Drying polymerisation and annealing ovens
The ovens are equipped with a heat generator that heats the air inside the chamber to the desired temperature, thus drying liquid paint or curing powder paint.
The ovens are equipped with a heat generator that can be either direct or indirect exchange, which allows the desired temperature to be reached within the curing or drying chamber. Pieces coming from other stages of processing, such as washing or painting, are fed into the oven via an overhead conveyor or other means of transport.
The temperature inside the oven is reached and maintained at a constant set point throughout the curing cycle, thanks to a temperature regulator located in the electrical panel and a temperature probe inserted inside the curing chamber. Eurotherm drying and curing ovens can reach a maximum temperature of 350°.
Our standard curing and drying ovens have a temperature range of + or – 5°C.
For the aeronautic industry or other critical application areas we can narrow the range down to + or – 2°C.
Liquid and powder coating ovens
Depending on their intended use, drying or curing ovens can be divided into two main categories:
Liquid coating ovens (or drying/de-solvation ovens)
Such ovens normally handle temperatures between 60°C and 120°C. Their function is to dry paint, generally water- or solvent-based.
Powder curing ovens (or curing ovens)
These ovens reach temperatures of up to 250°C and are built in order to retain temperature for longer and thus avoid heat loss.
The oven is made of thick sheet metal panels sealed together with a 150mm mineral wool inner lining.
Ovens for special treatments
Static curing ovens can also concern other special treatments. Eurotherm manufactures, for example, ovens that are employed in the aeronautical and automotive industry, as well as other special uses, such as ovens for detensioning headlights, ovens for industries that build electrical resistances, ovens for aging aluminum and so on.
Customized drying and curing ovens
Eurotherm manufactures custom drying and curing ovens in order to solve any problem related to drying and curing objects of any size.
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2 or 4 shutter-equipped closing portal with sliding doors
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side doors.
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portholes with internal lighting.
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graphic recorder with several temperature probes.
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stainless steel inner chamber.
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and other features according to your specific needs.
4.0 drying and curing systems
Eurotherm technicians are at the forefront in the realization of 4.0 drying and curing plants designed to be interconnected to the production line and management software, in full compliance with the parameters required by the regulations of the Transition Plan 4.0.
Energy saving and heat recovery systems
Ovens are composed of a heat generator inside which there is a burner, generally gas-fired.
The latter heats the air taken from the curing chamber through an aspirator which then feeds it back into the oven’s plenum. Here the air is mixed and introduced, from the top to the bottom, inside the treatment chamber.
In Eurotherm ovens, the hot air inside the curing chamber is constantly recirculated. This solution allows you to keep the temperature constant over time with the minimum possible energy consumption while also ensuring an even distribution of the air at the same time. Moreover, at the end of the firing cycle, in order to allow the pieces to be unloaded from the oven, an aspirator moves the hot air outside, which can be then used to feed a heat recovery unit.
The insulation of the ovens is realized with high density mineral wool, whose thickness varies from 50 to 150 mm according to the temperatures to be reached during the expected working cycle. Eurotherm’s particular construction technology without thermal bridges guarantees an effective barrier against heat dispersion as well as considerable energy saving.
Drying oven with air stream combustion (direct exchange)
In ovens with air stream combustion the burner flame is in direct contact with the air within the cooking chamber.
For this reason it is most suitable for curing powder coatings (polymerization) and water-based liquid coatings.
The main advantages of using an oven with airstream combustion are:
- Affordability of the operation.
- Speed of reaching the designated temperature.
The main sources of fuelling are methane gas, LPG and diesel.
Drying oven with combustion chamber (indirect exchange)
In indirect exchange furnaces, the burner flame is insulated within the combustion chamber. Air is passed against the hot surfaces of this chamber, thus heating it indirectly.
The main advantage of using an oven with a combustion chamber is that the combustion gases from the burner do not mix with the air in the chamber. This makes it ideal for drying liquid coatings with flammable solvents. On the other hand, the operation requires 20 to 30% more energy than an airstream oven.
In this case, too, the main sources of fuelling are methane gas, LPG and diesel.
The main sources of fuelling are methane gas, LPG and diesel.
Drying oven with electric heating (direct exchange)
In drying and curing ovens with electric heating, the heating element consists of a series of electrical resistances.
Ovens with electric heating are generally the smallest in our range and are particularly suitable for drying or curing small pieces or reduced high quality productions.
The main advantage is that, thanks to their compactness, they are generally assembled as a single block and can therefore be easily transported and moved.
