Conveyor ovens aren’t just heat sources. They’re invaluable tools that can help transform your manufacturing. In addition to increased production volume, consistent product quality, process automation, and operational efficiency, they provide space efficiency, reduced costs, versatility, and reliability. Unlike batch ovens, which you must stop to load and unload products, conveyor ovens ensure a steady stream of materials. These benefits optimize production capabilities, boost productivity, and increase profitability.
Conveyor ovens find application in various industries. Whether curing adhesives on automobiles, tempering steel, or performing any other heat-dependent process, they deliver the heat needed to achieve the desired material properties. They also deliver superior control over temperature and heating uniformity with little temperature variance. Conveyor ovens are well-suited for numerous processes, including drying, annealing, stress relieving, pre-heating, bonding, and sterilizing.
Types of Industrial Conveyor Ovens
- Direct Gas-Fired Ovens use natural gas burners to generate heat within the oven chamber. Known for their high efficiency, they’re ideal for applications like metal curing or drying thick coatings. They often reach the highest temperatures, exceeding 1400°F (760°C).
- Indirect Gas-Fired Ovens use heat exchangers to separate the combustion gases from the oven chamber. This method provides cleaner, more consistent heating. Suitable for applications where product contamination is a concern, these ovens have a lower maximum temperature than direct-fired ovens, often up to 800°F (427°C).
- Electric Ovens generate heat using electric elements. They provide precise temperature control and clean operation. Suitable for applications in food processing, electronics manufacturing, and other industries with strict contamination requirements, they provide good temperature control, reaching temperatures from 200°F (93°C) to 1000°F (538°C).
- Infrared Ovens employ infrared radiation to heat products directly. They offer rapid, efficient heating, particularly for products that absorb infrared radiation well. Their applications include drying paints and inks, curing plastics, and brazing or soldering metal parts. While these ovens don’t feature a single chamber temperature, they can achieve highly localized heating on the product.
- Microwave Ovens provide efficient uniform heating regardless of material shape or thickness. Using microwaves to heat products internally, they’re ideal for applications such as drying food products, sterilizing medical equipment, and tempering chocolate. While these ovens don’t feature a single chamber temperature, they, too, can achieve highly localized heating on the product itself.
Despatch’s Top Conveyor Ovens
Designed for process versatility and reliability, the PC Series of conveyor ovens feature a high-volume vertical down airflow design, a continuous belt design for processing large quantities of similar workpieces, a small footprint, and a heavier load capacity. They provide consistent and repeatable results at temperatures up to 260℃ (500℉). Plus, they can be configured to maximize production capacity and floor space.
The series includes:
- PCC1-40 —HEPA Filtered: This model is ideal for applications requiring controlled heating in a Class A clean chamber environment. It features a chamber measuring 18 inches wide x 42 inches deep x 9 inches high (45 cm x 106 cm x 22 cm.), a stainless-steel interior and exterior for durability and easy washing, and an adjustable slide gate to minimize heat loss.
- PCC2-15 – Class A Rated: Designed to meet stringent safety standards for handling flammable solvents, this model features a single-door design, explosion vents, ignition-resistant materials, a robust ventilation system to remove flammable solvent, and safety interlocks that prevent operation if conditions,like malfunctioning ventilation, are detected.
- PCC1-75: This model has all the standard features of the PC series conveyor oven. Plus, it has a chamber size of 24 inches deep x 60 inches deep x 9 inches high (61 x 152 x 22 cm) and a stainless-steel woven wire conveyor belt. It’s ideal for manufacturers who prioritize processing a volume of more oversized products at once.
- PCC1-40 end-to-end option: This oven also has all the standard features of a PC series conveyor oven, plus an “end-to-end option,” which enables you to configure the oven with two heating zones connected in series. This option allows for more extended heating profiles and higher overall processing temperatures than the single-zone configuration.
A standard conveyor oven might not be enough for manufacturers with unique heating requirements. A customized oven, designed around their specific product and process, like that Despatch created for a global surgical supplier, unlocks a new level of efficiency and control. Despatch collaborates with you to generate a custom-made solution that seamlessly integrates into your production line while optimizing heating processes and improving product quality at reduced costs.
