IGBT

In induction heating, the IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) is the high-speed “electronic switch” within the power supply that converts standard electrical current into the high-frequency energy needed for electromagnetic heating.
The Role of IGBTs in Induction Systems
  • High-Frequency Switching: Modern IGBTs allow induction machines to switch at frequencies ranging from 1 kHz to 100 kHz, providing the precision needed for shallow surface hardening or deep through-heating.
  • Energy Efficiency: Compared to older vacuum tube or SCR (Silicon Controlled Rectifier) technology, IGBT-based power supplies lose significantly less energy as heat, often reaching efficiencies above 90%.
  • Instant Start/Stop: Unlike furnaces that require “warm-up” time, IGBT units provide on-demand heating, which is critical for Just-In-Time (JIT) automotive assembly lines.