Schwank

Schwank was founded in 1933 by engineer Gunther Schwank in Fegersheim, in the Alsace region, originally manufacturing commercial gas stoves. In 1939, the company patented what is recognized as the world's first ceramic-based gas infrared heater, a development that became the foundation of its infrared heating business.

Production moved to Cologne, Germany in the mid-1950s, and Cologne remains the company's main production site and global headquarters today under family ownership. Schwank entered the North American market in 1981 through the acquisition of Perfection Industries, and now operates a US headquarters in Waynesboro, Georgia alongside a Canadian office in Mississauga, Ontario.

Product Lines

Schwank's core product line is radiant tube heating, including the superTube series available from 50,000 to 250,000 BTU per hour in lengths from 20 to 80 feet, offered in single-stage, two-stage, and modulating configurations with EC motors, along with the premierSchwank and builderSchwank tube heater lines. The company also manufactures electric infrared heaters under the eSchwank line, including the Titan Series for high-bay industrial and commercial spaces, and outdoor and garage heaters under the compactSchwank line featuring Whisper-Jet technology. Additional offerings include high-intensity heaters, air curtains, HVLS fans marketed as MonsterFans, and the Schwank.ONE control platform.

Why Contractors Specify Schwank

Facilities heating large, high-ceiling spaces such as warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing plants, and vehicle maintenance shops often turn to radiant tube heating over forced-air systems because radiant heat warms objects and occupants directly rather than heating the full volume of air in a building. Schwank reports that its EC motors run more than 85 percent efficient, roughly twice as efficient as PSC motors and three times more efficient than shaded-pole AC motors, and the company cites fuel savings of 35 to 50 percent compared with forced-air heating systems in typical installations. superTube heaters carry UL certification, and Schwank's decades of production experience in radiant heating give contractors a long track record to reference when specifying equipment for large commercial and industrial spaces.

How to Choose Schwank Products

Selecting between Schwank's tube heater lines starts with matching the BTU output and tube length to the size and ceiling height of the space being heated, since undersized units will struggle to maintain temperature in large open areas. Choosing between single-stage, two-stage, or modulating configurations depends on how much the heating load varies throughout the day, with modulating units offering finer control in spaces with fluctuating occupancy or ventilation. For spaces without a gas supply, or where electric infrared better suits the application, the eSchwank line offers an electric alternative to gas-fired tube heaters. Outdoor and garage applications are better suited to the compactSchwank line, which is built specifically for those vented, lower-BTU use cases rather than large industrial spaces.

Frequently Asked Questions

What BTU range does the Schwank superTube series cover?

The superTube series is available from 50,000 to 250,000 BTU per hour, in lengths from 20 to 80 feet, in single-stage, two-stage, and modulating configurations.

What is the difference between Schwank's gas and electric infrared heaters?

Schwank's superTube, premierSchwank, and builderSchwank lines are gas-fired tube heaters, while the eSchwank line, including the Titan Series, provides electric infrared heating for spaces without a gas supply or where electric heat is preferred.

Are Schwank tube heaters suitable for garages, or only large commercial buildings?

Schwank's compactSchwank line is built specifically for outdoor and garage applications, while the superTube, premierSchwank, and builderSchwank lines are sized for larger commercial and industrial spaces like warehouses and manufacturing plants.

How much more efficient are Schwank's EC motors compared to standard motors?

Schwank reports its EC motors run more than 85 percent efficient, roughly twice as efficient as PSC motors and three times more efficient than shaded-pole AC motors used in older heating equipment.

What certification do Schwank superTube heaters carry?

superTube heaters carry UL certification.