Adding Cooling to a Heated Platen Press: What to Specify
The decision to add cooling to an existing heated platen press is one that can address new production requirements, materials, and processing methods for an array of industrial manufacturers. While the right approach depends on the required temperature cycle, press configuration, and existing setups, completing an engineering review with an experienced company like Venango helps determine if adding cooling to a heated platen press is a practical retrofit.
Venango Machine manufactures electrically heated, water-cooled platens and offers platen retrofit services. To help our team better understand the end production goals of retrofitting a heated platen press with cooling capabilities, please send us any information regarding the existing equipment and proposed process so that the potential reconfiguration can be evaluated by in-house engineers.
Request A Quote for Platen Retrofitting
Can Your Press Accommodate Heating & Cooling Platens?
A press that can handle the current production requirements may need extensive modifications to support a different thermal cycle, such as heating and cooling. Platen size, thickness, weight, mounting, and utility conditions should all be thoroughly explained during the RFQ or engineering review to determine full compatibility.
When working with Venango to retrofit platens for manufacturing settings that require heating and cooling cycles, there are several other important considerations to mention during early intake to confirm suitability:
- Press manufacturer and model
- Complete rated capacity
- Number of openings
- Existing platen arrangements
- Tooling dimensions and loading/unloading space
- Full platen thickness and critical dimensions
This review process will allow Venango to determine whether the project calls for replacement platens, a separate cooling operation, or broader equipment changes that may make the process cost-prohibitive. Adding cooling passages to an existing platen should never be assumed to be feasible for retrofit without a detailed examination of its construction and condition.
Matching Platen Configurations to Production Processes
Heating-only platens, separate cooling platens, and combined platens that offer heating and cooling thermal functionality address different production processes and settings. The following comparison chart can help serve as a starting point when determining if retrofitting existing platens for new operations is financially prudent and logistically feasible.
| Configuration | Situation to evaluate | Main purchasing consideration |
| Heating-only platens | The process requires heat in the press, with cooling handled afterward | Confirm that unloading and subsequent cooling meet material and product requirements. |
| Separate cooling platens | The operation permits transfer to a dedicated cooling stage | Evaluate transfer time, handling, pressure requirements, and additional equipment. |
| Combined heating/cooling platens | The product needs heating followed by cooling in the same press position | Review thermal transitions, water supply, controls, and press compatibility together. |
Electrically heated and water-cooled platens are an option for processes that require both functions in a single platen design. However, making the decision that this style of platen is required is not possible without first evaluating the complete cycle, including reheating before the next run.
What Heating & Cooling Platen Requirements Should You Specify?
At Venango Machine, our facility has manufactured custom heating and cooling platens for a variety of OEMs and industrial applications. Our equipment is integral to successful production programs in the laminate, plywood, rubber, and composite industries. As a result, we understand what performance features and expectations are required for different end applications. Two of the most important conversations we have had with customers looking to retrofit heated platen presses for cooling cycles are detailed below.
Operating Temperatures & Uniformity
It is critical to define the starting temperature, heating setpoint, maximum desired operating temperature, and the required heating uniformity. It is also important to identify which temperature correlates to the platen surface, mold, or product/material. Additional temperature details to include in an RFQ to add cooling to a heated platen press are heating ramp and dwell requirements, tooling materials, tooling weight, product thickness, and load size.
Cooling Sequence & Cycle Targets
Define when cooling needs to begin, the required end temperature, and whether the material must remain under pressure throughout cooling, a common consideration for composite manufacturing. Please call out any required cooling rate or controlled temperature stages. Cooling press platens and retrofit jobs should be specified around both the maximum unloading temperature and the preferred cycle times.
What Should You Submit for a Platen Engineering Review?
Are you interested in learning more about retrofitting existing heated platens for cooling cycles? These are some of the most important details to include in your initial RFQ so that our team has a head start on understanding whether or not a retrofit platen is capable of delivering the performance capabilities required for the new application.
- Drawings: Existing and proposed platen dimensions, mounting details, tooling interfaces, connection locations, and flatness and parallelism requirements.
- Thermal sequence: Heating setpoints, ramps, dwell periods, cooling stages, unloading temperature, and pressure throughout the cycle.
- Production requirements: Product and tooling details, desired cycle time, operating schedule, and acceptance criteria.
- Equipment details: Press specifications, photographs, control schematics, utility capacities, and current platen condition.
Request a Heating and Cooling Platen Quote
Planning a new material or production process for an existing press? Submit your press specifications to Venango Machine for a heating/cooling platen quote. Include drawings, the required thermal sequence, available utilities, and production targets to support an engineering review of the proposed upgrade.
