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Specialty Oven’s Hot Benefits and Other Questions Answered

Learn about the advantages of gas catalytic infrared pre-gel ovens in this article, including how they are energy efficient and can save users time and money when integrated into their existing systems.

Michael Chapman, Chief Technical Officer, WolfRayet

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Q: What are the advantages of a gas catalytic infrared (IR) pre-gel oven?

A: Increased energy efficiency, short production times, better coating quality, and versatility are some advantages of this oven. Because they emit multi-directional, longwave infrared radiation, the coated surface is evenly heated. This helps to set textured coatings and reduces the possibility of defects from airborne particles on glossy coatings. Controlling temperature and pre-curing conditions also helps to improve coating quality.

Q: How would this type of oven work with my existing system?

A: A pre-gel oven is designed to be integrated into existing production lines. They can be placed in front of a standard convection oven which speeds up the initial heating of the powder, causing it to flow before being transferred to the main oven for curing. This can either increase line speed for improved throughput or can shorten the main oven to free up floor space for other purposes.

Q. Is my operation too small to benefit from a pre-gel oven?

A. Absolutely not! The smaller your business, usually the less space you have. If you have a large convection oven, think of how much space you could create for other operations by reducing the footprint by 50%.

Q: How energy efficient are these specialty ovens? What role do the ovens play in sustainability?

A: These ovens use longwave infrared radiation to heat the coating material directly, resulting in minimal energy loss. Unlike traditional ovens, which heat the entire chamber, including the surrounding air, gas catalytic IR ovens focus on targeted heating, and not heating the air, which saves energy. By reducing curing and drying times and reducing energy consumption, these ovens help to reduce overall carbon footprint. Their energy efficiency and precise control also result in less waste and better coating quality, offering an environmentally friendly manufacturing process.

Q: How do these ovens affect production times?

A: When compared to traditional heating methods, gas catalytic IR ovens have a higher heat transfer efficiency. This enables rapid and uniform heating of coatings, resulting in shorter overall curing and drying times.

heat panels in a gel oven

This image shows the heat panels inside a pre-gel oven. These ovens use longwave infrared radiation to heat the coating material directly, resulting in minimal energy loss. Unlike traditional ovens, which heat the entire chamber, including the surrounding air, gas catalytic IR ovens focus on targeted heating, and not heating the air, which saves energy. Photo Credit: WolfRayet

Manufacturers can shorten production cycles, meet tight deadlines, and boost productivity.

Q: What distinguishes these ovens from other types of ovens?

A: These ovens are suitable for a range of coating applications, including liquid paints and powder coatings. They are appropriate for a variety of substrates, including metal, plastic, wood and glass. Because of their adaptability, they are valuable in industries such as automotive, aerospace, furniture and electronics.

Q: How adaptable are these ovens in terms of design and installation?

A: They can be integrated into existing production lines or tailored to specific space constraints and production needs. Because of their small size and modular design, they are simple to install and relocate, giving businesses greater flexibility in optimizing manufacturing processes.

Q: Do gas catalytic IR ovens produce any pollutants?

A: Because there is no naked flame, there are less pollutants created. In fact, there are no nitrogen oxides (pollutants) produced, only carbon dioxide.

Q: What industries can benefit from gas catalytic IR pre-gel ovens?

A: These ovens are useful in a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, furniture, electronics, and others. They can cure and dry coatings on a variety of substrates, making them a versatile solution for a variety of manufacturing processes.

About the Author

Mike Chapman headshot
Photo Credit: WolfRayet

Michael Chapman

Michael Chapman, former owner of Vulcan Catalytic Systems, is a leader in catalytic applications. He is now the chief technical officer for WolfRayet, which was formed in 2021 to further develop the application of powder coatings on engineered wood products and other heat sensitive substrates.

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