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The IHEA device comes in many colors. Photo credit: Kensin Bradly Global Enterprise Ltd.
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The sleek Heechi device conceals sophisticated hot air heating technology. Photo credit: Heechi Tech Limited
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Heechi and its proprietary heat sticks globally launched at InterTabac 2022. Photo credit: Thomas Schmid
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James Lim, KBG and JPSI’s c.e.o. Photo credit: Kensin Bradly Global Enterprise Ltd.
New contactless heating methods for HNB devices help improve some of the issues inherent with commonly used induction heating.
Heated tobacco (a.k.a. heat-not-burn, or HNB) products certainly have come a long way since Premier, the very first but difficult-to-handle gad-get in that category launched by PMI in 1988. The Achilles heel of HNB always has been its heating method. In other words: how to reliably warm the tobacco charge (or “heat stick”, as it is usually called nowadays) below combustion point, and without charring it in the process. Induction heating, whereas a metal spade (or blade), sometimes a spike, is inserted into the tobacco cartridge, is the most common way used in a majority of HNB devices today.
The problem areas of induction heating It is far from perfect, though. In most HNB devices, the user can adjust the temperature applied to the heat stick, yet that is not the problem per se. Rather, the issue with induction heating lies with heat transferability. Even at a low temperature, prolonged use of the device can eventually char the heat stick core while not sufficiently heating through the outer layers. On the other hand, if the temperature is too high, the outer layers will heat through, but the core itself almost certainly will char, if not even undergo pyrolysis. Both cases affect the taste, of course, thus the user experience. Furthermore, the metal spade can be somewhat flimsy, breaking easily and needing expensive repair, if not replacement, of the entire device. In addition, the heating chamber requires very regular cleaning of ashes and tar residue to remain effective. And although the concept of HNB technology may have originated in the West, innovation today is undoubtedly driven by Chinese companies. That also holds true in terms of developing new heating methodologies aimed at improving how heat sticks are heated while at the same time eliminating the inherent issues encountered with induction heating.
Heechi – blowing induction heating away with a gust of hot air
Hong Kong-based Heechi Tech Limited is among this breed of r&d heavy companies – and has quite recently introduced its contactless hot air heating technology at various tobacco industry exhibitions around the globe. “There are no mechanical parts, such as a heated blade, that makes contact with the heat stick and could fail with repeated use,” briefed the firm’s managing director, Allen Liao. But he also pointed out that “the more crucial issue with contact heating technology is that only the core of the tobacco stick is well heated through, while the outer parts aren’t.” That problem is now addressed with Heechi’s patented method.
“Our technology emulates the burning pattern of a conventional combustible, whereas the entire stick is gradually heated from the tip all the way to its end, core and all,” he explained, adding that no pyrolysis takes place at any time. Rather, the tobacco is “baked” well below combustion point. This, claimed Liao, also ensured a much fuller, denser smoke than can currently be achieved with induction heating.
A rollercoaster ride of a temperature curve As the heat stick is freely suspended in the heating chamber with no contact points to the chamber walls, hot air flows can fully envelop it. Liao said that while the temperature in induction devices “may be lower than that of the heated air which our technology applies,” the fact that the heating element – the spade or spike – penetrates the heat stick and remains lodged there for prolonged periods during usage can overheat the core, charring it in the process. This may result in a bitter flavor and, occasionally, a somewhat pungent, not very pleasant smell. During operation, the Heechi device undergoes a distinct internal temperature curve.
“During active puffing, the temperature goes up to 360 to 380 degrees Celsius,” explained Liao. But as soon as the user lets go of the operating button, the device puts the ceramic heater in stand-by mode, causing the temperature to considerably drop almost instantly. Once resumed, Heechi automatically matches the users’ previous puffing rhythm and continues “baking” the heat stick at the optimum temperature.
Capturing more exports markets essential for Heechi
The technology is employed in Heechi’s proprietary device marketed under the same name, according to the Hong Kong company’s sales manager, Max Huang. He also pointed out that Heechi devices can be charged with any other non-branded generic heat sticks. “That will be of great advantage for users in whose areas Heechi heat sticks is not readily available,” he said. Just like Liao, he believes that hot air heating technology is going to turn the HNB market on its head. As of recently, Heechi has been rolled out in Hungary and the Baltic countries, but the company is of course also eyeing other European Union members. However, Huang admitted that “especially for us, a new-comer, there are a lot of challenges ahead. But, we try to tackle them head-on.” The biggest prize for Heechi would be the United States, of course. FDA and its overregulated compliance rules willing, that is.
