On the blow molding floor, preform heating isn’t just another step—it sets the pace for the whole line. When preforms run cool, stretch becomes inconsistent, walls end up thicker, and scrap piles up. When the lamps go down, the line stops, and every minute of downtime hits the bottom line. We built the long-life SWIR heater lamp to keep the heating tunnel stable, cycle after cycle. What matters under the hood: the emitter is short-wave infrared, in a fast-response quartz envelope, tuned for how PET absorbs energy. It delivers high irradiance where you need it—at the neck and along the body—without scorching the surface. The specs line up with blow molders from Sidel, Krones, SIPA, Husky, SACMI, and Nissei ASB: voltage, wattage, length, and R7s connector geometry match OEM mounting and wiring. The payoff is repeatable heat profiles with tight control across the heating zones. Here is the thing: swap out your halogen or aging quartz lamps and you get longer runs between changes. In the real world, we see lamp life pushing 5,000+ hours with stable output, which means less labor replacing lamps and fewer spares tied up in inventory. You also cut energy use, because SWIR puts the heat where it counts, with less wasted convection. Plants report fewer temperature-related rejects, more consistent bottle weight, and better line efficiency. On a 24/7 line, that can add up to tens of thousands saved annually—mostly from less downtime and lower energy spend. Installation is plug-and-play on compatible blow molders, but do verify your heating tunnel reflector geometry and power supply. SWIR lamps run hot at the base, so airflow and clean connections matter—keep terminals tight and keep the lamp free of dust and oil. Expect warm-up behavior that’s a bit different from medium-wave. Set your PID to match the emitter’s response, and you’ll keep preform heating stable.