Custom Pillow Plate Manufacturers in China
- Custom-cut to any shape or contour
- High turbulence flow and efficient thermal performance
- Suitable for industrial and sanitary-grade systems
- Compatible with liquid, steam, and refrigerant media
- OEM fabrication based on operating conditions and dimensions
With over 12 years of engineering and manufacturing experience, Zantherm provides custom pillow plate heat exchanger solutions tailored to your operating conditions, dimensions, and performance requirements.
Why Laser Welded Pillow Plate
- Precision Weld Patterns: Freely programmable weld patterns create stable internal flow channels for optimized heat transfer performance.
- High Turbulence Flow: Improved heat transfer efficiency, reduced fouling, and minimized dead zones inside the flow channel.
- Reduced Thermal Deformation: Smaller heat-affected zones compared with traditional welding.
- Reliable Sealing Performance: Stable operation under high pressure and thermal cycling conditions.
Pillow Plate Overview
Pillow plates utilize advanced laser welding technology to create highly efficient heat exchange structures. Two metal plates (typically stainless steel or aluminum) are welded together in a specific pattern and then expanded to form internal flow channels for efficient heat transfer.
The welding pattern is generally circular but can be customized to meet specific thermal and structural requirements. After expansion, the structure forms a pillow-shaped channel configuration that provides both heat exchange performance and mechanical support.
Pillow plates support thermal cycles using liquid, steam, and refrigerant media, including liquid nitrogen, ethylene glycol solutions, hot water, cooling water, and thermal oil.
Pillow plate heat exchangers are one of the most commonly used welded heat transfer panel designs in industrial applications. Depending on the manufacturer or industry, they may also be referred to as plate coil heat exchangers, inflated dimple plates, temp-plates, or laser-welded plates. These systems are widely used in clamp-on, immersion, and tank cooling applications.
Structure Options
Pillow plates are available in two configurations, which can be customized based on specific installation and heat transfer conditions.
- Single-sided embossed pillow plates conform more easily to tank structures and jacket applications.
- Double-sided embossed pillow plates are suitable for large spaces and applications requiring higher heat transfer efficiency.
Pillow Plate Heat Exchangers by Features
From single-base pillow plate to pillow plate modules integrated into your thermal management system, Zantherm can custom-design solutions to meet your diverse heat exchange needs.
- Single or Double Embossed
- High Turbulence Heat Transfer
- Laser Welded Construction
- Drop-In Tank Cooling
- Easy Cleaning Structure
- Stainless Steel Design
- Tank & Reactor Integration
- Uniform Temperature Distribution
- CIP-Compatible Design
- Vacuum Chamber Applications
- Cryogenic & Thermal Vacuum Testing
- Precision Thermal Cycling
Pillow Plate Heat Exchangers by Applications
We not only manufacture custom-designed pillow plates to meet your specific requirements but also provide tailored heat exchange solutions for diverse applications, engineering equipment with exceptional heat transfer efficiency.
- Powder, Granule & Pellet Processing
- Uniform Temperature Control
- Indirect Cooling & Heating
- Near-Freezing Liquid Cooling
- Hygienic Stainless Steel Design
- High Heat Transfer Efficiency
- Reactor & Tank Integration
- Uniform Temperature Control
- Custom Curved Pillow Plates
- Industrial Energy Recovery
- Corrosion-Resistant Design
- High Thermal Efficiency
- Refrigerant Condensation
- Low Pressure Drop
- Compact Heat Transfer Design
- Hydraulic & Transformer Cooling
- Leak-Proof Welded Design
- High Oil Cooling Efficiency
Benefits of Pillow Plate
Wave-surface design creates intense turbulence for superior heat transfer efficiency.
Tailored to any contour required by your heat exchange system.
Corrosion-resistant and scale-resistant, suitable for industries with high food and beverage hygiene requirements.
Pressure-rated structure ensures extended service life with minimal maintenance costs.
Custom Pillow Plate Design Options
Flat, curved, cylindrical, and tank-integrated structures available.
Optimized for turbulence, pressure drop, and thermal efficiency.
Austenitic stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, titanium, and aluminum with pickling, polishing, or brushed finishes.
Support for flanges, threaded ports, welded nozzles, and instrumentation openings.
Pillow Plate Heat Exchanger, Superior Thermal Performance
The superior thermal performance of the pillow plate stems from its unique pillow-shaped inflatable structure. This design ensures thorough fluid contact with both surfaces of the two-layer heat exchange plate, generating turbulent flow under operating conditions. Within the same volume, it provides a larger heat-exchange surface area, enabling rapid transfer of substantial heat.
The pillow plate delivers uniform heat transfer temperatures, with heat density typically exceeding that of traditional shell-and-tube technology by more than double, making it your high-efficiency heat exchange solution.
