Manufacturing processes in which a thermal camera is used as a key process control element, require referencing cycles to keep the process window as narrow as possible. The infrared Emitter IR-E is a cost-effective, easy-to-handle device that emits a stable infrared radiation similarly to a blackbody with a known temperature between 120°C and 600°C. The IR-E allows to set up a known reference temperature that can be used to monitor and control the irradiation observed by a thermal camera.