In 1968, Robert Heran of Cleveland's ACE Equipment Co. recognized the need for a controlled process to strip paint, varnish, plastics, rubber, adhesives and other materials from various metal parts safely and with no pollution. At the time, manual labor and open fires were the norm for cleaning all kinds of substrates. The introduction of the first burn-off oven provided finishers with a way to eliminate the hazards and labor while protecting the parts from excessive heat.

Other burn-off oven manufacturers have entered the marketplace since Heran's invention, yet ACE has not relied on being first to market to maintain its competitive edge. During the past 35 years, ACE Equipment has continued to make improvements and utilize new technology to improve the burn-off process.