Birk Manufacturing Inc.

United States

surface mount temperature sensors are produced using only the highest quality RTDs and thermocouples available. The surface mount RTD temperature sensor or thermocouple temperature sensor can be encapsulated with either Kapton or Silicone for superior protection of your sensor. Kapton encapsulation provides additional benefits by eliminating fiber content that is found in traditional silicone, these Kapton surface mount temperature sensors provides water resistance and chemical protection. They are clean, durable and a cost effective solution for your application needs. Silicone, however, while still cost effective, has the advantage of being waterproof and more chemical resistant then Kapton. Silicone is more elastic and provides a low stress bond between sensor and surface.

high temperature RTD elements or thermocouples that have been assembled within stainless steel casings to offer additional protection in rigorous applications and elevated temperatures. These temperature sensing probes are perfect for installations within channels, thermowells, organic liquids, salt solutions, acids and bases. RTD temperature probes using Teflon lead wiring provide the ability to retrofit smaller profiles and are extremely resistant to chemical seepage. Thermocouple temperature probes are assembled using fiberglass lead wires provide to higher temperature ranges and greater flexibility.

Flexible heaters are often utilized by design engineers because their application requires even heat distribution in a very specific area. Etched foil flexible heaters are also used in applications where surface mount heat is required due to physical constraints. Custom shapes, buildups, multiple circuits, shaded watt densities and thicknesses allow for flexible heaters to be fully customized meeting the exact requirements of any application while offering a robust product which will stand the test of time. Birk's flexible heaters are made using materials such as silicone rubber, Kapton, mica and butyl. Each material has its own features and benefits while all of them provide great temperature ranges. Depending on your application requirements specific materials can be utilized to resist chemicals, UV rays, and moisture.

RTD sensors are highly accurate and fast responding sensing elements. They utilize the direct relationship between resistance and temperature to provide repeatable and measurable results. RTDs have broad temperature ranges, are less susceptible to EMF resistance, vibration and temperature shock. RTD sensing elements provide excellent long term stability and are available in small dimensions. All of Birk's standard RTD sensors meet the EN60751 Class B Industry tolerance standard. 13 Class B and Class A tolerances are available as custom solutions. High temperature RTD elements can perform efficiently in demanding environments and tough work conditions that involve heavy duty applications. The highly precise results of our RTD High Temperature Probe makes it ideal for high-end applications where accuracy is must. The wide operating range and low drift of our RTD sensors are the reasons behind their enhanced usability in an array of applications.

Birk Manufacturing is one of the leading Kapton heating manufacturers in the United States. Birk's Kapton heaters provide even distribution of heat and exhibit exceptionally fast rates of thermal recovery. These Kapton film heaters are thin and an ideal solution for small profile andor complex two-dimensional applications. Birk understands that there are many variations in heating requirements. Therefore, Birk provides Kapton heating solutions of the highest quality. Dependent of your applications needs, Birk's Kapton heaters can be directly bonded to high temperature surface to provide permanent bonding and superior heat transfer.In many cases Birk's Kapton film heaters are designed to provide immediate integration into assemblies which include sensors, heat sinks, fuses, probes and electronics. Many of these products are completely assembled and tested at Birk. They are then shipped directly for our customer's inventory allowing for a "turn-key" solution. These "turn-key" solutions reduce cost, assembly time and the size of our customer's vendor base allowing for easier inventory management and reduced labor costs.ustomized Kapton heaters can be designed in a variety of shapes and sizes with custom watt densities. Birk's heaters can incorporate multiple heating zones and embedded sensors which can be utilized to ensure very uniform heat distribution, down to +- 0.1C in some cases. Our highly technically trained engineers and design team members can design our Kapton heaters to operate even in high vacuum environments.

Birk's silicone heaters are rugged, flexible, waterproof and chemical resistant. They can be combined with many components. Thermostats, fuses, thermocouples, RTDs, thermistors, connectors, heat sinks, wiring harnesses, motors or any other hardware our customer desires are available upon request. Depending on your application needs, Birk manufactures both resistance wire and etched foil circuits in our silicone rubber heaters. There are advantages to each circuit type. Resistance wire is more robust in dynamic applications requiring a silicone heater and foil circuits are a perfect match for applications requiring very even heat distribution. Both circuit types can be designed with varying watt densities, dual voltages and multiple heated zones.

Birk Manufacturing is the only heating manufacturer that produces and supplies Butyl heating solutions. Butyl heaters are rare and of the highest quality material. Butyl heaters are highly resistant to a multitude of hazardous environments and are waterproof. They are highly flexible and durable. They are best used for environments that are not typically conducive for flexible heaters. Butyl heaters have standard thickness of around 2mm (0.09?) and can come with integrated thermostats. Integration of thermostats helps in self-regulating heater assemblies that are completely waterproof. An additional benefit to butyl heaters are that they require minimal maintenance and their service life is enhanced because of the advanced design features. Based on your heating requirement, you can combine and integrate these heaters with RTDs, fuses, thermostats, heat sinks, thermocouples, wiring harnesses, thermistors or any such hardware.

Birk's Mica heaters are designed for applications that require higher than normal watt densities and fast temperature recovery. Our customized Mica heaters have shaded watt densities for even heat distribution. These heaters are manufactured with specialized Phlogopite (mica paper) as the insulation material. This mica paper is mica mineral (Phlogopite) then infused with a high temperature heat resisting polymer, thus creating a high temperature, thin insulator. During the manufacturing process, the infused polymer helps the mica heating element to become formable. Heaters can be shaped into the form of curves, cylindrical shapes and 2D geometric designs. Mica heaters are designed for clamped applications making them ideal for hot plates, metal strip heaters and surfaces where direct contact is not an issue. Final heat curing can provide enhanced stringency to the mica heating element if deemed necessary by the application requirements.

Birk Manufacturing specializes in designing and manufacturing customized thermal solutions for flexible heating applications. However, we find it beneficial to offer our customers a standard heating solution for their flexible heater application needs. Quick prototyping, small quantity orders, no tooling and multiple resistance availabilities are just some of the benefits when selecting a standard Birk heater for your flexible heater applications. Birk's standard heaters have proven great in research and development and testing phases. However, once these phases are complete, customized solutions are recommended to ensure overall assembly and application requirements are met. Custom solutions have full integration capabilities with connectors, RTDs and thermocouples for ease of installation. Custom heater solutions reduce the need to source multiple delivery system components by supplying one cohesive thermal delivery system to the customer. Custom solutions can be incorporated into higher level assemblies allowing for a turn-key solution for the customer. Our highly trained design and engineer team members are available to discuss your flexible heating application needs and to provide you with a customized thermal solution backed by Birk's warranty.

Birk's RAPTR heated tube lines of pliable tube heaters and rigid tube heaters are vastly customizable delivery systems. The RAPTR ensures any liquids or gases transported will remain at the same temperature or arrive at an elevated temperature despite thermal losses derived from flow, turbulence, conduction, convection or time. RAPTR heated tubes can be utilized in multiple applications. Whether you are using a rigid tube heater or a pliable tube heater, the RAPTR has proven successful in dynamic applications allotting for movement and in static applications requiring stability. Birk's RAPTR pliable and rigid tube heaters also have full integration capabilities with connectors, RTDs and thermocouples for ease of installation. RAPTR reduces the need to source multiple delivery system components by supplying one cohesive thermal delivery system to the customer. Standard RAPTR lines are available for immediate use. The standard RAPTR has proven great in research, development and testing phases. However, once these phases are complete, customized solutions are recommended as most RAPTR lines require retrofitting and custom resistances. Please refer to technical data below for standard RAPTR products.