A heater would work well.
I've made some out of dryer elements or electric stove elements.
I've also used metal strapping, like holds bundles of lumber together.
Anything that will draw a decent current at 30v or so.
I have a strange feeling that this is an odd-ball machine that SIP made, that had a triac instead of a main contactor to switch power on and off - check the small heat sink on the top part of the pcb. This acts much like a dimmer switch in a domestic light circuit. Failure of the triac or control electronics is a possibility, but check torch power connections at both ends first. Busted power cables/loose terminals can give this sort of result. Otherwise, my guess is the triac.
Dave