A multi-opening oven assembly for simultaneously heating a plurality of blanks, for example aluminum blanks, before forming the heated blanks in a production line is provided. The oven assembly includes vertically aligned shelves to present a plurality of chambers for heating the blanks. A table including an entry side platform and an exit side platform moves vertically along the oven assembly. A rail system extends along the platforms and the shelves to convey the blanks in and out of the chambers. Once one set of heated blanks is removed from a first chamber, the table moves vertically to a second chamber and is ready to receive the next set of heated blanks. A continuous supply of heated blanks is provided for high throughput. The oven assembly is preferably disposed in a press adjacent a forming station of an existing production line and thus, no additional floor space is required.

A multiple hearth furnace in which in a gas space above at least one hearth an annular baffle is provided above the rabble arms of that hearth. The annular baffle modifies gas flow in the gas space, in particular gas residence times above the hearth. This in turn can enhance performance of the furnace, for example in respect of carbon monoxide emissions.

A kiln for firing ceramic slabs (T) comprising: a heating module (2), a firing module (3), a cooling module (4), consecutively connected to each other along an advancement direction (Y) of the slabs (L), which define a process chamber (C) provided with an inlet opening (A) and an outlet opening (B); a transport system (T1, T2) arranged along the process chamber (C) from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, structured to transport the slabs (L) along the advancement direction (Y) the process chamber (C) comprises at least a first channel (C1) and at least a second channel (C2), thermally isolated from one another, cach of which extends along the advancement direction (Y) from the inlet opening (A) to the outlet opening (B); the transport system (T1, T2) comprises at least a first line (T1) and at least a second line (T2), respectively arranged along the first channel (C1) and along the second channel (C2) from the inlet opening (A) to the outlet opening (B).

A multi-opening oven assembly for simultaneously heating a plurality of blanks, for example aluminum blanks, before forming the heated blanks in a production line is provided. The oven assembly includes vertically aligned shelves to present a plurality of chambers for heating the blanks. A table including an entry side platform and an exit side platform moves vertically along the oven assembly. A rail system extends along the platforms and the shelves to convey the blanks in and out of the chambers. Once one set of heated blanks is removed from a first chamber, the table moves vertically to a second chamber and is ready to receive the next set of heated blanks. A continuous supply of heated blanks is provided for high throughput. The oven assembly is preferably disposed in a press adjacent a forming station of an existing production line and thus, no additional floor space is required.