The DIHEM system heats air through direct electromagnetic induction, without flames, combustion, or electrical resistance heating elements in the airflow, providing rapid temperature control and integration with industrial processes.
In the production of plastic films, laminates, and flexible packaging, hot air plays a critical role in several stages of the manufacturing process.
It may be required to dry solvents and inks after printing, dry and heat coatings, support lamination processes, and assist with adhesive activation.
Therefore, when an air heating system experiences instability, slow response times, or frequent maintenance requirements, the impact extends beyond the thermal system itself.
It directly affects production.
This is where BRASCOELMA introduces DIHEM — a direct electromagnetic induction air heating system, developed as an alternative to conventional heating technologies used in these processes.
WHAT IS DIRECT ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION AIR HEATING?
The operating principle differs from conventional electric resistance or combustion-based heaters.
In DIHEM, heat is generated through electromagnetic induction within a metallic mass specifically designed for thermal exchange.
Air flows through this heated metallic structure and absorbs heat through forced convection.
In simple terms, the process follows this sequence:
electrical energy → electromagnetic induction → heating of the metallic mass → heat transfer → hot air delivered to the process.
There is no need for electrical resistance heating elements positioned directly in the airflow.
There are also no flames or combustion involved in the equipment’s heat generation process.
HOW DOES THE DIHEM AIR HEATER WORK?
The equipment features an electromagnetic induction coil associated with the metallic body responsible for generating heat.
Air enters the equipment, passes through the heat transfer section, and exits at an elevated temperature for use in the industrial process.
Electromagnetic energy generates induced currents within the metallic mass.
The metal heats up.
The airflow then absorbs this heat and carries it to the point where it is needed.
This configuration allows heating to be integrated directly with the production line’s thermal requirements.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DIHEM AND AN ELECTRIC RESISTANCE HEATER?
The main difference lies in where and how heat is generated.
In a conventional resistance heater, electrical resistance elements generate heat.
In DIHEM, heating occurs through electromagnetic induction within the metallic heat exchange structure.
Consequently, no electrical resistance heating elements are positioned in the airflow.
This construction difference influences important industrial operating characteristics, including thermal response, maintenance requirements, and control system integration.
HOW DOES DIHEM DIFFER FROM GAS-FIRED HEATING?
Gas-fired systems rely on combustion to produce heat.
DIHEM uses electrical energy and electromagnetic induction.
Therefore, the system does not require a flame to heat the air.
Additionally, because combustion does not occur within the equipment, the DIHEM heating process does not generate combustion gases.
For industries exploring the electrification of thermal processes, this characteristic may be particularly relevant.
WHERE IS HOT AIR USED IN PLASTIC FILM PRODUCTION?
Plastic film and flexible packaging manufacturing involves several production stages.
A production line may include, for example:
extrusion → printing → coating → lamination → drying and cooling.
At different points in this sequence, proper air temperature control can be critical to the process.
Applications for heated air include:
- Drying after flexographic printing;
- Film coating and drying;
- Lamination;
- Heating associated with extrusion processes;
- Air heating for other auxiliary industrial requirements.
This demonstrates why the heater should not be evaluated in isolation.
It must be sized for the specific production stage that requires hot air.
WHY IS DRYING AFTER FLEXOGRAPHIC PRINTING AN IMPORTANT APPLICATION?
In flexographic printing, the material moves continuously through the production process.
After ink application, drying must occur under the conditions established for the production line.
Heated air plays a direct role in this stage.
Therefore, its temperature and response capabilities must keep pace with production speed and operating conditions.
When the process changes, the thermal system must respond accordingly.
This relationship makes air temperature control a variable directly connected to production performance.
HOW DOES DIHEM SUPPORT COATING PROCESSES?
Coating processes may also use heated air to establish the conditions required for drying.
In this application, the thermal system must operate in coordination with coating application and the continuous movement of the film.
DIHEM’s function is to supply the heated air required by the process, using electromagnetic induction as its heat generation principle.
Once again, the objective is not simply to produce hot air.
It is to deliver heat under the conditions required by the application.
