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• Why Buy Sigma?


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Because Sigma Systems products are designed to provide exceptional value, performance, accuracy, and service and to respect your operating budget and working environment.

• Custom Design Orientation
• Compactness (Small Footprint)
• Reliability
• Accuracy
• Versatility
• Product Support

• Learn What Makes Sigma Systems Temperature Chambers Superior
• Learn What Makes Sigma Systems Thermal Platforms (Hot/Cold Plates) Superior
• Learn What Makes Sigma Systems Controllers Superior

Custom Design Orientation

Sigma Systems delivers carefully needs-matched solutions to each customer. While we maintain a catalog of standard chambers and platforms, and while we maintain a very small stock of commonly purchased items, our primary focus is products built to order. We believe that our business is providing solutions to our customers. We presume that you wouldn't buy anything from us if you didn't have a need. We're not so arrogant so as to presume that we can predetermine the best solution for your need and place it in a catalog for you to find. Instead, we gather as much information from you as we can. We then carefully engineer a solution to match that need. On occasion we find that a "catalog" product is the perfect match to your need. On other occasions we find that a total custom design provides the only real solution for your need. More typically, we make adjustments to the design of a standard product to tailor that product to your need.

Does this cost a lot more? No.
Does it cost a bit more? Yes.

Most of our customers have determined that the small amount of additional expense of purchasing a Sigma Systems custom engineered solution is easily offset by the benefits of improved throughput and ease of use. This issue is particularly significant to customers who require temperature chambers or thermal platforms for production environments where the benefits of a custom fitted solution are reaped repetitively over time. In simple terms, Sigma Systems engineered solutions provide outstanding real value.

Compactness (Small Footprint)

Sigma understands that making equipment compact is a huge benefit to users.  Not only does Sigma equipment take less space, but the time required to navigate around the equipment and use it is reduced.  For folks trying to squeeze another piece of gear, or another process, into an already crowded lab, or production facility, Sigma's compact designs can be a real benefit.  For production environments, the reduced movement required of operators to move around and use Sigma equipment can mean lower product costs and higher productivity every day.  Compact, thoughtful designs are just a small part of Productive Density^®, Sigma's way of giving you more for less.

Reliability

Product reliability is always an essential criterion in Sigma Systems product design. Would it make any sense to use a less than reliable chamber or platform to test your product's reliability under stress? If you need a temperature chamber or thermal platform to provide a stable environment for a critical process, wouldn't it make sense that the device that provides that environment should be as reliable as possible? We go far beyond just picking good quality off-the-shelf components to build reliability into our products. Here are a few examples that will demonstrate how we achieve the product reliability that has been the high standard for the industry for 40 years.

Solenoid Valves: Sigma takes maximum advantage of the existing expertise of some of the more well known valve manufacturers. We use as much of their standard product as possible to minimize cost and take advantage of well tested and proven designs. However, the valves made for Sigma Systems are unique in that they employ specially designed coils that will withstand the extreme thermal shock and moisture accumulation that can accompany L-N2 metering. Sigma's L-CO2 valves are specially designed to eliminate formation of dry ice in the delivery channel. Valve seats and seals are formed from materials that will withstand the constant hammering from the on-off cycling associated with very precise temperature control.

Controllers: Sigma uses only proprietary controllers. Sigma Systems offers two controllers that share a simple concept:  Be easy to use, have the features users need, be accurate, and be reliable. Sigma controllers are designed for constant and continuous use in industrial environments. Switches are strong, displays bright and uniform, keys are sealed and reliable with tactile feedback you can feel, even with gloves on. Sigma controllers use PWM proportional output for precise control and zero crossing switching to eliminate electrical noise.  The native GPIB interfaces are fast, reliable, and hassle free.  Click here to learn more.

Heating Elements: Sigma heating elements are specially designed to withstand the continuous thermal shocks associated with rapid temperature cycling. Mounting technique and positioning are carefully planned to help prolong heater life and improve thermal gradients. Chamber heaters are designed with appropriate thermal mass and isolated mounts to improve thermal gradients, reduce heat transmission to the chamber wall, and reduce stress on the heater itself.

Blower Assemblies: Sigma blower assemblies are constructed exclusively of nickel plated steel blower housings, stainless steel motor/blower shafts and blower wheels, and especially built motors with thermal isolation and thermal protection. The use of stainless steel shafts, along with efficient heat slingers assures reliable blower fan operation and long motor life

Accuracy
In addition to using specially built proprietary controllers, Sigma uses 500 ohm Pt RTD probes to achieve the industry's best temperature resolution. Probe placement in platforms and chambers is optimized to assure the most accurate working environment. Special low gradient packages are available to bring the benefits of precise control to a larger working area.

Because each environmental application is unique, your Sigma Sales Engineer is your best source of information regarding exactly what performance you can expect for your application.

Versatility
Sigma's products are designed for maximum versatility. The same chamber or platform can be used to provide a controlled process environment, for cycling, burn-in, shock, or life testing. Sigma chambers and platforms are available with cryogenic cooling and/or mechanical refrigeration using non-ozone depleting refrigerants. Cascade refrigeration units can achieve temperatures below -70°C. Boost cooling and boost heating can be added for very fast performance. Special low gradient packages, engineered for your particular needs, are available.

A number of options can further increase versatility. Apertures can be added easily at order time to allow for more and more convenient internal test or process configurations. Apertures in the form of notches in the door frame can make it easy to insert a test bed into a chamber without having to disconnect and reconnect anything. Slide out drawers can replace doors to ease loading for some types of use. Lift off doors can make access easier if door weight is not a handling issue. Cabinet extensions, known as "slices" at Sigma can make the chamber volume changeable. All of these options were developed to improve the versatility of our chambers for our customers. We can provide the same benefits to you.

Product Support
Sigma provides product support like no other manufacturer.  Sigma products built decades ago are still supported with technical help and repairs.  Controller firmware is constantly updated and posted for free on our web site so established customers and new alike can have the latest fixes and features.  When you call, or send email to Sigma you get a prompt response from someone who knows what they are doing and how to help you.  We build products that last for decades.  With our legendary support, you can keep using them for decades.  Our support makes our equipment the best value in the industry.