To say Despatch Industries has been a mainstay of the process heating industry would be a massive understatement. After all, the Lakeville, Minn.-based manufacturer has been in the business for over 110 years.

Albert E. Grapp started Despatch Industries in 1902 with plans to service and repair electrical items that were just beginning to be invented in the early 1900s. It was not long before the innovative entrepreneur was building electric heaters for frigid Minneapolis streetcars and developing flour-drying ovens for milling companies like Pillsbury.

Despatch evolved its business over time to include high temperature furnaces, continuous conveyor ovens, sterilization ovens, semiconductor burn-in equipment, test chambers, carbon-fiber oxidation ovens and infrared solar-cell manufacturing equipment. It has been quite an evolution over 11-plus decades. A one-man operation has transformed into a business employing 130, and Despatch now serves industries including electronics, healthcare, transportation and solar.

In 2013, Despatch manufactures a range of batch ovens that are suitable for applications where load size or production volumes vary substantially and for situations that require a high degree of flexibility in terms of process variables. The company’s batch oven line includes forced convection ovens, pass-through ovens, inert atmosphere ovens, HEPA-filtered ISO Class 5 clean-room ovens and Class A ovens. Applications include die bond curing for wafer-level packaging of semiconductors, polyimide curing, magnetic annealing, drying, sterilizing, aging, reliability testing, wafer-level burn-in and other process-critical procedures.

The company also manufactures conveyor ovens that are suitable for high volume, repeatable applications. Despatch continuous ovens offer conveyor widths from 18 to 36 inches (46 to 91 cm) with electric or gas heat. Conveyor ovens help ensure consistent thermal-processing times for each part in high volume applications such as manufacturing electronic components or automotive parts. Conveyor ovens also may allow several discrete processes to be combined, reducing material handling and increasing throughput.

Despatch’s thermal-processing technology expertise spans many applications, including:

  • Temperature uniformity and control for consistent product quality.
  • Airflow technology – type of airflow being utilized and the volume of air being moved, based on the specific load configuration.
  • Infrared applications – the ability to control atmosphere to reduce oxidation and provide closed-loop temperature controls for tight uniformity.
• Continuous processing methodologies.
• Inert environment creation, measure and controls.
• Particulate measurement and controls.
 
As you can see, Despatch has provided equipment for nearly every thermal-processing application. More importantly, however, it has the technical capability to modify existing designs to meet next-generation requirements. The company can integrate precise thermal processing with ancillary technologies to create solutions for the most complex systems. Electric, gas and infrared equipment may be designed for batch loading or for a continuous flow of work using a conveyor. Heat can be transferred to the work by natural convection, forced convection or by radiant heat sources. In addition to different types of transfer, heating equipment may be designed to contain special atmospheres such as argon or nitrogen, or it may incorporate special construction materials necessary for a specific application.
This IRED member provides process advancements for superior optimization, tighter temperature tolerances, higher yields and consistent, repeatable results. Despatch also goes to great lengths to move its products to market faster, providing short lead times and quick delivery.
In addition to its extensive manufacturing capabilities, Despatch provides expert technical service, a range of installation options and an extensive parts inventory. The company firmly believes in exceeding customer expectations and offering service capabilities beyond what other equipment manufacturers provide.
As for the future, Despatch is focusing on growing its core thermal product business, particularly its benchtop, laboratory, cabinet and walk-in/truck-in product portfolio of industrial ovens. The company also plans on maintaining its presence in the global carbon-fiber and solar markets. Though Despatch is a leader in the markets it serves – as its long track record of success can attest – the company remains nimble and diversified in order to quickly respond to changing times and market environments. *
For more information on Despatch Industries, visit www.despatch.com. 
 
To say Despatch Industries has been a mainstay of the process heating industry would be a massive understatement. After all, the Lakeville, Minn.-based manufacturer has been in the business for over 110 years.
 
Albert E. Grapp started Despatch Industries in 1902 with plans to service and repair electrical items that were just beginning to be invented in the early 1900s. It was not long before the innovative entrepreneur was building electric heaters for frigid Minneapolis streetcars and developing flour-drying ovens for milling companies like Pillsbury.
 
Despatch evolved its business over time to include high temperature furnaces, continuous conveyor ovens, sterilization ovens, semiconductor burn-in equipment, test chambers, -carbon-fiber oxidation ovens and infrared solar-cell manufacturing equipment. It has been quite an evolution over 11-plus decades. A one-man operation has transformed into a business employing 130, and Despatch now serves industries including electronics, healthcare, transportation and solar.
In 2013, Despatch manufactures a range of batch ovens that are suitable for applications where load size or production volumes vary substantially and for situations that require a high degree of flexibility in terms of process variables. The company’s batch oven line includes forced convection ovens, pass-through ovens, inert atmosphere ovens, HEPA-filtered ISO Class 5 clean-room ovens and Class A ovens. Applications include die bond curing for wafer-level packaging of semiconductors, polyimide curing, magnetic annealing, drying, sterilizing, aging, reliability testing, wafer-level burn-in and other process-critical procedures.
 
The company also manufactures conveyor ovens that are suitable for high volume, repeatable applications. Despatch continuous ovens offer conveyor widths from 18 to 36 inches (46 to 91 cm) with electric or gas heat. Conveyor ovens help ensure consistent thermal-processing times for each part in high volume applications such as manufacturing electronic components or automotive parts. Conveyor ovens also may allow several discrete processes to be combined, reducing material handling and increasing throughput.
 
Despatch’s thermal-processing technology expertise spans many applications, including:
  • Temperature uniformity and control for consistent product quality.
  • Airflow technology – type of airflow being utilized and the volume of air being moved, based on the specific load configuration.
  • Infrared applications – the ability to control atmosphere to reduce oxidation and provide closed-loop temperature controls for tight uniformity.
  • Continuous processing methodologies.
  • Inert environment creation, measure and controls.
  • Particulate measurement and controls.
 
As you can see, Despatch has provided equipment for nearly every thermal-processing application. More importantly, however, it has the technical capability to modify existing designs to meet next-generation requirements. The company can integrate precise thermal processing with ancillary technologies to create solutions for the most complex systems. Electric, gas and infrared equipment may be designed for batch loading or for a continuous flow of work using a conveyor. Heat can be transferred to the work by natural convection, forced convection or by radiant heat sources. In addition to different types of transfer, heating equipment may be designed to contain special atmospheres such as argon or nitrogen, or it may incorporate special construction materials necessary for a specific application.
 
This IRED member provides process advancements for superior optimization, tighter temperature tolerances, higher yields and consistent, repeatable results. Despatch also goes to great lengths to move its products to market faster, providing short lead times and quick delivery.
 
In addition to its extensive manufacturing capabilities, Despatch provides expert technical service, a range of installation options and an extensive parts inventory. The company firmly believes in exceeding customer expectations and offering service capabilities beyond what other equipment manufacturers provide.
As for the future, Despatch is focusing on growing its core thermal product business, particularly its benchtop, laboratory, cabinet and walk-in/truck-in product portfolio of industrial ovens. The company also plans on maintaining its presence in the global carbon-fiber and solar markets. Though Despatch is a leader in the markets it serves – as its long track record of success can attest – the company remains nimble and diversified in order to quickly respond to changing times and market environments. 
 
For more information on Despatch Industries, visit www.despatch.com
 
Profiles in Infrared Heating showcases members of the Infrared Equipment Division, an arm of the Industrial Heating Equipment Association, a voluntary national trade association representing the major segments of the industrial heat processing equipment industry. To learn more about IHEA, Taylor Mill, Ky., call (859) 356-1575 or visit www.ihea.org