Flexible heaters are heating components that are flexible and easily adapt to the shape of a given object or surface. Different materials are used to make these heaters, such as silicone, polyimide, polyester, mica, and other flexible materials. These materials offer a variety of qualities, including high heat resistance, flexibility, and durability, making them appropriate for a variety of applications. They are widely employed in a wide range of sectors, including electronics, defense and aerospace, medical, automotive, laboratory, and industrial. The medical sector uses flexible heaters for a variety of purposes such as warming blankets, patient warming systems, and laboratory equipment. In the automobile sector, they are used for defrosting windshields and heating vehicle seats. In defense and aerospace applications, they are used to offer reliable and effective heating in aircraft and spacecraft components. Besides, flexible heaters are also utilized in laboratory equipment and industrial applications such as heating tanks and pipelines.
Key Drivers of the Flexible Heaters Market
Growing Demand of Heating Blankets
The demand of heating blankets is growing to cut electricity costs and improve sleep in winters. The companies are initiating on this trend by launching new and advanced electric blankets that cost less than installing a heater in the room. For instance, in January 2023, Lidl launched its Silvercrest Heated Underblanket in the UK stores. According to the company, the Silvercrest Heated Underblanket costs 2p per hour to run (16p for the whole night), compared to a 24KW boiler, which costs £22.08 ($27.6) (based on eight hours of sleep).
Growth of Electronics in Several Industries
Flexible heaters are widely utilized in the electronics sector also, in products such as cell phones, tablets, and laptops. Flexible heaters are built into internal smartphone components such as the battery, CPU, and display. They are tiny and lightweight, so they don't add bulk to the device. When the phone creates too much heat, the flexible heaters come in to assist spread out the heat evenly over the device, eliminating hotspots and lowering the chance of internal component damage. Hence, these are widely utilized in electronic gadgets. Consequently, the growth of the electronic industry will further boost the demand of flexible heaters.
Demand of Flexible Heaters in the Healthcare Sector
Flexible heaters have helped the healthcare industry all over the years. Blood and fluid warming, patient warming, and wound care are some of the most common applications for flexible heaters. This is especially true when employing silicone and polyimide heaters, since etched foil components aid in heat distribution for CPAP machines, dialysis, and sterilizing applications. Flexible heaters have also been used in a range of other medical applications, including Respiratory therapy, Cardiology, Prescription drug delivery, Ophthalmology, and OB/GYN. Hence, such use cases proliferate the demand of flexible heaters in the healthcare sector.
Expansions and Innovations by Major Market Players
The flexible heater market has significant contributors such as Chromalox, Inc., Minco Products, Inc, Nibe Industrier AB (Briskheat Corp.), Honeywell International Inc., Hotset GmbH, Omega Engineering Inc., Rogers Corp., Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company, Smiths Group PLC, and Zoppas Industries Heating Element Technologies, among others. These players assist in the market’s growth with the launch of new products and through collaborations and investments. Some of the recent developments in the market include-
• In January 2023, Sweet Night Technology Co., Ltd, the company that created the direct-to-consumer mattress and sleep-related product brand SweetNight, introduced a new wearable, proving its commitment to bringing high-quality sleep-related items to market. The Mobile Warming Blanket is a multi-purpose blanket that can be used around the house, on short outside journeys, and at the office. The blanket is foldable, lightweight for travel, hypoallergenic, wind/splash resistant, and provides excellent heat insulation. In cold conditions, users can turn on the built-in heating element of the blanket by connecting it to a USB power bank for powered warming.
• In November 2022, Xiaomi released the MIJIA Smart Temperature-Controlled Plumbing Blanket. To meet various temperature requirements, the product uses an A/B partition water tank, separate heating, and piping. The plumbing blanket allows for intelligent water heating flow and independent temperature control. The MIJIA smart temperature-controlled plumbing blanket has up to 12 layers of safety protection and operates at a low sound level of less than 22dB, and the MIJIA app adds extra capabilities to the device.