If you run a Krones stretch blow molder, the heating tunnel is where your day starts and ends. Preform temperature drift isn’t just a nuisance that slows cycles—it’s a scrap generator and a trigger for unplanned stops. When the lamp isn’t pulling its weight, you’re chasing uneven wall thickness, haze, and weak neck finishes, while maintenance hours stack up. What matters, technically The Krones infrared lamp 780mm is a direct-fit emitter built to match the OEM geometry and thermal behavior of the heating section. The 780mm active length covers the preform heating zone cleanly—no cold edges, no overcrowding around adjacent reflectors. It runs on the same halogen/infrared voltage and interface used in Krones heating modules, so you replace one lamp without rewiring the whole tunnel. The quartz envelope and R7s-style termination are there for fast thermal response, stable output across repeated on/off cycles, and the ability to take thermal shock in a busy heating tunnel without blinking. Why it works on the line On the blow molding floor, you can feel the difference: the heating zone settles faster after a restart, temperature-related alarms drop, and preform conditioning becomes repeatable cavity-to-cavity. That means fewer jams, less scrap, and more consistent bottle weight. With a lamp that matches spec, changeovers get quicker—no field adjustments, no guesswork on length or power density. You also tighten energy use because the heating profile stays on target, and you stretch replacement intervals, which lowers spares cost and frees up technician hours. The details that bite you Installation is straightforward, but alignment is where the job lives or dies. Even a reflector slightly off-set throws off heating uniformity and can push hot spots. Check reflector condition and wipe the lamp surface before startup. Also confirm the lamp rating matches the existing control strategy—swap in a higher wattage without retuning, and you’ll cook preforms and raise the risk of crystallization. On the blow molding floor, uptime comes down to minutes lost to heating drift. When the preform heating tunnel can’t hold temperature, cycles get unstable, scrap climbs, and you get emergency stops. Every unplanned lamp change adds labor, spares, and restart losses that add up fast. What matters, technically The Krones infrared lamp 780mm is engineered as a direct-fit replacement for the heating section on Krones blow molders. Its 780mm active length matches the OEM zone geometry, so preforms heat evenly from neck to shoulder—no under-heat at the edges, no over-heat. The halogen/infrared design in a quartz envelope gives you fast thermal response and stable output across repeated heat-cool cycles. Power delivery stays consistent with the correct voltage and the standard R7s-style interface, so you can swap lamps without touching the wiring harness or control panel. Why it works on the line With the right lamp, the heating tunnel comes up to setpoint quickly after startup and holds it across cavity groups. Fewer alarms, fewer jams, and more predictable bottle quality—less thickness variation, less haze, tighter neck control. The payoff is fewer line stops and a higher run rate. Because the lamp matches the original spec, changeovers move faster and troubleshooting gets simpler, which cuts maintenance hours and eases pressure on spare inventory. The details that bite you Installation is quick, but performance depends on the surrounding system. Inspect reflectors for oxidation and misalignment—dirty reflectors can create hot spots even with a good lamp. Make sure the lamp voltage matches the machine supply; mismatched voltage leads to premature failure and uneven heating. Plan replacements during scheduled maintenance windows so you don’t get blindsided by unplanned downtime.