Tin Reflow

Tinplate is essentially a light gauge steel coated with tin on both surfaces. During the manufacturing process, the steel strip is heated and the tin coating is momentarily melted, resulting in a bright surface on the tinplate. The process also produces a thin iron-tin alloy layer at the tin coating/steel interface which improves solderability and corrosion resistance.

Modern tinning lines use high frequency “STATITRON^®” inverters for this application. The main advantages of these inverters in comparison with the old vacuum tube generator are: better electrical efficiency, safer and easier maintenance, and reduced dimensions. The reflow units using the new transistor inverters have even a better efficiency than a conduction type heating system.

INDUCTOTHERM units powered by the “STATITRON^®” high frequency inverter are installed in the following situations:

• To increase the capacity of an existing tinning line (using conduction heating only) by the addition of a transistorized induction system.
• Replacement of an existing outdated vacuum tube generator with a transistorized inverter to reduce the production and maintenance costs.
• Revamping from an old production line by completely replacing the conduction heating system with a transistorized induction system.
• 100% induction heating in new production lines.