Thermacore Inc.
For 40 years, Thermacore Inc. has designed, developed and manufactured custom thermal management systems and components. The company offers clients a partner that works to resolve the most challenging thermal problems in an innovative and creative way. “Thermacore is continually pushing the envelope of thermal design and manufacturing through work we do with clients and independently,” Vice President of Operations Leonard Dore says.
The company manufactures for a variety of OEM applications across markets including military and government; aerospace; computer and data centers; communications; and renewable energy. Thermacore operates throughout the United States, as well as in Europe.
Reaching its 40th anniversary is a significant milestone for the company, Dore says, noting that Thermacore has among the longest history of any manufacturer in its industry. “That wealth of experience in thermal management has significantly benefitted our customers in that we bring to them not only the broad product experience we have developed through many years of application solutions, but also proof through life testing, the longevity of our technology.”
The current management/owner team has brought Thermacore back to its roots in innovative and advanced thermal design technology. “That’s the niche the market buys and is interested in having from Thermacore,” Dore explains. “The Thermacore brand has come to mean something to our customers who see value in the innovative solutions that we create for them.”
New Combination
Thermacore recently acquired k Technology, a Langhorne, Pa., designer and manufacturer of custom thermal management products utilizing advanced solid conduction technology for the aerospace market.
One of k Technology’s key thermal solutions is its patented k-Core system, which uses encapsulated graphite to help alleviate heat in power electronics. Dore says the encapsulated graphite permits superior thermal solutions compared to other approaches in the industry.
Thermacore explains that the k-Core system is highly conductive thermally. It offers advantages such as low mass and the ability to tailor materials with matched coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) for direct bonding to electronic devices.
K Technology has manufactured products for satellites and military aircrafts, and, like Thermacore, is AS9100 certified. Dore notes that the product lines of k Technology and Thermacore complement each other, and the acquisition is helping to drive the rapid expansion of Thermacore’s aerospace business.
“Through the combination of their technology and ours, we have begun work with NASA and others to learn how to exploit their technology and ours, and it will yield new technology for the future,” he states.
“It fits our strategy of offering high-end thermal solutions to clients and broadening what we bring to clients,” Dore says of the acquisition. “Their culture is a very good match and makes an excellent partner.”
Broad Selection of Technology
Based in Lancaster, Pa., Thermacore also has a facility in Ashington, England. The company’s European division is taking on a role as a lead partner of the $11.4 million NanoHex research project, which began in September 2009.
The goal of the project is to scale up nano-fluid production into mass-produced, market-ready volumes. Thermacore is developing a next-generation liquid coolant that incorporates purpose-engineered nano-particles for more efficient cooling. The NanoHex work is intended to combat heat build-up in high-tech industries with a new coolant that would be up to 40 percent more efficient than traditional coolants.
Dore believes the project will add to Thermacore’s history of engineering innovative thermal solutions. He contends it will increase the distance between the company and its competition. “Thermacore has the broadest selection of thermal technology to bring to bear on solutions compared to any competitors,” he states.
In addition, Dore explains that the company will be able to continue to build off of its first 40 years of success because of the strengths and skills of its people.
“The organization has excellent people who are focused on meeting our customers’ needs and doing so in a collaborative way,” he says.