LEWCO Delivers Third Custom Conveyor Oven for EV Component Production
LEWCO recently delivered its third custom conveyor oven to a Tier 1 automotive supplier. The new oven is designed for a T5 aluminum heat treat process used in the production of electric vehicle (EV) components. This electrically heated oven operates at a maximum temperature of 500°F. LEWCO also engineered and manufactured custom heat-treat racks to hold the customer’s parts as they move through the oven.
The system’s design was critical in meeting the customer’s production rates, ensuring compliance with T5 heat treat specifications, and fitting within the available floor space. The custom racks enable a much higher production rate compared to traditional single-layer conveyor systems. Built on casters, the racks can be easily loaded or unloaded away from the oven and then rolled onto the conveyor system for processing.
The system utilizes a standard LEWCO Multi-Strand Chain Conveyor (MSCC) paired with two lift tables. Each lift table features an MSCC conveyor mounted on top. When a rack is positioned at the loading point, the first lift table raises it to the correct height for entry into the oven, and the MSCC indexes the rack through the heating chamber. At the exit, an identical lift table lowers the rack back to floor level so operators can move it to the next stage of production.
After leaving the oven, the racks move directly into a high-convection cooling zone to quickly reduce part temperatures before unloading.
To streamline operation, LEWCO integrated a fully automated PLC control system that meets the customer’s machine design standards. Operators have full control of the process through an intuitive touchscreen HMI interface.
This project highlights LEWCO’s ability to deliver innovative, space-efficient thermal processing solutions tailored to customer needs. By combining advanced automation, precision engineering, and customer-focused design, LEWCO continues to support the evolving demands of the EV industry and beyond.
