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In 1981, the University of Linkoping in Sweden searched for a product
capable of replacing heating cables in car seats. A manufacturer of car
seat covers was sued due to a short circuit that started a fire causing a
fatal accident to an invalid unable to get out of his car. The university
contacted Stephan Irgens who had been acknowledged for two previous
inventions awarded in 1979 and 1980 in Switzerland.
Stephan Irgens got involved in the research project as a sideline to his Norwegian
engineering and fluid power company. Stephan introduced electrically conductive
plastics and developed a unique self-regulating heating element. At that time,
conductive plastics already existed, but no one had managed to make a product
offering the necessary stability for an overall even heat. The self-regulating
element was used mostly for car seats, mattresses and medical applications.
The product was left more or less on ice as Stephan Irgens attended to his obligations
as owner of Irgens H-P AS and President of the National Association of
Hydraulics and Pneumatics in Norway.
Then in 1994, Stephan and Monica Irgens decided to go a STEP further and
registered Electro Plastics, Inc. in the United States. Research and development
was done to improve the existing product and to erect machinery to manufacture a
new generation of heating elements. The machinery is automated and has a big
production capacity enabling Electro Plastics to satisfy the growing demand for
self-regulating conductive plastics.
Initially the heating elements were developed for flooring applications. As
companies began to realize the versatility and safety of the product, they
started asking Electro Plastics to engineer for them products to fit their
specialty applications. Gaining recognition with the success obtained in these
different projects, Electro Plastics now has a R. & D. Division to satisfy
these requests.
Electro Plastics received in 1997 the 1st Place Most Innovative Product Award
from THE NEW HOME SHOW - www.thenewhomeshow.com.
Electro Plastics received a Silver Medal in its category during the INNOVATION
AWARDS 1997 held in Paris and organized by BATIMAT and INTERCLIMA.
Electro Plastics was chosen as a winner of the 11th INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION
AWARD 1999 held in Madrid, Spain and granted by Editorial Office in
collaboration with the Trade Leaders' Club.
Stephan and Monica Irgens know how essential it is to be continuously a STEP ahead.
Electro Plastics has the technical knowledge and engineering resources to
support business firms who want to introduce and/or manufacture innovative
products that require heating.
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