Specialty Heating Company's Products Facilitate Spray Foam Applications

HIGHLAND, MI - July 9, 2013 - One of the most critical factors during spray polyurethane foam applications is temperature regulation. Without optimum temperatures being maintained among the materials, the machine, and the hoses, spray foam applications can not be properly installed. A primary function of Flexotherm, a division company from Neptech Inc, is to alleviate SPF contractors from insufficient heat flow during operations.

Flexotherm specializes in industrial heating products and provides storage, transport, and process solutions. With seven years of experience, the company and its 20-person staff are dedicated to manufacturing high-quality, energy-efficient products and promptly delivering them to reduce downtime. They also come up with solutions for their customers who have heat issues in the field. To reach these objectives, Flexotherm has an in-house research and design facility on top of their engineering staff at their Highland, Michigan, headquarters.

Rick Zalewski, vice president of Flexotherm, affirmed that one of the biggest markets they cater to is the spray foam industry.

"Our job is to help the different equipment and materials used in spray foam applications have optimal temperatures that yield to consistent results," Zalewski said."Flexotherm's goal is to create a pathway for the heat product that is going to be the most effective and the most efficient at enhancing an SPF project."

Flexotherm covers a wide spectrum of heating products that facilitate spray foam applications, from heated line wraps with controllers and heat blankets, to heated-hose assemblies and standard temperature measurement systems.

One of the most noted Flexotherm products that people in the SPF industry take advantage of is the Flexotherm 55 Gallon (208 liter) Flexible Drum/ Barrel Heating Blankets, which contractors place around the A-and B-component drums to maintain steady heat on the foam materials so the proportioner doesn't have to work harder to heat the chemicals.

Zalewski claims that their liquid controller blanket models can maintain temperatures from 80ºF to 150ºF.

Another product that is useful during SPF applications are the heated hoses. Flexotherm's hoses have high-grade heat conducting alloys coupled with high-performance insulation and pressure-tested hose cores. They can be used in low-, medium-, or high-pressure applications.

If there is one product that stands on its own, which further confirms why Flexotherm is a leader in heating products, it's the heat wrap for material hoses. The heat wrap is a custom-designed, temperature-controlled insulated wrap for SPF dispensing hoses. The product features an even and continuous heat source while protecting the hose so that it is completely heated during the foam dispensing process. Flexotherm is the main supplier of heat wraps globally.

"The heat wrap has been our highest success story because it is not offered with any other company," Zalewski said. "Other companies do not have an answer to it; so far the ones that have tried have come up with devices that turn out to have great failure rates."

Zalewski emphasized that most of their products use a system called a "heating grid", which is a carbon impregnated mesh that evenly distributes the heat over the individual product. The heating grid, Zalewski says, promotes long-term durability that competitors can not match when using devices such as heated wires in the field. Flexotherm also provides a two-year warranty in all their products.

To better service SPF contractors, Zalewski said that Flexotherm goes the extra mile to interact with SPF suppliers to troubleshoot problems with equipment. Then, they pass the information on to their R&D staff to work out the kinks. He said that Flexotherm's specialty is transferring their extensive experience of knowing when a product requires an application of heat or how to optimally retain existing heat.

"We strive to be a resource between the supplier and the contractor when trying to find a solution for a recurring heating problem," Zalewski said. "We will ask some open-ended questions to be able to identify where we feel there is some issues in retaining heat or that heat needs to be applied to maintain those desired temperatures of flow."

Zalewski labels Flexotherm as "The Heating Specialists" because they provide innovative heating solutions across the board and they have the supply chain behind the solutions. Because of their reputation, the company has witnessed a 30 to 40 percent growth in sales from quarter to quarter.

Flexotherm's recent growth in sales has prompted the company to expand their business into a new facility in Columbus, Indiana, which recently became operational and will see their 20-person employee base increase.

"We've had such a demand for our products that we've had to expand and a find a way to manufacture these products form multiple locations to avoid outsourcing for quality control," Zalewski said.

Zalewski added that he is proud that the company he works for is American-owned and that it makes American products, which provide cost-effective solutions for the end user.

About Flexotherm: Flexotherm™ is a division of Neptech, Inc. located in Highland, Michigan. Founded in 2002, the company has established a reputation as a manufacturer of reliable and cost-effective heated products. Flexotherm™ is a key supplier of systems and components for industrial research, development, and facility processes around the globe. We are proud to be a service-disabled veteran owned company contributing to the renaissance of American manufacturing through the production and distribution of innovative, environmentally conscious components and related services. Flexotherm™ services many domestic and international companies, harnessing new technologies that reduce emissions. Flexotherm™ fully supports our national effort to promote environmentally friendly industrial operations through the implementation of clean and efficient processes, systems, and analysis.