Applicable Workpieces:

Workpiece Type:

water heater tank (including storage electric water heaters, storage gas water heaters, heat pump water heaters, solar water heaters).

Workpiece Materials:

Carbon steel (a mainstream choice), Stainless steel (suitable for high-end models).

Workpiece Specifications: 

Compatible with cylindrical tank dimensions of diameter 300-600mm and length 400-1800mm, accommodating different capacity models from 5L to 600L (larger specifications can be customized as needed).

Capacity & Energy Consumption

Production Capacity: 

80-300 pieces / hour (based on a standard 50L tank), supports 24-hour continuous operation.

Energy Consumption Indicators:

 Energy consumption per unit product ≤8 kW·h / piece (including pre-treatment, coating, and firing processes), thermal efficiency ≥85% (firing furnace).

Power Supply & Environment:

Power Supply:

440/380V/50Hz, 220V/60Hz, customizable. Total installed power 180-2000kW (depending on capacity configuration; equivalent power usage for gas furnaces can be considered).

Operating Environment: 

Temperature 5-40℃, relative humidity ≤85% (no condensation), suitable for standard industrial workshops (constant temperature and humidity not required).

Certifications & Warranty:

Certifications & Qualifications:

CE, ISO9001, SGS. Complies with EU ECODESIGN environmental standards and Chinese GB/T 29519-2013 "Enamel liners for household and similar electric water heaters".

Full system warranty 1 year, lifelong technical support and spare parts supply provided.

Furnace Temperature: 

830-900℃ (optimal range for enamel frit melting and curing), temperature control accuracy ±2℃, temperature uniformity in the high-temperature zone ≤±5℃ (at any point in the furnace).

Pre-treatment Parameters:

Chemical Pre-treatment: 

Degreasing temperature 50-60℃ (processing time 15-20min), pickling temperature 40-50℃ (for rusty workpieces), drying temperature 80-120℃ (drying time 10-40min). Enables automatic mixed production of various models and specifications of water heater tanks.

Physical Pre-treatment:

Shot blasting. Manual or automatic changeover is required for products of different specifications and models.

Enamel Coating:

Dry film thickness, according to Chinese standard, 150-500μm (tank), adhesion ≥5N/cm (complies with ASTM D3359 standard), salt spray resistance ≥500 hours (complies with GB/T 10125 standard).

Industry-first, super flexible production technology with over ten patents, adaptable for producing multiple models and specifications of water heaters: 

Utilizing TIMS's inventive patented technologies, including:

Automatic Spray Pickling Pre-treatment and Automatic Enameling Drying and Firing System for Water Heater Tanks (CN ZL 2015 1 0351643.5);

Robot Automatic Concentric Gripper for Mixed Production of Water Heater Tanks (CN ZL 2015 1 0350390.X);

Loading/Unloading Device and System for Automatic Spray Pickling System of Water Heater Tanks (CN ZL 2015 1 0351280.5);

Synchronous Tracking Automatic Positioning and Centering Device for Water Heater Tanks and Tank Hanging Baskets (CN ZL 2015 1 0348019.X);

Precise Positioning and Centering Mechanism for New Type Conveyor Chain Hanger (CN ZL 202211229442.4);

Universal Robot Automatic Enameling System for Mixed Production of Water Heater Tanks (CN ZL 2015 1 0351945);

and over ten other patents.These enable an automated cleaning pre-treatment production line, integrated with robotic automatic enameling, automatic loading, automatic coating, drying and firing, automatic transfer, and automatic unloading – achieving a "one-piece flow" continuous production where "workpieces never touch the ground and processes are uninterrupted". A single production line can simultaneously accommodate various product types (e.g., instant water heaters, single-tank, double-tank, heat pump tank water heaters) and dozens of different models (e.g., tanks for 5L-600L water heaters) for automated, intelligent mixed production, without the need for line changeovers or reconfiguration. Initial equipment investment is reduced by over 50%, significantly simplifying multi-product production management. Especially suitable for large appliance manufacturers with multi-model mixed-line production needs.

High capacity and efficiency: 

Due to the production line’s fully automated and flexible "one-piece flow" production, it achieves high production efficiency and large capacity, with a maximum capacity of up to 350 units per hour.

Product stability and low failure rate: 

TIMS's Water Heater Enamel Production Line embodies over two decades of extensive research and development and innovative expertise from TIMS. The line boasts a rational and innovative structural design, a premium configuration (featuring core components sourced from imported European parts), a low equipment failure rate, robust system self-diagnostic capabilities, and easy equipment maintenance.

