On the glass line, heat isn’t just a temperature reading. It’s timing, uniformity, and repeatability, day after day. When the heating element starts to drift, you feel it everywhere—bending that’s off, tempering that lags, lamination cycles that wander. The R7s infrared heating bulb was built to hold the thermal profile steady, cycle after cycle, so you’re not constantly chasing setpoints.
What matters under the hood
The R7s infrared bulb throws short-wave output into the glass, heating it volumetrically and fast. The emissivity response is sharp, and recovery is quick. Industrial ratings run 1000 W to 3000 W, 120 V or 230 V, in lengths that drop straight into standard R7s fixtures. The quartz envelope takes thermal shock in stride on high-duty-cycle lines, and the dual-end power connection keeps alignment consistent when you’re retrofitting. In practice, you end up with less soak time to hit process temperature and tighter control over the thermal gradient that sets stress in tempered and bent parts.
Why it plays in tempering, bending, lamination, and drying
In tempering and bending, the R7s shortens the ramp to setpoint. That cuts idle time and keeps sag profiles consistent. In lamination and coating drying, the radiant heat lands evenly, so you avoid hot spots and reduce entrapment risk—handy when cosmetic quality is non-negotiable. Energy use drops because the heat goes straight into the glass, and standby losses shrink. Maintenance gets easier, too: fewer start-stop swings mean fewer connector checks, fewer hot-spot inspections, and fewer surprise changeovers.
The practical details
R7s bulbs are simple to install, but alignment is everything. A lamp that isn’t seated right creates uneven heating and can knock the lifespan down fast. Check fixture tolerances, verify voltage at the terminals, and match the lamp to a control strategy that respects inrush behavior. Push voltage too far or cycle on/off too often and life shortens—plan scheduled replacements that line up with your preventive maintenance.