Cast Platen Heaters For Commercial ToastersA food service equipment OEM of high volume commercial toasters had an application for toasting several different types of bread for a restaurant chain. The restaurant chain served freshly prepared meals, so the toaster, without burning a product, had to quickly caramelize and toast the slices of bread. The toaster product definition called for a clamshell type electric heater design that would handle large volumes of product and be capable of toasting several types of bread at the same time.The OEM selected Durex Industries as a design and manufacturing partner because of our thermal design expertise, the range of potential solutions, design and production responsiveness, and agency approvals on electric heater products. Using finite element analysis software, we modeled and then designed a cast-in aluminum platen heater with distributed wattage for the top and bottom clamshell platens. The cast-in platen heaters provided a uniform temperature across the entire surface, enabling the restaurant chain to increase throughput. Temperature sensor assemblies were incorporated into the design, which provide excellent isothermal response and accuracy. The temperature sensors, in combination with the electric cast platen heater, increased the thermal response for varying volumes and sizes of toasted bread products. The OEM substantially reduce their design time and agency approval costs due to the UL recognition of Durex Industries' cast heaters.
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