Dual patent energy-saving technologies, reducing both energy consumption and operating Costs: 

TIMS's enamel firing furnace employs high-temperature insulation wool, nano thermal insulation materials, and a waste heat recovery and reuse system, enhanced by TIMS's patented technologies.

Powder Coating Line Exhaust Gas Waste Heat Utilization System (CN ZL 202222652871.4);

An Enamel Furnace Roof Waste Heat Utilization System (CN ZL 202320531560.4);

The Oven Exhaust Heat Secondary Utilization System (patent number CN ZL 202423315073.8) results in a 40% reduction in heat loss compared to traditional equipment, achieving a 40% decrease in energy consumption for the enamel production line. The waste heat collection and reuse system reduces damage to the equipment structure and electrical control system caused by heat dissipation, enhances operational safety, and extends equipment service life. It also reduces emissions and operating costs, achieving environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, green, low-consumption, and high-efficiency production.

Efficient and environmental process, meeting stringent global standards:

The pre-treatment section encompasses an integrated waste gas treatment system and can be equipped with a wastewater treatment system. Following treatment, the wastewater COD value is ≤80mg/L (significantly below the GB 8978-1996 limit); the dry powder coating booth is fitted with a high-efficiency filter dust collector (achieving a dust removal rate of ≥99.5%). It complies with EU EEA and Chinese GB 13271-2014 standards without necessitating additional environmental modifications, making it ideal for export-focused manufacturers.

Wet enameling achieves enclosed slurry circulation, fewer enamel defects, low rejection rate: 

The automatic water heater tank enameling machine utilizes TIMS's innovative patent technology (Close-loop Rapid Slurry Return Device, CN ZL 201510348316.4) to facilitate rapid, enclosed circulation and recycling of the enamel slurry. This process conserves slurry and ensures consistent slurry pickup. The fully automated rotating and tilting enameling equipment, specifically designed for water heater tanks, employs servo motors to drive the tank's uniform rotation (speed adjustable according to tank diameter, suitable for 300-600mm specifications). Coupled with a precise enamel slurry delivery pump, it guarantees uniform application of the enamel slurry to both the inner and outer walls of the tank, particularly overcoming coating challenges in complex areas such as welds and pipe orifices. This leads to increased tank enameling capacity, slurry conservation, high quality, and a reduced rejection rate.

Innovative design of an anti-drop mechanism for workpieces:

Through patented technology (An Enamel Furnace with Protective Measures for the Heating System, Patent No.: CN ZL 202022244902.3), the structure of the enamel furnace has been optimally designed to safeguard the heating elements within, preventing damage from potential drops of workpieces that might otherwise impact the elements.

Pre-treatment module:

Chemical treatment: 

This process encompasses degreasing, rinsing, organic acid cleaning, two-stage rinsing, and drying in a tunnel (of the hot air circulation type, equipped with an air heat recovery heat exchanger). All tanks are constructed from PP material, (which is resistant to acid and alkali corrosion, and are fitted with online level and concentration monitoring systems, as well as an automatic chemical dosing system.

Physical treatment:

Removes rust, oil, and oxide layers from the tank through a shot blasting system.

Enamel preparation module:

The Enamel Powder Ingredient High-Speed Mixing Tank (operating at speeds of 500-800rpm and equipped with a temperature control jacket) is used for glaze milling and mixing, as well as for aging and enamel slurry filtration (utilizing a 100-mesh filter). The Constant Temperature Storage Tank (maintaining a temperature of 25±2°C and featuring an agitator to prevent slurry settling) ensures the delivery of slurry to application points for real-time use.

Enameling module:

2-4 fully automatic enameling units (including servo-driven rotation mechanisms and a precise enamel slurry delivery system) for comprehensive flow coating/roll coating, as well as enclosed slurry return, filtration, and reuse.

Wet enamel drying module:

Zoned drying at temperatures ranging from 30 to 120°C ensures gradual moisture removal and prevents the coating from cracking.

Firing and curing module: 

The module consists of a continuous gas radiant tube firing furnace or an electric heating enamel furnace, (which includes an inlet/outlet cold-hot workpiece exchange zone (operating at 280-350°C) and a firing zone (operating at 750~850°C). Additionally, it features a waste heat recovery heat exchanger (that utilizes flue gas heat to preheat combustion air, an overhead conveyor located outside the furnace, and a heat sealing system. The module also uses high-temperature resistant hangers.

