Insul-Vest began operations in 1979.  Early that year Gordon Pendergraft, owner of an industrial supply company in Wichita, Kansas, was approached by a friend in the plastics extrusion business.  He explained that his company was experiencing far too many instances of employees getting burned around machines, and asked if Gordon could develop some sort of insulating barrier to place around his extruder barrels and dies that would help alleviate the problem.  Using Hi-Temp materials, the first highly effective insulation blankets were manufactured----for safety purposes.  Four months later the friend called again.  This time to advise that in the previous quarter they had a very significant and inexplicable drop in energy usage, and questioned whether the "safety" blankets might have been responsible.  Quickly, a rudimentary method of testing for KWH usage was assembled, and tests were conducted.  The extremely satisfying results in energy savings, 60% in this case, brought about an entirely new industry in energy efficiency, and the inception of Insul-Vest, Inc.  

For over 35 years now Insul-Vest has been manufacturing energy saving thermal insulation for the plastics industry.  Many copiers and competitors have come and gone in the ensuing years, however, Insul-Vest remains the leader in quality, customer concern and service, and product responsibility.  Our products are made of quality materials only, and have gained acceptance and popularity Internationally as well as everywhere within the United States.

Five years ago we put our considerable experience to work to develop an entirely new and revolutionary concept in barrel heater technology.  The result is Insul-Watt, a patented design that utilizes vacuum cast non-conductive insulation material to manufacture a heater that delivers greater energy efficiency, enhances safety and comfort to employees, has a longer lifespan, offers an option to cool, and provides additional benefits as well.

Insul-Watt is the latest in a series of technical advances from Insul-Vest.  The technology of vacuum casting insulation material into heaters is not new; it is a proven technology that has been used very successfully for high temperature applications over a number of years.  However, Insul-Watt is the first heater designed specifically for the temperature requirements applicable to the plastics industry, and it is the uniqueness of the design that allows a vacuum to be used to cool, capture, and control the barrel heat for use elsewhere in the plant. 

The Insul-Watt heater has been undergoing tests at various plastics processors for over two years.  Insul-Vest has recently signed an Agreement with Rex Materials in Fowlerville, Michigan to manufacture, market, and sell the Insul-Watt heater in the United States, and will soon be signing additional Agreements with representatives in the International community as well.  Insul-Watt's revolutionary design was patented in 2002.  Additional patents are pending in the United States and other countries.