Convection Oven and 45,000scfm RTO for a Paint Curing Application in a Metal Finishing Operation
Executive Summary
Epcon delivered a high-velocity convection oven coupled with a 45,000 SCFM 2-can regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) for a metal finishing operation’s paint-curing line. The system cures painted metal parts at 600 °F and concurrently destroys solvent-based VOC emissions generated during curing, achieving ≥ 98% Destruction/Removal Efficiency (DRE). The installation boosted production by around 15% while ensuring compliance with air-quality regulations — demonstrating Epcon’s capability to deliver turnkey paint-curing and VOC-abatement solutions for metal finishing operations.
Project Overview
A metal finishing operation producing painted metal parts needed a new curing line capable of delivering reliable, uniform curing of coatings — while eliminating the VOC emissions produced by the curing process. The existing setup could not meet production growth and regulatory pressures. Epcon was contracted to design, build and commission a high-velocity conveyorized convection oven and a large-capacity RTO (45,000 SCFM, 2-can) to treat the curing exhaust and any other solvent-laden emissions in the facility, delivering a compliant, high-efficiency paint-curing solution.
The Challenge
The customer faced multiple interlinked challenges:
- Paint curing on metal parts generates significant VOC emissions (solvent vapors, by-products) which must be treated to meet environmental regulations for air emissions.
- The curing system required a reliable, uniform thermal cure at high temperature (600 °F) to ensure proper coating adhesion, finish quality, and durability of metal parts under finishing operation conditions.
- Large throughput demands — the facility needed to increase production capacity without sacrificing curing quality or compliance — meaning the oven and emission-control system had to support high volume and continuous operation.
- The VOC-treatment unit had to handle large exhaust volumes due to solvent-laden airflows from the curing oven, plus other possible sources in the plant — requiring robust airflow capacity and reliable oxidation performance.
- Integration and safety: the solution needed automation, reliable controls, and safe operation under high-temperature curing and oxidizer conditions, while minimizing disruption to existing operations.
Engineering Requirements
To satisfy production, quality, environmental, and safety objectives, the system had to provide:
- A high-velocity conveyorized convection oven designed for painted metal parts, with uniform air circulation and reliable thermal control at 600 °F for curing cycles.
- A thermal oxidizer (RTO) sized to 45,000 SCFM capacity with 2-can design, capable of treating VOC-laden exhaust from the oven (and other plant sources) with ≥ 98% DRE.
- Exhaust-air handling and ducting capable of safely transporting solvent-laden air to the RTO, handling high airflow volumes, with proper dilution/combustion-air supply to ensure stable oxidation and safe emissions control.
- Automation and controls (PLC, safety interlocks, combustion/airflow regulation) to manage oven temperature, oxidizer operation, exhaust flow, and VOC destruction, ensuring safe and repeatable operation.
- Industrial-grade construction suitable for continuous operation in a metal finishing environment, with robust safety and maintenance design.
- A turnkey solution: design, fabrication, unit testing, installation support, and commissioning — minimizing downtime and risk during implementation.
The Solution
Epcon engineered and delivered the following integrated solution:
- A conveyorized, high-velocity convection oven, designed for paint curing on metal parts, operating at 600 °F, with uniform airflow to ensure consistent cure across parts and stable throughput.
- A 45,000 SCFM, 2-can Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) to treat all VOC-laden exhaust from the oven and other plant sources, providing high-efficiency VOC destruction (≥ 98% DRE).
- Exhaust and ventilation ductwork designed to safely manage and transport solvent-laden air streams to the RTO, ensuring stable airflow, combustion-air supply, and safe exhaust treatment even under high load.
- Complete control system (PLC-based) managing oven temperature, airflow, oxidizer operation, safety interlocks, and emissions-control processes — delivering repeatable, reliable performance with minimal operator intervention.
- Turnkey execution: from design and manufacturing to installation, commissioning and operator training — enabling the customer to rapidly deploy the system and resume production with enhanced capacity and compliance.
Technical Specifications
Component / Feature: Specification / Functionality
Oven Type: Conveyorized, high-velocity convection oven for metal part paint curing
Oven Operating Temp.: 600 °F curing temperature
Emission Control Unit: 2-can Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO)
RTO Capacity: 45,000 SCFM exhaust airflow treatment
VOC Destruction Efficiency (DRE): ≥ 98% VOC destruction for curing-line exhaust
Application: Paint curing for metal finishing operations (coated metal parts)
System Design Goals: Uniform curing, high throughput, VOC abatement, regulatory compliance, turnkey installation, stable operation
The Results
Following installation and commissioning, the integrated oven + RTO system delivered significant benefits:
- Effective VOC abatement — the RTO destroyed the hydrocarbon emissions from the paint curing process, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and safe air discharge.
- Increased production throughput (~15%) — the new oven allowed higher curing line speed and improved capacity while maintaining finish quality and emissions control.
- Reliable, uniform cure quality — the convection oven’s design ensured consistent thermal exposure for coated parts, minimizing defects, improving adhesion, and delivering a stable, repeatable finish.
- Turnkey delivery and minimal downtime — Epcon’s complete solution and commissioning support allowed rapid start-up and smooth integration into the existing facility.
Improved operational safety and compliance, reducing VOC emissions risk and aligning with environmental standards for paint-finishing emissions.
Learn More
Epcon specializes in designing and delivering custom paint-curing ovens, RTOs, and integrated finish-line solutions for metal finishing, industrial coating, and parts manufacturing.
Contact our engineering team to discuss a custom convection-oven + VOC-control system tailored to your paint-curing operation, throughput requirements, and emissions regulations.
