Blog

IntroductionWhen designing an industrial oven, it all starts with the part that must be processed:How big is it? What does it weigh? What kind of material is it? What volume or quantity needs to be processed every hour?And, most importantly:How are we going to move parts into and out of the oven?One tried and true material handling method is to use a conveyor belt to move the p …

How Clean is Clean?  For manufacturers that wash parts during the production process, cleanliness requirements depend largely on the product's function, material, and subsequent production steps. Defining how clean is "clean enough" typically involves: Industry Standards: Some industries, like aerospace, automotive, and medical devices, have strict cleanliness specif …

By Steven Onsager, P.E.Years ago, I worked with a guy whose previous job was selling heating elements for Chromalox. When a customer would ask, “How long will these heaters last?” he would reply, “Forever, if you never turn them on.” This was his glib way of indicating that equipment and component life is dependent upon usage. The more you use something, the sooner you …

Routine maintenance is like routine exercise; we know that it is good for us in the long term, but it is easy to find excuses to skip doing it. A convection-style industrial oven or dryer is the type of equipment that can easily achieve a useful life of 20 or 30 years. But regular and ongoing maintenance is critically important in keeping that oven or dryer safe and in good ope …

Capital equipment purchases as substantial as an industrial oven deserve serious consideration. Before you buy, you must determine if your oven requires a custom design or whether a standard size and function will meet your needs. Consider the complexities of your production process carefully. Committing to a standard size and layout, only to later discover it doesn't meet …