Conveyance and positioning module: 

Standard or power and free conveyor (dual-track design, load capacity of 200kg per unit), servo-driven lifting transfer car (positioning error ≤ 0.1mm), workpiece flip-over mechanism (automatically rotates the tank during spraying to ensure uniform inner wall coating), and a workpiece positioning and centering mechanism that ensures reliable pickup by loading/unloading robots.

Control & inspection module: 

The PLC control cabinet (featuring a 12-inch touch screen and capable of storing 100 process recipes), along with the MES data interaction unit (which enables real-time uploading of production capacity, qualification rate, and energy consumption data), can be equipped with an offline quality inspection station. (This station includes an adhesion tester, a coating thickness gauge, and a salt spray test sampling station. Additionally, the module can be integrated with a visual defect detection system (that identifies pinholes ≥0.2mm and scratches).

Environmental module: 

Comprises the waste slurry sedimentation and water separator, as well as the enamel furnace exhaust gas treatment system.

Fully automated, intelligent operation: 

Achieves unmanned operation for the entire process of water heater tank, including automatic loading, pre-treatment, drying, unloading, automatic enameling, wet enamel drying, high-temperature firing, online cooling, and automatic unloading. Only 1-2 personnel are required for quality inspection, reducing manual intervention and avoiding human errors such as uneven coating thickness and insufficient drying.

Precise process control: 

The PLC system monitors parameters such as temperature, pressure, and concentration in real-time across each section. It includes automatic monitoring and dosing of pre-treatment chemicals, comprehensive monitoring of firing furnace data and energy consumption, and the full line production capacity.

Quality traceability & management:

Automatically collects production data for each tank, such as coating time, enamel slurry usage, firing temperature, coating thickness, and inspection results. Assigns a unique traceability code (QR code) and supports data storage and export for over a year. Enables querying of the full production record for any tank via the MES system, meeting the quality traceability requirements of the appliance industry.

Specialized design:

The production line is professionally engineered for the pre-treatment and enameling processes specific to water heater tanks. It ensures a uniform coating and adequate firing at critical areas, including the tank body, pipe orifices, and welds, thereby addressing the pain points of traditional manual coating, such as "thin coating on edges/corners" and "missed coating on welds."

Modular expandability: 

Each functional module can be independently separated and combined. It supports capacity expansion by adding enameling units or extending the firing furnace length. Additionally, it allows for process upgrades, such as incorporating enamel slurry filtration units (adaptable for special enamel formulas), without requiring the replacement of the entire equipment, thereby extending the production line's life cycle.

Easy operation & maintenance: 

Equipped with a graphical touch screen interface, pre-set with production processes and parameters for common product specifications, the system includes fault detection and alarm functions. These features enable quick fault retrieval and solution identification, and allow for remote maintenance and debugging.

Intelligent monitoring:

TIMS's automated, intelligent, and informatized enamel production line utilizes PLCs and touch screens to display and monitor data in real-time. This includes conveyor speed, furnace temperature, various pressures, production capacity, and safety parameters. In the event of abnormal situations, such as temperature exceedance or coating material shortage, audible and visual alarms are triggered. Additionally, the system records the maintenance cycles for core components, including spray guns and heating elements.

High efficiency and low consumption: 

TIMS's automated, intelligent, and informatized enamel production line features a full-process automation design, short design cycles, refined organization, and implementation by experienced workers. This leads to shortened production, installation, and commissioning timelines. The automated production with minimal or no personnel, efficient energy conversion and waste heat recovery, and coating material recycling result in TIMS's enamel production lines having low energy consumption, reduced labor costs, and high material recovery rates.

High automation & stability:

TIMS's automated, intelligent, and informatized enamel production line facilitates full-process robotic automatic loading, robotic automated production, robotic automated changeover for flexible production, robotic automatic transfer, and robotic automatic unloading – achieving minimal-personnel or even unmanned "one-piece flow AI intelligent" production.

Exceptional Enamel Quality: 

Wet enameling processes use automatic flow coating, roll coating, or spray coating to ensure a uniform application of enamel. Dry enameling, on the other hand, employs automatic electrostatic spraying for the same purpose. The high-temperature firing furnace is equipped with temperature control precision within ±3°C, ensuring superior firing quality. The resulting enamel layer is not only uniform and smooth but also boasts excellent impact resistance, acid and alkali resistance, and adhesion of ≥5N/cm, meeting the ASTM D3359 standard.