On the blow molding floor, a mismatched infrared lamp doesn’t just burn energy. It throws your preform heating off spec. You feel it in inconsistent stretch, in thick-walled bottles, and in scrap that climbs every time the ambient temperature shifts. We built our infrared lamp test rig to stop that drift at the source—by validating the emitter before it ever hits the heating tunnel. What matters, technically We match power and spectrum to the machine’s original heating profile. Short-wave quartz emitters snap on fast for high-speed lines; medium-wave options even out the heat for heavier preforms. Every lamp is checked for stable temperature output across its duty cycle, verified against the OEM’s power matching curve. The test rig logs warm-up time, steady-state temperature, and repeatability, so you know the lamp can hold the required thermal profile hour after hour. It also checks the R7s connector contact resistance and alignment. A loose joint turns into uneven heat—and downtime. Why it works in stretch blow molding The preform has to hit a tight temperature window before stretching. Our test equipment confirms the lamp delivers the right heat flux density for your preform wall thickness, which keeps bottle strength and top load uniform. You get fewer pinholes, less crystallization, and a more consistent neck finish. That means fewer line stops, lower scrap, and predictable energy draw. On Sidel, Krones, SIPA, Husky, SACMI, and Nissei ASB machines, the test data translates straight into faster changeovers and more stable production. Here’s what to keep in mind Installation is straightforward, but the lamp has to be matched to the reflector geometry and the specific zone layout. Push a lamp past its rated voltage and it ages fast—plus the wavelength shifts. We recommend re-testing every 2,000 to 3,000 hours. And reflector cleanliness matters. Dust and oxidation change how the heat field distributes. Keep the tunnel clean, and the lamp will perform the way it was tested.