IHEA – it’s all in the name
Thanks to a recent market liberalization, Malaysia (together with Indonesia) is fast becoming Southeast Asia’s vaping – and by extension, HNB – hub. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Kensin Bradly Global Enterprise Ltd. (KBG) together with its Malaysian subsidiary, JP Signature International Sdn Bhd (JPSI), is licensed to manufacture and sell non-nicotine vaping products locally. The firm also operates an r&d facility in Shenzhen, where it is hatching new products for its in-house brand, Oaxis Vapes.
However, for developing its groundbreaking HNB heating technology, IHEA, the company closely collaborated with China Tobacco Anhui. According to KBG and JPSI’s c.e.o., James Lim, IHEA stands for “I am HEating with Alternatives”. While Lim told Tobacco Asia that he was perfectly aware that this sounded rather cumbersome for English speakers’ ears, it was a deliberate move to make end consumers curious. “Secondly, it is also highlighting the fact that there are real alternatives to combustibles,” he said.
Faster and more even heating
IHEA, Lim explained, uses infrared radiation with a wavelength range of 2.5 to14.5μm to achieve perfect heating. “It provides fast, even, and wholesome heating and on the other hand avoids the [potential] release of harmful substances because the heat emitter is not directly acting on the tobacco particles,” elaborated Lim. Furthermore, to perfectly go with the IHEA infrared heating method, China Tobacco Anhui also developed a special granulated tobacco formula for the heat sticks.
While the patent holder for both the heating technology as well as the special heat sticks under the IHEA brand is China Tobacco Anhui, KBG signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the former, which authorizes the Hong Kong firm and its JPSI subsidiary to distribute locally as well as to “export IHEA brand heating products internationally.” In addition, JPSI also is tasked with conducting consumer tests in Malaysia and reporting results back to China Tobacco Anhui so “the product can be developed further in order to deliver what the markets and users want.”
Although China Tobacco Anhui currently still has outsourced the manufacture and assembly of IHEA devices to a third party based in Shenzhen, KBG is presently assessing to establish assembly capabilities in Malaysia. “We are planning to shift over at least some of the production in 2023,” Lim divulged, stressing once more that in Malaysia, JPSI is the only licensed holder for marketing and distribution at the moment. “But, we are actively speaking with possible overseas partners to join us as reps for China Tobacco Anhui for these products.”
Distinct advantages outscore conventional HNB heating methods
Lim described IHEA as being “more advanced” than other heated tobacco devices, which tags along with a long list of distinct advantages. The thorough, contactless heating-through achieved by infrared radiation in combination with the purpose-developed heat sticks has already been mentioned. Another benefit is that overly-frequent cleaning of the heating chamber and clearing out tar residues – a task that often annoys the heck out of users -- has become obsolete with IHEA. “One weekly cleaning by simply wiping and swabbing the chamber is sufficient,” Lim said.
Furthermore, the device’s “intelligent system design allows for more accurate temperature control as well as real-time recording of the user’s smoking patterns,” according to Lim. However, he also pointed out that IHEA’s currently available versions do not allow for deliberate temperature adjustments by the user. “The temperature control is calibrated only for the ‘granulated tobacco’ heat sticks,” whereas the temperature inside the chamber does not exceed 325 degrees Celsius.
Systematic drive for improved heating methods
The China Tobacco Anhui-developed infrared heating components are already used in various HNB brands around the globe. However, the specially developed granulated tobacco sticks (with which it works best) are currently only available either in IHEA devices in Malaysia or under the TOOP by Dubliss brand name in export markets. Both IHEA and TOOP are part of a systematic drive by China Tobacco Anhui to create a whole new key technology, including auxiliary materials and production equipment, aimed at “fundamentally circumventing the patent barriers of existing flaked tobacco heated cigarettes.” It seems the somewhat stagnating HNB market is going to “heat up” thanks to groundbreaking new technologies such as Heechi’s hot air and China Tobacco Anhui’s infrared heating innovations.