Revitalizing 22-Year-Old Cabinet Oven: A LEWCO Success Story
When a long-time customer asks if you can refurbish their 22-year-old cabinet oven, some may be hesitant to say yes… but not LEWCO. The oven was originally manufactured by LEWCO in 2002 under the Heat-Pro brand name. For its age, the oven was in solid shape with great bones, but it needed some TLC and a controls upgrade.
The customer wanted this oven refurbished to supplement a shiny new LEWCO oven recently purchased. The older oven also needed to match the performance and reliability of its modern counterpart.
The Initial Inspection: A Thorough Check-Up
Before diving into the refurbishment, LEWCO technicians inspected the aged oven to identify which parts needed to be replaced versus which parts could be repaired. To ensure the refurbished oven would perform as reliably as the new one, we needed to replace a couple of key components. These included:
- Circulating Fan: Essential for maintaining even temperature distribution.
- Heater Bank: Ensures consistent and efficient heating.
- Thermocouple: Provides accurate temperature measurement and control.
- Door Gasket: Ensures a proper seal to maintain internal temperature and efficiency.
These replacements would not only ensure the oven will function well, but also be reliable for another 20+ years.
Cabinet Oven Disassembly and Surface Preparation
Once the necessary replacements and repairs were identified, LEWCO technicians proceeded to disassemble the oven. Nuts and bolts were unscrewed to remove the fan, control panel, heater bank and doors. The oven was then sandblasted, primed and repainted to restore its exterior to a like-new condition.
Upgrading the Control System: Ensuring Seamless Operation
Next on the agenda was the control system. To ensure the customer could use both the new oven and the refurbished oven interchangeably, LEWCO installed an exact duplicate of the new oven’s control system. This was a key part of the refurbishment, guaranteeing that both ovens would operate with identical functionality and efficiency. The panel was assembled by certified electricians in LEWCO’s UL 508A certified panel shop.
Reassembly and Testing: Bringing It All Together
After replacing the necessary components, we carefully reassembled the oven. Our team then conducted LEWCO’s rigorous operating quality testing, meticulously checking each function to ensure the oven performed as well as a new unit. This final step is crucial to confirm that all repairs and replacements meet our high standards of quality and reliability.
Conclusion: A Successful Cabinet Oven Refurbishment
The refurbishment project was a resounding success. LEWCO’s team managed to bring a 22-year-old oven back to life, ensuring it could operate alongside a modern unit with ease. For the customer, this meant seamless integration of their old and new equipment, maximizing their investment and ensuring consistent production capabilities. The retrofit also saved the customer around 30% compared to buying new.
So the next time you think an old LEWCO oven has reached the end of its life, give our engineers a call. We may be able to save you money and get another 20+ years out of it.
If you find your company in need of a similar product, please check out our Model: SCB05EH Batch Oven.
