A brand-new TK Convection 260×600 kiln has been successfully installed and commissioned in Argentina. The arrival of this giant, full-convection oven addresses a growing regional demand for high-performance glass lamination, providing the local industry with exceptional production volumes and an optimised, continuous workflow for processing PVB, SGP, and EVA interlayers without an autoclave. To further enhance this setup, the order also includes a 7-position external rack and two pre-lamination assembly tables.
This strategic move provides the market with a powerful, proven alternative to traditional systems, finally silencing the sceptics who claim high-quality PVB lamination cannot be achieved without an autoclave.
The challenge
While the customer’s existing autoclave line specialises in producing massive volumes of standard-sized, non-tempered laminated glass, today’s market increasingly demands customised, tempered laminated glass. Trying to run custom-made tempered jobs through this massive autoclave line is highly inefficient, leading to high operational costs and prolonged downtime.
To bridge this gap, the Argentinian customer invested in the TK Convection 260×600. TK’s technology yields significantly lower operational costs compared to an autoclave line, making it highly profitable to produce custom, high-end tempered laminated glass on demand, bespoke projects utilising any type of interlayer, including PVB, SGP, and EVA.
Engineered for high-volume continuity
The scale of the TK Convection 260×600 is matched entirely by its engineering precision. To maximise throughput, the kiln features six trays within a single chamber, optimised for high production volume and maximum energy efficiency. TK is the only manufacturer on the market capable of delivering a six-tray oven that flawlessly laminates PVB without an autoclave. This kiln features six independent vacuum pumps, one for each tray with a smart vacuum control across all cycle steps ensuring that vacuum pressure remains constant, uniform, and localised, allowing for a continuous workflow even when operating at maximum capacity.
Additionally, the intelligent vacuum pump control and active moisture extraction system guarantee thorough PVB deairing prior to edge sealing, resulting in a perfectly transparent, bubble-free finish. Unlike working with EVA or SGP, laminating PVB demands a highly specialised vacuum profile. TK system meticulously regulates vacuum pressure to ensure the glass perimeter does not close prematurely. This systems avoids air getting permanently locked within the layers, causing irreversible optical defects.
Another breakthrough lies in the smart optimisation of processing cycles. By introducing an external pre-vacuuming pump located adjacent to the external storage customer can accelerate workflow speeds even further. The execution of the pre-vacuum phase before the trays enter the kiln yields substantial time savings and optimises cycles. This smart approach minimises kiln downtime, ensuring the TK Convection 260×600 operates at high capacity and sets a new benchmark for throughput in the industry.
The full convection advantage
What sets this installation apart from standard market offerings is its core technology. The TK Convection stands out as the only true full-convection technology available on the global market today. While competing products often rely on traditional heating elements, TK’s proprietary system utilises superior intelligent fast curing alongside smart heating technology.
This smart heating system guarantees a perfectly balanced heat distribution across the entire surface area of every single tray, ensuring uniform cross-linking of the interlayer, resulting in a structurally flawless final product.
Achieving crystal-clear transparency
Beyond the heating phase, the TK Convection addresses the most critical phase in the lamination process: the cooling cycle. The kiln features an advanced automatic fast cooling system engineered to rapidly drop the temperature at the exact moment the cycle ends. In SGP and PVB lamination, the speed and uniformity of this final phase dictate the optical quality of the glass—TK’s rapid cooling entirely prevents haze and bubbles and guarantees absolute, crystal-clear transparency.
A new industry reference
To support this massive production capacity, the order also includes a 7-position external rack and two pre-lamination assembly tables, creating a highly optimised, continuous workflow.
With this installation, Argentina’s premier glass processor is uniquely positioned to dominate the architectural market. By proving that high-volume, autoclave-free PVB lamination is not only possible but highly cost-effective, TK and its partner are rewriting the rules of glass processing in South America.
Contacts
Tel.: +39-031-3574873, E-mail: ask@tkitaly.com.