Surface temperatures are a good indication of whether your process and production equipment are running as specified.

Continuous temperature measurement can provide critical information on manufacturing processes, including food, chemicals, glass, plastics or metals, as well as web processes used in film coating, paper manufacturing and textile printing.
There are two ways to measure surface temperature: contact thermometers or non-contact, infrared temperature sensors. Contact thermometers are used commonly in production applications and are low cost and reasonably accurate. However, contact thermometers can tear or contaminate materials, have slower response times and are more easily damaged in harsh environments. For the majority of industrial applications, non-contact infrared (IR) thermometry is a far better choice.
IR thermometers allow the quick, safe measurement of temperature, especially of objects that are moving, extremely hot or difficult to reach. Where a contact thermometer could alter the temperature, damage or contaminate a product, an IR thermometer provides an accurate, non-destructive alternative. And compared to contact probes, infrared sensors deliver temperature data in a fraction of a second, as they require no warm-up time to adjust to changing surface temperatures.
IR thermometry is not new. It has been used increasingly over the years to monitor production processes and equipment. Here's how it works. When pointed at the target, the IR thermometer captures the infrared energy that is naturally emitted from all objects, directs it through its optical or lens system and converts it into an electrical signal. The temperature data can be output as an analog signal (4 - 20mA), or in the case of a "smart" sensor, converted to a digital output (RS485) and displayed on a PC.
Raytek provides a flexible set of measurement solutions to meet the cost/performance requirements of industry. The Raytek Compact Series includes the CI, MID and GP sensors and provides reliable, easy to use, affordable solutions in a wide-range of industry applications. These models vary in capability from basic single-point temperature sensors to networked sensors supported by digital communications.
For more set-up and control flexibility in single-point sensor, Raytek offers the GP monitor and GP sensing heads. The GP monitor is configurable and the bright LED readout displays temperature, including maximum and minimum values, as well as alarm information. A user-defined 4 - 20mA and two adjustable alarm outputs can be used to notify operators of out-of-range conditions. The alarm outputs can also be used in a closed-loop control system for adjusting process variables, such as heating elements or production line speed.
When the requirement is for networked, multi-point monitoring, 'smart'IR sensors with built-in digital communications provide a solution. The Raytek MID provides monitoring and control of sensor variables from a remote PC. For installation in tight spaces, the MID features the industry's smallest sensing head. The small size is possible because the sensor's optics and electronics are separate. Two-way digital communication allows operators to configure and control multiple sensors. Software included with the MID allows up to 32 sensors to be multi-dropped at critical points along a production line.
There are a wide variety of affordable IR sensors to choose from today for continuous, automatic temperature monitoring. They can be an invaluable tool in managing the operating economy of industrial equipment and processes. m

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