CHICAGO (Aug. 7, 5:55 p.m. EDT) — Watlow Electric Manufacturing Co. introduced its EZ-Zone ST integrated thermal control loop.
The firm characterizes the product as revolutionary and the first to integrate temperature control, power control, safety shutdown and power disconnect in a single package. The control loop does away with crowded control panels, hard-to-find status information and the need to deal with multiple suppliers for discrete components.
Compared with other control loops, the EZ-Zone ST has fewer components, fewer wire terminations and lower cost per loop or zone, according to Don Commare, product marketing manager with Watlow's Winona, Minn.-based controls division.
The company is targeting extruders, blow molders, and sheet and film processors.
A temperature controller connects to a high-amperage, solid-state relay with options such as a temperature-optimized heat sink, current measurement, over/under temperature limit and digital communications.
In April, Watlow received UL 50 certification for the EZ-Zone ST under Underwriters Laboratories' enclosures standard.
Watlow, with headquarters in St. Louis, employs 2,500 globally, including almost 200 in the controls division.