrading performance – laser heating offers consistent, long-term results with no consumables like infrared bulbs​
Heating & Drying Method

The Most Sustainable Heating & Drying Method

Laser heating and drying solutions offer improved efficiency and productivity, enabling manufacturers to both increase their profitability and engage in more sustainable, environmentally-friendly production.
 
Over 120 countries, including the U.S., have set a target date of 2050 for reaching carbon neutrality. Stricter government regulations to decrease carbon emissions, as well as rising energy costs, are pushing manufacturers to replace outdated or inefficient equipment.

Laser Heating vs. Traditional Heating Methods

 

Laser Heating vs. Convection Furnaces

Manufacturers are moving away from traditional fossil fuel burning convection furnaces in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint. Besides the environmental and energy cost concerns, convection furnaces suffer from other drawbacks that limit productivity for manufacturers.

Laser heating systems are up typically several times smaller than convection furnaces. A single modestly sized laser system can often replace multiple convection furnaces, freeing up factory floor space and infrastructure.

Infrared light heats a precisely targeted area rapid, enabling significantly higher process speeds. Convection is a slow, indirect heating method that requires significant cooldown time.

 

Laser Heating vs. Infrared Lamps

IR lamps create infrared light similar to laser heaters and deliver similarly fast drying speeds. While infrared lamps are more efficient than convection furnaces, they are still significantly more costly to operate than a diode laser solution.

Lasers direct their energy only at the targted area rather than radiating heat in a larger area. Infrared bulbs reach extremely high temperatures and direct heat imprecisely, generating substantial waste heat that is absorbed by the oven walls and making in situ process monitoring imposible.

IPG laser heating systems are maintenance free with an expected lifetime of 7+ years. Infrared bulbs last only 1 to 2 years, requiring a regular maintenance cycle and costly replacement.

Discover Heating & Drying Solution​

Discover Your Laser Heating & Drying Solution​

IPG is a partner for every stage of production from research and development to full-scale manufacturing.

Our laser heating & drying experts are ready to evaluate your application and offer a solution optimized for your requirements

Get an Application Evaluation
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How Can We Help?

Whether you have a project in mind or just want to learn more about laser heating and drying, an IPG laser expert is ready to help.

 
 

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