Cartridge heaters  are a vital part of many industrial equipment and processes. They are commonly used in ovens, grills, toasters, and deep fryers to provide controlled heating. They also find use in food processing machinery to maintain consistent temperature conditions during packaging and sealing operations. These heaters are also used to heat the metal parts of medical and laboratory equipment such as incubators, autoclaves, and sterilizers.

One of the primary advantages of using cartridge heaters is their ability to effectively transfer heat with minimal loss. This is partly due to the metallic sheet that surrounds the heater element, which helps prevent oxidation and ensures close interaction with the material to be heated. In addition, the insulated sheath of the cartridge heater reduces heat loss and directs it to where it is needed most.

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Another key feature of cartridge heaters is their versatility. They can be fitted in a wide range of holes, which allows for flexible positioning and easier installation. They are available in a variety of diameters and can be designed with various exit ports, such as a right-angle exit, fixing tab or flange mounting.

The sheath of a cartridge heater is swaged to ensure a tight and complete packing of magnesium oxide (MgO) insulation. Sheaths are typically cold swaged, which involves placing the cylindrical heater sheath in a confining die to reduce its diameter. They may also be hot swaged, which involves heating the sheath and inserting it in a die to form a rounded sheath that has been tightly packed with MgO insulation.