Why Use Infrared Thermometers?

Infrared thermometers are ideal for taking temperature measurements at a distance. They provide relatively accurate temperatures without ever having to touch the object you're measuring.

This is useful when it's impractical to insert a probe into the item being measured, or if the surface is just out of reach and a surface probe will not do the job. You might use an infrared thermometer to measure objects that are:

Fragile (computer circuitry)
Dangerous (gears, molten metal)
Impenetrable (frozen foods)

Susceptible to contamination (foods, saline solution)
Moving (conveyor belt, living organisms)
Out of reach (air conditioning ducts, ear drums)

Infrared thermometers are great for checking surface temperature, however they are not ideal for gauging the internal temperature of an object.

Infrared thermometers are very fast, typically giving a reading in a fraction of a second, or the time it takes for the thermometer's processor to perform its calculations. Their speed and relative ease of use have made infrared thermometers invaluable public safety tools in the food service industry, manufacturing, HVAC, asphalt & concrete, labs and countless other industrial applications.