Fully Customizable Design for Your Pillow Plate
Zantherm provides comprehensive custom pillow plate services. We support customization of heat transfer capacity, pressure parameters, materials, profiles, dimensions, welding patterns, connection methods, and opening locations. Material options include stainless steel (duplex available), titanium, and aluminum.
You can freely customize the shape of the inflatable panel to your desired contour, with dimensions such as length, width, and height all available for customization. Due to material and equipment limitations, the width is typically within 2 meters. Welding patterns are typically circular, though custom designs can be accommodated for special requirements.
Pillow plates are commonly integrated into thermal management systems. To ensure seamless integration, our connection methods include flanges, threaded interfaces, and welded nozzles. Opening locations can be customized to accommodate cables, pipes, or instrumentation.
Pillow Plate Heat Exchanger, Built for Long-Term Reliability
Pillow plates are highly reliable and durable heat exchangers. They withstand high temperatures and pressures, with a maximum operating temperature of 1700°C, an internal pressure of up to 6 MPa, and an external pressure of up to 30 MPa.
The corrosion-resistant material, combined with intense turbulence during operation that minimizes fouling, facilitates easy cleaning and makes them suitable for systems with stringent sanitary requirements. Cleaning methods include steam cleaning, automated CIP cleaning, and mechanical cleaning.
Industries We Serve
Pillow plate heat exchangers are trusted across process-intensive industries for their robust construction, hygienic design, and exceptional thermal efficiency. Whatever your application, Zantherm engineers the right solution to meet your exact requirements.
Pillow plates are widely used in dairy, brewing, beverage, edible oil, seafood, meat, and other temperature-sensitive food processing applications. Their smooth, cleanable surfaces, high turbulence flow, and CIP-compatible design help maintain hygienic operation while supporting precise heating or cooling. They are suitable for tank jackets, fermentation temperature control, product cooling, and gentle thermal processing.
Chemical and pharmaceutical processes often require reliable temperature control under corrosive media, pressure, and strict cleanliness requirements. Zantherm pillow plates can be customized with stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, titanium, or other suitable materials to support reactor jackets, evaporators, condensers, process cooling, and CIP-compatible installations in demanding environments.
In oil, gas, and petrochemical applications, pillow plates are used where durability, pressure resistance, and stable heat transfer are critical. Their compact structure, customizable flow channels, and high thermal efficiency make them suitable for viscous fluids, thermal oil systems, condensers, heat recovery units, and process temperature control applications.
Pillow plates support efficient thermal management in energy storage, power generation, and renewable energy systems. Their compact heat transfer structure, low thermal inertia, and customizable geometry allow integration into battery cooling systems, thermal storage units, solar and geothermal heat exchange systems, and waste heat recovery applications.
Biogas, wastewater treatment, and environmental systems often involve humid, corrosive, or biologically active media. Pillow plates provide efficient heat transfer with reduced fouling, corrosion-resistant material options, and compact integration for digesters, sludge temperature control, wastewater heat recovery, and biogas upgrading processes.
Pillow plates are suitable for indirect heating or cooling of powders, granules, pellets, crystals, and other bulk solids without direct air contact. Their large heat transfer area, compact structure, and uniform temperature distribution help prevent material degradation, improve process stability, and reduce energy consumption in bulk solids cooling or heating systems.
- Technical Specifications
- Manufacturing Process
| Capacity | 1kW – 100kW (Customizable) |
| Max. Working Pressure | Internal Pressure: Up to 6 MPa External Pressure: Based on Structure Design |
| Operating Temperature | Based on Application Requirements |
| Material | Austenitic SS / Duplex SS / Titanium / Aluminum |
| Structure Type | Single / Double Embossed |
| Weld Pattern | Circular / Customizable |
| Surface Finish | Pickling / Passivation / Painting / Brushed |
Our pillow plate manufacturing process combines precision engineering, CNC laser welding, hydraulic inflation, and strict quality control to produce durable pillow plate heat exchangers with optimized heat transfer performance and reliable long-term operation.
01 Thermal & Mechanical Design
Engineering calculations define the flow path, heat transfer requirements, and structural strength of each pillow plate before production.
02 CNC Laser Welding
Advanced CNC laser welding creates precise channel patterns and ensures reliable sealing with minimal deformation during manufacturing.
03 Hydraulic Inflation
Controlled hydraulic inflation expands welded plates into uniform pillow-shaped channels for efficient heat transfer.
04 Forming & Fabrication
Formed pillow plates are fabricated into customized jackets, vessels, and heat exchanger structures based on application requirements.
05 Assembly & Integration
Components including connections, flanges, and nozzles are integrated to meet system design and installation specifications.
06 Helium and Pressure Testing
Each pillow plate heat exchanger undergoes inspection and pressure testing to verify leak resistance, safety, and reliability.
