When customers face complex thermal processing or aqueous cleaning challenges, they need more than equipment- they need proof that the solution will work. That’s where International Thermal Systems’ Research & Development team comes in.
As one of the few companies in the industry with a dedicated full-time R&D laboratory, ITS helps customers validate processes, reduce risk, and optimize performance before equipment is ever built.
Employee Spotlight: Dr. Joe Zhao
Employee Spotlight: Dr. Joe ZhaoAt the heart of ITS’ R&D efforts is Dr. Joe Zhao, Manager of Research & Development.
For more than 27 years, Dr. Joe has been a driving force behind innovation at ITS. A U.S. Patent Holder with a Ph.D. in Thermal Science, he has dedicated his career to advancing thermal processing technology, solving customer challenges, and building one of the most capable R&D programs in the heat processing and aqueous washing industry.
Dr. Joe’s passion for thermal science began during his studies in mechanical engineering and continued through graduate school. Today, that same passion drives his work as he supports customers, mentors engineers, and develops practical solutions that deliver measurable results. What he finds most rewarding is seeing a solution successfully solve a customer’s problem and improve their operation.
Under his leadership, the R&D department supports sales, engineering, quality control and field service teams while helping customers tackle some of their most demanding process requirements. His expertise in calculation, simulation, and process validation has helped ITS solve challenges that many competitors simply cannot.
Beyond his technical contributions, Dr. Joe has invested countless hours offering training seminars training engineers, developing internal engineering tools, and supporting ITS’s global operations, including the Shanghai office. His dedication, knowledge, and work ethic have played a major role in shaping the strong reputation ITS has earned throughout the industry.
We are incredibly grateful for Dr. Joe’s leadership and service over the past 27 years. His commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer success continues to inspire our team every day.
Why R&D Matters
Why R&D MattersOur R&D laboratory allows customers to test and validate their processes before equipment is designed. Using laboratory ovens, washers, proprietary heat transfer software, and advanced CFD modeling, we can evaluate heating and washing applications with scientific accuracy.
This approach helps reduce risk, improve confidence, and ensure customers receive a solution that is designed to perform.
Turning Challenges Into Solutions
The ITS R&D team regularly helps customers solve difficult processing challenges. In one project, a customer required temperature uniformity of 620°C ±1.5°C- an extremely tight tolerance. Through advanced airflow simulations and engineering analysis, the team successfully developed a solution that met the customer’s requirements.
By identifying the optimal combination of time, temperature, airflow, and process conditions, ITS helps customers achieve reliable, repeatable results.
From Concept to Production
Once testing is complete, the R&D team works closely with engineering to transform proven concepts into custom equipment designs. This seamless process allows ITS to move efficiently from testing and validation to production-ready solutions.
For nearly three decades, Dr. Joe Zhao and the ITS R&D team have helped customers reduce risk, improve performance, and solve complex thermal processing challenges. Their expertise, dedication, and commitment to innovation continue to set ITS apart.
At ITS, R&D is more than validation- it’s about creating innovative engineering solutions that help customers improve efficiency, safety, simplicity, and performance.
Ready to Validate Your Process?
Have a challenging thermal processing or aqueous cleaning application?
Contact the ITS team to learn how our Research & Development laboratory can help validate your process and reduce project risk before equipment is built.