Below are two examples of one-piece electric ovens:
IR (infrared) tunnels, ovens for gelification
Infrared tunnels are generally inserted in continuous line plants. They are mainly used to preheat the product’s surface to over 100°C in a few seconds.
In this way the powder coating is pre-gelified and the workpiece is immediately ready for a second coat of paint or subsequent curing.
There are two advantages to using an IR tunnel to gel the powder:
- the reduced size of the curing oven
- the reduction of curing times, with evident savings in terms of energy management as well.
Below are two examples of IR tunnels:
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Ovens with continuous belt conveyor
In conveyor drying ovens the heating is only electric and can reach a maximum temperature of 100°C.
A continuous belt conveyor runs inside the oven and along its length, transporting the piece inside and along the length of the oven until the end of the process.
Continuous belt conveyor ovens cannot be used to bake paint, only to heat the parts. Some examples of uses may be drying car filters, de-tensioning headlights, and drying pad glues
Below is an example of a conveyor oven:
Curing and drying tunnels
Drying tunnels are generally always inserted at the exit of the washing tunnels, while the curing tunnels are located at the exit of the powder or liquid painting booths.
Pieces are transported inside the tunnel by an automatic conveyor.
They can be realized in two ways:
With a continuous system, in which the pieces pass through the oven while curing continuously without stopping.
With a step-by-step system, in which the pieces stop through the various areas of the system. In this case, the ovens are equipped with automatic closing/opening doors.
The main difference between the two types is that continuous ovens are faster, but also larger than step-by-step ovens.
Here is an example of a drying and curing tunnel
Annealing ovens
Annealing ovens provide a heat treatment that reduces the internal stresses of the material, without changing the structure, properties and dimensions of the part itself. In the automotive sector, in fact, the quality and reliability of components are essential to guarantee the safety and durability of vehicle performance.
In this context, one of the main challenges is to ensure that the materials used do not present internal tensions that could compromise their integrity over time.
Automotive annealing ovens
Annealing ovens eliminate internal tensions in automotive lenses, improving their stability and durability over time. These ovens are designed to eliminate residual stress generated during the material processing and ensure the quality of the finished product.
These ovens are designed to perform the stress-relief heat treatment on plastic materials in order to eliminate internal stresses generated during previous manufacturing processes such as molding. This process, known as Annealing, involves the controlled heating of the component to a temperature close to 90°C for about 15 minutes and then allowing it to cool to room temperature.
At Eurotherm we know how essential this treatment is in the automotive sector, to reduce the risk of cracks or breakages , throughout the life cycle of the lenses applied to car headlights.
Maintaining uniformity of lens temperature throughout the annealing process is the fundamental step to ensure that the entire component is treated homogeneously, thus ensuring greater durability over time.
Eurotherm custom solutions for Annealing
Eurotherm provides tailor-made solutions for the annealing of parts in the automotive sector, an industry that is increasingly using advanced materials and high-performance technologies. Our cutting-edge technology solutions can significantly contribute to raising the quality standards of the industry, ensuring reliable and safe components for the global market.
Eurotherm annealing ovens are equipped with:
- temperature control and management systems on multiple oven zones.
- thermal uniformity management mechanisms to ensure uniform treatment of parts.
In the heating phase of the annealing oven, the temperature increases gradually, in relation to the thickness, size and characteristics of the product, until it reaches the required temperature which is maintained, without variation , for the entire duration of the process so that the different thicknesses of the component can be reached uniformly.
Below is an example of an annealing oven for automotive:
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FAQ about drying and curing ovens
In ovens above 120°, the outer and inner walls, the door and the generator area are all made of thick, galvanized sheet metal. Mineral fiber and high density silicate provide effective internal insulation.
Ovens below 120° are generally made of 80 to 100 mm thick mineral wool precoated panels, pre-painted and sealed together tightly.
We mainly manufacture made-to-measure ovens, designed to meet any production or space requirements. Our technical team will advise you best, from design to testing.
Whether it’s heavy carpentry or thin sheets, Eurotherm furnaces can be programmed to perform different working cycles from time to time.
It is also possible to perform drying, degassing and paint firing cycles. Temperatures and times are configurable parameters.
Whether it’s heavy carpentry or thin sheets, Eurotherm furnaces can be programmed to perform different working cycles from time to time.
It is also possible to perform drying, degassing and paint firing cycles. Temperatures and times are configurable parameters.
Mainly industrial (light and heavy carpentry), automotive, aeronautical and medical.
The ovens and all their components are covered by warranty as per current regulations.
We design and build drying and curing tunnels that can be inserted in line with washing and painting to guarantee a complete and personalized workflow, according to the specific needs of the customer.