WHAT ABOUT FLEXIBLE PACKAGING LAMINATION?
Lamination combines different materials to create a multilayer structure.
Depending on the process, heating and drying may be involved in production and the activation of the materials used.
For this reason, lamination and adhesive activation are among the applications identified for air heating systems.
The ability to control temperature and respond to changes in the production line becomes especially important because the thermal system is connected to a continuous manufacturing process.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN DIHEM IS DESCRIBED AS HAVING LOW THERMAL INERTIA?
Thermal inertia refers to a system’s tendency to take a certain amount of time to respond to temperature changes required by the process.
In DIHEM, low thermal inertia is associated with the ability to respond quickly to changes in demand.
This is relevant when the production line requires temperature adjustments or when heating must adapt to different operating conditions.
Rather than evaluating only the maximum temperature a heater can achieve, engineering teams should also ask:
How quickly can the system respond to what the process requires?
WHY IS FAST THERMAL RESPONSE IMPORTANT?
An industrial production line does not necessarily operate under the same conditions throughout an entire shift.
Production speed, products, processing recipes, and thermal requirements may change.
When this happens, the heating system must adapt to the operation.
DIHEM’s rapid thermal response allows heating to function as a dynamic part of the process.
This also supports integration with the plant’s control and automation systems.
HOW DOES DIHEM INTEGRATE WITH INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION?
Modern industrial heating should not operate independently of the rest of the production line.
Temperature, airflow, production speed, and equipment control commands must work together.
For this reason, integration with the process and automation systems is an important feature of the solution.
In practice, this allows the thermal system to respond to operating requirements rather than simply running at a fixed condition.
CAN DIHEM REDUCE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS?
One important difference is the absence of electrical resistance heating elements positioned directly in the airflow.
In conventional resistance heating systems, these elements generate heat and are exposed to the thermal conditions of operation.
DIHEM uses a different principle: induction heats the metallic heat exchange structure.
This configuration reduces dependence on conventional resistance heating elements and may simplify certain maintenance requirements associated with them.
However, all industrial equipment still requires inspections and maintenance appropriate to its operating conditions.
CAN THE SYSTEM CONTRIBUTE TO PROCESS SAFETY?
The absence of flames and combustion changes the system’s thermal risk profile.
Likewise, DIHEM does not use electrical resistance heating elements directly in the airflow.
These characteristics may be relevant in projects seeking greater control over the heating process.
However, this does not mean that induction equipment eliminates the need for safety assessments.
Electrical installation, protective systems, controls, environmental conditions, operating temperatures, and application characteristics must still be addressed during engineering design.
CAN INDUCTION HEATING SUPPORT INDUSTRIAL ELECTRIFICATION?
Yes. DIHEM uses electricity rather than combustion to produce the heat required by the airflow.
This allows the system to be incorporated into projects focused on the electrification of thermal processes.
For companies seeking to reduce their direct use of fossil fuels, this characteristic may form part of a broader modernization strategy.
However, electrification and decarbonization are not automatically synonymous.
The environmental outcome also depends on the source of electricity and the overall operating conditions of the process.
HOW DOES DIHEM COMPARE WITH OTHER AIR HEATING TECHNOLOGIES?
The comparison must consider both the operating principle and the application’s requirements.
| CRITERION | DIHEM — INDUCTION | ELECTRIC RESISTANCE | GAS-FIRED HEATING |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy source | Electricity | Electricity | Fuel |
| Heat generation principle | Electromagnetic induction | Resistance heating elements | Combustion |
| Flame | No | No | Yes |
| Resistance elements in airflow | No | Depends on configuration | No |
| Combustion gases generated by heater | No | No | Yes |
| Control | Integrates with the process | Depends on configuration | Depends on configuration |
| Thermal response | Fast | Depends on system | Depends on system |
| Maintenance | No replacement of conventional resistance heating elements | May involve resistance heating elements | Involves combustion system components |
| Process electrification | Yes | Yes | No |
This table helps illustrate the differences.
However, it does not determine which technology should be selected.
IS DIHEM ALWAYS THE BEST ALTERNATIVE?
No technology is universally suitable for every industrial process.
