Heater Pads

Heater pads, also known as heat mats, are flexible surface heating elements essential for many industrial process heating applications. Economical and easy to install, they are incredibly useful for heating surfaces with unconventional or curved shapes where internal heating is impractical.

Their primary function is to maintain or raise the temperature of viscous liquids and gases, ensuring a consistent flow through drums, IBCs, pipes, and heated hoses.

Types of Heater Pads we Offer

Our range of flexible electric heater pads in NZ includes two primary types. Versatile silicone rubber pad heaters and high-temperature micathermic heaters, each suited to different industrial and commercial heating needs.

Silicone Rubber Pad Heaters

Silicone heating pads are highly flexible and made from silicone rubber. They work by laminating resistive wires or foils between thin sheets of silicone. For precise thermal control, these mats can be integrated with temperature control devices such as thermocouples, platinum sensors, and limit switches.

Types of Silicone Heating Pads

Silicone heating pads are typically constructed in one of two ways:

Wire Wound: These mats are extremely robust and durable, making them ideal for applications where the heater is frequently installed, moved, or removed.
Etched Foil: These mats feature chemically etched foil heating tracks laminated between the silicone sheets. This construction provides highly precise, uniform heating and excellent temperature accuracy.

Applications of Silicone Heater Mats in NZ

The versatility of silicone heater mats make them suitable for a wide range of uses, including:

Industrial Catering: Used to keep food warm in serving units, benefiting from the mat's ability to provide even and controlled heat.
Aerospace and Aviation: Applied to aircraft equipment to prevent freezing, often using 12V heat pads powered directly by the vehicle's DC electrical system.
Laboratory Equipment: Integrated into scientific apparatus for precise sample heating, with 12V versions suited for portable and benchtop equipment.

Micathermic Heaters

Micathermic heater pads, also known as mica heaters, are used to provide high-temperature heating to small, specific areas or surfaces, often within electrical appliances.

They are constructed using thin sheets of mica, a material known for its excellent thermal conductivity and ability to withstand extremely high temperatures.

Types of Mica Heating Mats

Mica heaters are available in two main designs:

Flat Design: These heaters are small, thin, and rectangular, making them best suited for providing uniform heat across flat surfaces. They are often fitted between two metal plates where one or both require heating.
Band Design: These are typically encased in a brass or stainless steel casing and are designed to wrap around cylindrical surfaces. They are commonly used to heat dies, platens, moulds, and barrels in process machinery.

Applications of Mica Heating Mats

Mica heating mats are able to deliver high temperatures, making them essential in many industrial and commercial processes:

Process & Packaging Equipment: Used in sealing bars, platens, and moulds where high, consistent heat is required for plastic moulding and packaging.
Food Service Equipment: Mica heating mats are integrated into commercial appliances like grills, toasters, and warming cabinets for rapid and efficient heating.
Enclosure Systems and Air Heaters: Provide localised heating within enclosures to control temperature, or as the core element in fan and air heaters.
Specialist Applications: Used for anti-condensation heating in panels, curing GRP pipes, and in satellite dishes for snow melting.

Key Benefits & Features of Heating Mats

Heater pads provide a practical and effective solution for surface heating, offering a number of key advantages over other heating methods in many industrial and commercial applications.

Flexibility and Easy Installation: Their thin and pliable design allows them to conform to curved or irregularly shaped surfaces, making them ideal for applications where rigid heaters cannot be used.
Wide Temperature Range and Efficiency: Heating mats are available to cover a wide operational temperature range, from gentle warming to high-temperature process heat.
Durable and Long-Lasting: Constructed from robust materials like silicone rubber and mica, these heaters are resistant to moisture, chemicals, and physical wear.
Precise and Uniform Heating: Heater pads, particularly etched-foil variants, deliver uniform heat distribution across the entire surface. When paired with sensors and controllers, they can maintain very precise temperatures.
Versatile Industrial Applications: Their unique characteristics make them suitable for a diverse range of scenarios, from preventing condensation in enclosures and curing composites, to providing heating for process machinery, tanks, and hoppers.

How to Choose the Right Heater Pad

To choose the best heater pad, you must match the heater's capabilities to your specific requirements. Consider the following key factors.

Heating Type and Precision: For general, robust heating, a wire-wound silicone heating pad is a great choice. If your application requires highly precise and uniform heat distribution, an etched-foil silicone heater or a mica heater would be more suitable.
Surface and Shape: Flexible silicone mats are ideal for conforming to curved or irregular shapes like pipes and vessels. For rigid, flat surfaces or cylindrical parts, flat or band-style mica heaters are often the best fit.
Temperature and Power: Verify the heater's maximum operating temperature meets your process needs. Also, check the power rating (watt density) to ensure it provides sufficient heat without damaging the surface or the heater itself.
Sealing and Environmental Compatibility: Ensure the heater's material and construction provide adequate protection against moisture, chemicals, or physical abrasion. For demanding applications, look for heaters with a high IP rating for sealing against dust and water ingress.
Connection and Control: For applications requiring precise temperature regulation, confirm the heater is compatible with, or includes, integrated control devices like thermocouples and sensors.

How to Order Heating Mats from RS New Zealand?

Find the right heater pads at RS New Zealand. As a leading distributor of thermal management components, we stock a wide range of electric silicone and mica heater pads from trusted manufacturers like our very own RS PRO. Explore our full online catalogue to find the perfect heater pads, temperature controllers, and heating elements to complete your thermal management system.

Sourcing your components from RS NZ is a simple process. Simply add your selected items to the online basket and follow the prompts to complete your transaction via our secure checkout system. We offer flexible payment terms to suit your purchasing requirements. For complete details on shipping options, delivery times, and our service coverage across New Zealand, please consult our Delivery Information page.