Chemelex Blog

Why European industrial facilities are upgrading to the Raychem Elexant 3500i

Written by Raychem Expert | 2026-07-15 12:22

Industrial plants are modernizing their heating systems to improve energy efficiency, reliability and connectivity. The new Raychem Elexant 3500i electronic thermostat family offers a flexible and futureready solution for facilities looking to move away traditional mechanical thermostats.  

The Elexant 3500i bridges the gap between basic thermostats like the Raychem ETS-05 and more advanced controllers like the Raychem Elexant 4010i or 5010i.

 

The 3500i product line includes five variants:  

  1. Standard

  2. Alarming

  3. Communicating

  4. Current sensing 

  5. Ground fault detecting

Each variant uses a replaceable electronics module inside the enclosure, allowing customers to upgrade capabilities without replacing the full unit. This modular approach is ideal for facilities that typically need longterm maintainability and minimal downtime.

 

 

Fast installation, strong performance

The Elexant 3500i is designed to simplify installation. It combines the power supply and thermostat in one device. And with its quick connectors it enables faster connection of cheating cables. Approved for 32 A and 277 Vac, the thermostat supports long heating cable lengths and reduces the number of circuits required.

The system is built for harsh industrial environments, with hazardous area certification from –55°C to +60°C. Its hybrid switching relay is rated for up to 250,000 cycles, supporting long service life even in demanding conditions.

Connected control for modern industrial facilities

Advanced connectivity is a key requirement for today’s modern European industrial facilities and manufacturing plants. Communicating variants with current sensing and ground fault detection can be easily configured via Bluetooth using the Raychem Elexant Connect App.

The devices also support RS485 communication and seamless integration with distributed control systems (DCS), providing operators with remote monitoring, diagnostics, and full process control.

A builtin findme feature enables technicians to quickly locate devices in the field, while advanced variants perform automatic 24hour testing, supporting predictive maintenance, early fault detection, and improved system reliability.

These capabilities effectively bridge the gap between basic thermostats and advanced industrial controllers, making them ideal for modern factories and industrial facilities across Europe.

Why move beyond mechanical thermostats

Mechanical thermostats are durable but offer only basic temperature control with no monitoring or alarms. In modern industrial facilities, they are increasingly replaced by electronic thermostats that deliver higher accuracy, realtime status information, and improved energy management.

With a modular design, electronic thermostats reduce maintenance effort and service time. Their digital capabilities support IIoT initiatives and industrial modernization projects across Europe, making them a practical step toward more efficient and reliable operations.

A futureready choice for European industry

For facilities looking to upgrade ageing infrastructure or build a connected heat tracing system, the Raychem Elexant 3500i offers a reliable, scalable and intelligent solution tailored to Europe’s industrial area.

Ready to upgrade your system and move towards a fully connected heat tracing solution?


Explore Raychem control and monitoring technologies, including the new Elexant 3500i electronic thermostat family.

Visit the Elexant 3500i product page on our website to learn more.