News
Watlow Offers Immersion and Circulation Heaters Compliant to ATEX Directive
October 11, 2006
St. Louis - Watlow's flange immersion and circulation heaters can now be provided with compliance to ATEX Zone 1 or Zone 2 applications. Watlow has long offered ATEX Zone 2 compliance. It is now beginning to offer Zone 1 compliant products as well.
"Watlow has long complied with North American hazardous location requirements relating to electric process heaters as well as control panels," explains Rich Hartfelder, process heaters product manager. "ATEX Directive compliance is important because the demand for ATEX compliant heaters is increasing in Europe as well as in many non-EU countries that also use ATEX guidelines in addition to, or in place of, North American guidelines."
ATEX is the European Hazardous Location Compliance Directive, derived from the French words, "ATmospheres EXplosibles." The Directive went into effect on July 1, 2003 and covers a large range of equipment used in hazardous areas often found on offshore platforms, in petro-chemical plants, mines, flour mills and other areas where a potentially explosive atmosphere may be present.
Prior to July 1, 2003, most countries within the European Union (EU) had methods for the certification of electrical equipment used in hazardous locations, but regulations differed in the various countries. The ATEX Directive rectified these differences and issued one set of guidelines for all EU members.
Hartfelder added, "Watlow is committed to global standards such as ATEX and will continue to update its product portfolio to meet new and upcoming agency guidelines."
About Watlow
Since the company's founding in 1922, Watlow has brought its thermal expertise to numerous applications, including semiconductor, photovoltaic, analytical, medical, clinical, plastics processing, foodservice equipment, packaging, aerospace and others. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Watlow is the largest custom designer and manufacturer of industrial heaters, sensors, controllers and software with offices and manufacturing facilities around the world.
For additional information call your nearest Watlow representative:
Watlow
Phone: 1+ (800) WATLOW2, 1+ (314) 878-4600
Fax: 1+ (877) 893-1005, 1+ (314) 878-6814
Internet: www.watlow.com