NEWS

4/4/2025

STI has completed a significant upgrade in its paint department with the installation of a new Accudraft bake oven, part of an ongoing commitment to increasing efficiency and streamlining production.

Installed in line with the existing paint booth, the fully insulated bake oven measures 40 feet long, 14 feet wide, and 14 feet high. It reaches 180 degrees Fahrenheit in under 10 minutes and cures freshly painted service truck bodies and parts in just 45 minutes. The system recirculates 90% of the heat it generates, helping to minimize natural gas usage and reduce emissions.

The STI paint team can now move freshly painted bodies and parts racks from the paint booth right to the oven, immediately freeing up the paint booth for the next project. Before this new Accudraft oven addition, the paint booth served as both a painting and baking space, limiting the amount of daily throughput.

“The oven has helped us realize a 4.6% increase in production throughput within its first six months,” said Shane Hummel, STI Production Manager.

The oven has not only improved output but also proven to be extremely user-friendly. “It’s very easy to operate and comes equipped with safety features that ensure all steps must be completed before the unit will operate,” said Doug Zabel, STI Finishes Supervisor. “It keeps our team members safe while delivering consistent performance.”

This investment is one of several ongoing improvements at STI aimed at boosting production capacity and reducing customer lead times.

“We’re very pleased with the results so far and look forward to further increasing our throughput,” Hummel concluded.