Compared with traditional welding methods such as resistance welding and manual spot welding, laser welded pillow plates provide several engineering and manufacturing advantages.
Compared with resistance welding: Laser welding enables more flexible and precise weld patterns, allowing better flow channel control and optimized heat transfer performance.
Compared with manual spot welding: Laser welding creates more uniform weld quality and improves sealing reliability under pressure and thermal cycling conditions.
Reduced Thermal Deformation: Laser welding generates a smaller heat-affected zone, minimizing plate warping and structural distortion during manufacturing.
Higher Turbulence Flow: Optimized weld layouts help improve turbulence flow, reduce fouling, and minimize dead zones inside the flow channel.
Greater Design Flexibility: CNC-controlled laser welding supports customized shapes, contours, and thermal structures for different industrial applications.
In pillow plate heat exchanger design, our engineering team first considers the required heat transfer capacity, operating temperature, pressure, media type, and installation conditions.
We then optimize the weld pattern, flow channel layout, and embossed structure to improve heat transfer efficiency, reduce pressure drop, minimize dead zones, and maintain stable performance under thermal cycling conditions. Material selection, surface finish, connection type, and system integration are also evaluated based on the specific application.
Zantherm pillow plates are widely used in industries such as food and beverage, energy and environmental technology, chemical engineering, pharmaceuticals, HVAC refrigeration, automotive, and electronic heat dissipation. Due to their precise temperature control and suitability for high-hygiene environments, they are commonly used in various heat-exchange applications in the food and beverage sector. Pillow plates can be engineered to integrate with CIP (Clean-in-Place) systems, making them a frequent choice in pharmaceutical manufacturing. They are also well-suited for corrosion-resistant reactors and process heat recovery systems across the chemical industry.
Whether under high turbulence or low flow conditions—i.e., low Reynolds number (Re) conditions—the heat transfer efficiency of the pillow plate heat exchanger remains high. Their low thermal inertia enables rapid and efficient heat exchange. These units offer high reliability, durability, and ease of cleaning. Typically manufactured with custom-thin walls, pillow plates minimize material consumption to reduce costs. Laser welding technology further lowers fabrication expenses. Plates are cut directly to size as needed, eliminating tooling costs. Therefore, pillow plates represent a cost-effective heat exchanger option.
Single-sided embossed pillow plates have one expanded surface and one flat surface, making them more suitable for tank jackets and vessel wall integration. Double-sided embossed pillow plates feature expansion on both sides, providing higher turbulence flow and improved heat transfer performance for standalone heat exchange applications.
Pillow plates can support thermal cycles using liquid, steam, and refrigerant media, including water, glycol solutions, thermal oil, liquid nitrogen, cooling water, and other process fluids depending on operating conditions and material compatibility.
Compared with traditional half-pipe coil designs, pillow plates provide larger heat transfer areas, lower overall weight, and more uniform temperature distribution. Their compact structure also helps reduce installation space and improve thermal efficiency.
Weld patterns are designed based on heat transfer requirements, flow distribution, operating pressure, and structural conditions. CNC-controlled laser welding allows customized channel layouts, turbulence enhancement, and dead zone reduction for different industrial applications.
Yes. Pillow plates can be customized based on operating pressure, media type, thermal performance requirements, dimensions, surface treatment, and installation structure. Customized weld patterns, embossed structures, and connection types are available for different industrial applications.
Zantherm pillow plates are available in a wide range of materials for different thermal, pressure, corrosion-resistance, and hygienic requirements.
Available materials include:
• Austenitic Stainless Steel:
304, 304L, 316, 316L, 317, 321, 904L, and SMO 254
• Duplex & Super Duplex Stainless Steel:
2205, 2507, 2304, and LDX 2101
• Other Materials:
Titanium and aluminum
Material selection depends on the operating media, temperature, pressure, corrosion conditions, hygienic requirements, and thermal performance requirements of the application.
Engineering Support for Custom Pillow Plate Projects
Every pillow plate heat exchanger is engineered according to the application’s thermal, mechanical, and installation requirements. Instead of selecting a standard product, our engineering team develops a customized solution based on your operating conditions, heat transfer targets, and system integration requirements.
Typical information required for quotation and engineering evaluation includes:
- Application and process description
- Required heating or cooling capacity
- Process media and flow conditions
- Operating temperature and design pressure (if available)
- Available installation space and dimensions
- Material, surface finish, and hygiene requirements
- Connection type, nozzle locations, and interface requirements
- Integration with tanks, vessels, reactors, or other equipment
If some operating parameters, such as design pressure, are not yet available, there is no need to worry. Based on your application, process media, and thermal requirements, our engineering team can help determine suitable design parameters and recommend the optimal pillow plate solution for your project.
