Whether you are first starting a new business or your company has been in existence for many, many years, one of if not the first question to be addressed when planning to manufacture parts that require any type of heating, drying or curing (utilizing infrared or hot air convection) is to determine if you are better off processing the parts manually one batch at a time in a static not moving way or in an automated and moving manner. Each option comes with its own set of pros and cons and tradeoffs ranging from the space and labor needed to the capital investment required and these all should be thoroughly considered and documented.
Some manufacturing processes are labor intensive. Some are not. Some require a great deal of skilled labor. Others do not. Some processes will take up a great deal of facility floor space and some will not. The level of preventative and/or on-going maintenance to be taken into account in addition to initial and on-going capital investment needed for processes and products will most likely vary a great deal as well from process to process and product to product.
While an automated solution might seem exciting and the way you prefer to proceed before taking all into consideration, but often starting with batch processes are the best way to go unless product volumes make that impractical. You may even determine that initially it makes most sense to have the work done outside by another company for a period of time before you bring it in house to have more control over delivery times and quality, and also save money. It is often good practice to “walk before you run”.
Batch (static, not moving) processes that require heating are generally going to utilize convection or hot air convection heating (electrically heated or gas fired) as it lends itself best and better than infrared to this type of part process presentation most of the time. This is true because moving hot air in a static or batch use method is typically the best way to transfer heat to products in a stationary environment and can be the most forgiving for three dimensional parts or three dimensional racking or hanging scenarios at the same time.
On the other hand, automated processes with moving parts can utilize infrared or hot air convection heating or a combination of the two depending on process requirements, how the parts are arranged relative to one another and conveyed through the heat or oven system.
Regardless you will want to carefully and thoroughly consider all of your options ref. above and whenever possible to bring your most experienced personnel to assist in doing so to develop, map out, and implement a feasible plan and path forward (hopefully with some short, medium and even long term goals and progress measuring methods to utilize as well).
Background: David Weisman, L.L.C. (Weisman Ovens, Weisman Infrared, Weisman Controls) designs and manufactures gas & electric infrared heater/control packages, and infrared, hot air/convection & combinations ovens and spray booths for a broad range of industrial heating, drying and curing applications for individual metal, plastic, wood products and and paper, film, foil, textile, continuous webs, wire and cable extruded rubber products. Conveyorized and batch ovens and turn-key systems. Automated or batch processes.