About Us

The Heart and Soul behind Clayborn Lab

Clayborn Lab’s electrical resistance heat tape, first developed for NASA in 1963, provided the necessary heat for space flight and satellite technology. Today, nearly every satellite orbiting the earth contains Clayborn’s space tape – a testimony to its durability and useful life.

Clayborn heated sample lines are lightweight heat traced tubing that offer both energy and cost efficient solutions to the stack sampling and pollution monitoring sectors.

Clients utilizing Clayborn products include Anadarko, M&C Tech Group, Air Hygiene, General Motors, DCP Midstream, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, NASA, Isro, Space Systems Loral, Caterpillar, Thermo Fisher Scientific, SGS, Ballard Power Systems, Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation, Boeing, Universities worldwide, US Military, Powell Electro Systems, Mechanical Equipment, Ecom America, Battelle Memorial Institute and hundreds of smaller companies that benefit from Clayborn’s 40+ years of experience in thermal applications.

1963	Vern Clayborn Pfanku, an M.I.T. grad, invents precision heat tape.
1965	Low outgassing acrylic heat tape launches with early NASA satellite.
1972	Rocket Research employs Clayborn Lab to create a classified heated project.
1980	First tubular application of heat tape to sniff life-threatening gases in Desert Storm
1989	Bob and Maureen Horvath purchase Clayborn Lab.
1992	First Heated Sample Line produced in long lengths.
1997	Bob invents and builds heat tape application machine to spin on continuous length of tubing.
2000	Air and Waste Management Trade Show puts Clayborn Heated Sample Line on the map as Duke Energy and others line up for the lightweight, efficient heated hoses for gas sampling and emission testing.
2009	Clayborn Lab manufacturing expands facility to allow for growth. Clayborn Lab moves into new manufacturing facility.
2013	Introduction of innovative "Tuff Guard" outer sheathing. This high strength extremely durable exterior cover offers superior heated sample line protection with one third less weight, setting a new standard in the marketplace.
2019	Justin and Amy Horvath purchase Clayborn Lab.