Precision Fabrication & Machining Services
For Heat Exchangers & Packaged Recovery Systems

At PRE-heat, we use a range of precision machining and fabrication processes to serve customers at every stage of the heat exchanger design cycle. These processes include:

Waterjet Cutting

Waterjet cutting is a powerful machining technique in which a pressurized stream of water cuts through a material with extreme accuracy. As a non-contact cutting method, waterjet cutting creates a smooth edge finish in even thick materials, achieving tolerances at near laser-cut precision without the same risk of heat damage. We use waterjet cutting to process standard and custom materials, including the stainless steel alloys that comprise most of our heat exchangers. We also use waterjet cutting to craft custom metal pieces according to client specifications, including thicker plates for heat exchangers as well as custom metal pieces for other requested modifications.

Our premium waterjet cutters can cut cleanly through 2″ of material with a max cut size of 72″ x 144″. Compatible materials include:

This versatility allows us to work with whatever material a project requires, whether it’s 2″ thick metal or thin sheets of insulation.

Plasma Cutting

Plasma cutting is similar to waterjet cutting in its capabilities, but instead of directing high-pressure water jets at the material, it uses superheated plasma to create precise cuts with a minimal heat-affected zone. Plasma cutting works with electrically conductive materials, including the steel and stainless steel alloys that clients often request. Although plasma cutting is limited to certain materials, its results with those materials are extremely precise, and its extreme tolerances make up for its lack of versatility.

Our plasma cutter works with carbon steel up to 1/2″ thick and stainless steel up to 3/8″ thick, with a maximum cut area of 72″ x 144″.

Shear Cutting

Most stock and custom heat exchange systems involve processing sheet metal. Shearing allows us to cleanly cut stock metal to size for further machining. Our shear cutters can accommodate raw material up to 12′ long, stainless steel up to ¼” thick, and carbon steel up to 3/8″ thick.

Hem Saws

Among the many modifications we offer clients are custom ductwork and structural supports. Hem saws, which quickly create accurate straight cuts, are key to constructing these options. Where waterjet cutting works with flat material of all kinds, our hem saws allow us to precisely process:

Hem saws are especially useful for forming custom shell & tube heat exchangers.

Brake Presses

Brake presses are essential to our operations as they allow us to bend sheets, rods, and pipes for frames and shell & tube heat exchangers. Brake presses help form tubes into any necessary shape, whether curved or angled. Our high-capacity brake presses can handle raw metal up to 3/8″ in thickness and up to 12′ long.

Punch Presses & Turret Punch Press

A key element of our plate heat exchangers are their dimpled or waved patterns, which enable optimal airflow and performance. Presses help us create exactly the pattern necessary for a given project. Punch presses also allow us to place the holes necessary for fixtures, fasteners, and tubing.

Our standard punch press creates holes up to 1 1/8″ diameter while our high-powered turret punch press can create holes up to 60″ wide in material up to 7 Ga (or .188″ thick).

Our Expertise

Of course, our equipment alone cannot guarantee the results you need. High-end machinery is useless in the hands of an inexperienced heat exchanger manufacturer, who lacks the nuanced understanding of when and how to use them.

When you partner with PRE-heat for your precision engineering project, you aren’t just contracting with our machinery but with our industry experts who have spent decades supplying personalized heat exchange solutions. When we assess your needs, we quickly identify an optimal manufacturing plan that considers not only your specifications, but also broader trends in the heat exchange industry. We then determine how best to accomplish that plan.

Working with experts like the team at PRE-heat ensures:

• Competitive pricing
• Reliable delivery
• Custom solutions
• Personal attention

Unlike a generic contract manufacturer, PRE-heat understands the unique challenges inherent to thermal energy management, so we’re well-positioned to tackle high-stakes prototypes and complex production runs.

The PRE-heat Difference for Quality Heat Exchangers & Services

PRE-heat is best known for our innovative, customizable heat exchange and recovery systems, which include dimple plate and in-line wave plate heat exchangers as well as shell & tube heat exchangers. Our systems are durable and robust, featuring all-metal, all-welded construction with variable plate and tube arrangements and thickness. We work closely with clients to determine the best airflow pattern for efficient heat transfer.

In developing custom solutions, we offer a range of value-added services for our clients, including:

• CAD design
• Breakdown
• Model efficiency improvement
• Turnkey models
• Startup and installation

In partnering with clients from design through production, we ensure that every element of their system benefits their specific application. We offer these services to clients from diverse industries, delivering high-performance heating and cooling solutions that adhere to the most rigorous quality assurance standards.

Industries & Uses

Over our 40 years in operation, we’ve served a wide variety of industries, providing efficient energy transfer across heating and cooling applications. Our systems can heat various types of ovens, such as those for curing polymers and paints. They can also heat pre-intake air for engine testing and jet engine intake air. Cooling applications include exhaust treatment and pre-cooling, as well as solvent recovery systems.

Other general uses and industries for heat recovery and exchange include:

Precision Heat Exchanger Fabrication & Manufacturing with PRE-heat, Inc.

PRE-heat was founded to fill the unmet need for turnkey custom heat exchange and recovery equipment. Leveraging precision fabrication techniques, we’ve been successful in doing just that.