The decision must consider:
- Required temperature;
- Airflow rate;
- Thermal power;
- Response time;
- Operating conditions;
- Existing technology;
- Electrical power availability;
- Energy costs;
- Maintenance;
- Available space;
- Production line integration.
This analysis is what transforms an equipment comparison into an engineering decision.
WHY IS COMPACT, MODULAR DESIGN RELEVANT?
In existing industrial facilities, space is often a constraint.
New equipment must be integrated into production lines that already have established structures, ducts, machinery, control panels, and access areas.
For this reason, DIHEM’s compact and modular design may facilitate integration studies for modernization projects and new installations.
However, final dimensions and configuration must be determined according to the required capacity and installation conditions.
IS DIHEM ONLY SUITABLE FOR FLEXIBLE PACKAGING?
The technical material particularly highlights its application in laminated plastics and flexible packaging production, including printing, coating, lamination, and drying.
However, the air heating principle may also be evaluated for other industrial applications requiring heated airflow.
Suitability depends on the actual parameters of each process.
WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED TO SIZE AN AIR HEATING SYSTEM?
Before requesting a project, it is important to gather:
- Intended hot air application;
- Inlet temperature;
- Required outlet temperature;
- Airflow rate;
- Required thermal power;
- Operating conditions;
- Production line speed;
- Product being processed;
- Heating technology currently in use;
- Available electrical voltage;
- Installation space;
- Automation integration requirements;
- Environmental conditions;
- Process-specific requirements.
The clearer and more complete this information is, the more accurate the equipment sizing can be.
FAQ — DIHEM INDUCTION AIR HEATING
WHAT IS DIHEM?
DIHEM is a direct electromagnetic induction air heating system developed to supply hot air to industrial processes.
HOW DOES DIHEM HEAT AIR?
Electromagnetic induction heats a metallic mass. Air flows through the equipment and absorbs heat through forced convection.
DOES DIHEM HAVE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE HEATING ELEMENTS IN THE AIRFLOW?
No. The system uses electromagnetic induction instead of resistance heating elements positioned directly in the airflow.
DOES DIHEM USE GAS?
No. The system uses electrical energy and does not rely on combustion to generate heat.
WHERE CAN IT BE USED IN FLEXIBLE PACKAGING PRODUCTION?
Applications include drying after flexographic printing, film coating and drying, lamination, and other production stages requiring heated air.
CAN DIHEM BE INTEGRATED WITH AUTOMATION SYSTEMS?
Yes. Integration with process control and automation is one of the technology’s stated features.
DOES THE SYSTEM OFFER FAST THERMAL RESPONSE?
The technology is characterized by low thermal inertia and a rapid ability to respond to process requirements.
CAN DIHEM REPLACE GAS-FIRED HEATING?
It can be evaluated as an electric alternative in certain applications. Feasibility depends on thermal demand, installation conditions, available energy, and process characteristics.
CAN IT REPLACE ELECTRIC RESISTANCE HEATERS?
Replacement can be evaluated from a technical perspective. Airflow, temperature, power, operating conditions, and integration with the existing production line must be compared.
HOW CAN I DETERMINE WHETHER DIHEM IS SUITABLE FOR MY PRODUCTION LINE?
The first step is to provide the engineering team with the process’s thermal and operating parameters so the solution can be properly sized.
HEATING AIR IS ONLY PART OF THE CHALLENGE. MAKING THE HEATING SYSTEM RESPOND TO THE PRODUCTION LINE IS WHAT REALLY MATTERS.
In a plastic film and flexible packaging manufacturing facility, the thermal system plays a direct role in production.
Printing.
Drying.
Coating.
Lamination.
Adhesive activation.
Each stage may impose different requirements on the heated airflow.
BRASCOELMA DIHEM brings electromagnetic induction to these processes, eliminating the need for flames and electrical resistance heating elements directly in the airflow while providing a solution with fast thermal response, process control, and industrial automation integration.
Does your facility use electric resistance or gas-fired systems to heat air for printing, drying, coating, or lamination? Contact BRASCOELMA’s engineering team and request a technical assessment of your application.