Where Are Evenheat Kilns Manufactured?

Evenheat kilns have been a staple in the kiln industry since 1948 when the company was founded by John and Margaret Watson. Evenheat has built a reputation for producing high-quality, innovative electric kilns designed for potters, ceramic artists, glassworkers, enamelists, jewelers, schools, and studios.

Based in Pocatello, Idaho, Evenheat offers a wide range of kiln models and sizes to suit the needs of hobbyists and professionals alike. Evenheat kilns are known for their durability, precise temperature control, and energy efficiency.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the manufacturing and production process behind Evenheat kilns. Understanding where and how these kilns are made provides insight into why they have become so popular and trusted within the ceramic arts community.

Company History

Evenheat Kiln was founded in 1948 by John and Margaret Watson in Navasota, Texas. The beginning of Evenheat can be indirectly traced back to the late 1890’s when Margaret’s father started a small foundry and machine shop called Watson Manufacturing in Navasota. In 1938, Margaret Watson began making small porcelain kilns in the back of the family’s machine shop. These proved so popular that she convinced her husband John to start a kiln manufacturing company. This led to the official founding of Evenheat Kiln in 1948.

Evenheat started out making small hobby kilns, but rapidly expanded manufacturing capabilities. By 1949, the company was producing large production ceramic kilns for local brick and tile manufacturers. Over the decades, Evenheat continued to grow and evolve. Today, Evenheat offers a wide array of electric and gas kilns for ceramics, glass, metal arts, jewelry, and more. Evenheat kilns are used by major companies, small studios, schools, and hobbyists around the world.

Manufacturing Facilities

Evenheat Kiln has its origins in a small machine shop along the shores of Lake Huron in Lexington, Michigan where Mike and Molly Ruggirello first began manufacturing kilns in 1984 (https://www.evenheat-kiln.com/). The company quickly expanded as demand grew for Evenheat’s high quality kilns and they moved operations to a larger facility in Croswell, MI in 1991. According to Evenheat’s website, their 60,000 square foot Croswell facility employs over 50 people and contains a complete in-house fabrication shop with multiple CNC machines as well as powder coating and wet paint lines (https://www.evenheat-kiln.com/).

In addition to the main manufacturing campus in Croswell, Evenheat operates a second 33,000 square foot facility in Lexington, MI about 20 miles away. This satellite facility handles overflow manufacturing as well as warehousing and shipping of completed kilns (https://kilnfrog.com/collections/evenheat). Keeping manufacturing operations centralized in Michigan has allowed Evenheat to control quality and quickly respond to customer demand across North America and internationally.

Production Process

Evenheat kilns are manufactured at the company’s facilities in Pocatello, Idaho. The kiln production process involves several key steps:

First, the raw materials are prepared. The main material for kiln construction is firebrick, which is refractory brick made from clay and alumina that can withstand extremely high temperatures. According to Wikipedia, firebricks are arranged in ways that enhance airflow and heat distribution (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiln).

The firebricks are precisely cut and shaped to spec. Components like the lid, base, and heating elements are also fabricated. Quality control checks are conducted to ensure proper sizing and fit.

Next, the kiln chamber is assembled by laying firebricks and inserting heating elements into position. A thick, heat-resistant mortar is used to bind the firebricks together. The wiring and controls are installed.

The final step is testing and adjustments. Each kiln is fired up to ensure proper heating function and temperature distribution. Calibrations are made to optimize performance. The kilns are then packaged and shipped to customers.

Evenheat kilns are hand-constructed by experienced technicians using time-tested methods. This allows close monitoring and quality control over every stage of the manufacturing process.

Quality Control

Evenheat Kilns takes quality control very seriously in the manufacturing of their kilns. According to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at Princeton University, working with ceramics and firing kilns can pose hazards related to dust, electrical components, and high temperatures (source). Evenheat employs strict protocols to ensure product safety and reliability.

All Evenheat kilns undergo thorough testing and inspection at multiple stages of the manufacturing process. Individual kiln components are examined to verify they meet specifications for durability and performance. Once assembled, the kilns undergo a burnout test firing to evaluate temperature uniformity and element life. The control panel and relays are also checked to ensure proper functionality.

In terms of quality assurance, Evenheat maintains detailed documentation for each kiln that tracks it through every step of manufacturing. This allows any potential issues to be swiftly identified and addressed. Extensive quality control testing enables Evenheat to confidently provide a warranty on the kilns and their components.

By making quality control core to its operations, Evenheat produces ceramic kilns that meet the highest standards for safety, consistency, and reliability. This gives ceramic artists peace of mind that their Evenheat kiln will efficiently fire their creations to perfection.

Distribution

Evenheat kilns are carefully packed and shipped directly from the manufacturing facilities to customers across the United States and internationally. The kilns are securely wrapped and protected with custom packaging including cardboard, foam, wood, and paper products to ensure they survive the shipment journey intact.

According to Soul Ceramics, Evenheat takes care to securely pack each kiln for shipping. The company offers direct delivery nationally via freight trucks. Customers are advised to thoroughly inspect shipments on arrival and note any potential damage before accepting delivery. Basic direct shipping is provided, but extra services like inside delivery, setup, kiln placement, and disposal of packaging is not included.

Some key kiln retailers like Kiln Frog provide free shipping on all Evenheat kiln orders. However, the delivery service does not extend beyond basic curbside drop-off. Customers are responsible for uncrating, moving, and installing the kilns themselves after delivery.

Customer Service

Evenheat is known for providing excellent customer service for their kilns. Many reviews on sites like Judge.me praise Evenheat’s customer service team for being responsive, knowledgeable, and helpful when issues arise with their kilns.

According to one review on Judge.me, “Customer service was also very nice and kept us updated on info we asked for and needed! When I emailed with a question, they responded quickly.”

Evenheat’s customer service team seems to pride themselves on being available to help troubleshoot any problems kiln owners encounter. They offer guidance on proper kiln maintenance, replacement parts, and repair services if needed.

Based on multiple reviews, Evenheat customer service sets them apart from competitors by providing detailed support and advice to help maximize the performance and longevity of their kilns.

Kiln Models

Evenheat offers a wide variety of kiln models to meet the needs of ceramic artists and hobbyists. Their kiln lineup includes:

• Front-Loading Kilns – These classic front-loading kilns come in a range of sizes from 10 cubic feet up to 29 cubic feet. They have a sidewall plug and feature Evenheat’s patented hard ceramic element holders for durability.

• Top-Loading Kilns – Top-loaders provide easy access for heavier loads. Evenheat offers square and rectangular top-loading kiln designs in sizes ranging from 4.5 cubic feet up to 20 cubic feet.

• Specialty Kilns – In addition to standard models, Evenheat produces specialty kilns like jewelry kilns, glass kilns, and raku kilns to suit specific firing needs.

• Custom Kilns – For unique space requirements or specifications, Evenheat can work with customers to engineer fully customized kiln designs.

No matter what type of firing is required, Evenheat likely offers a kiln model to fit the needs of ceramic artists and studios.

Future Developments

Evenheat kilns has exciting plans for the future as they continue to innovate and expand their offerings. The company is currently developing a new line of larger electric kilns that can accommodate bigger loads for production potters and ceramic artists. These new models will range from 10 cubic feet up to 20 cubic feet, allowing users to fire substantially larger quantities of work.

In addition to the new larger kiln sizes, Evenheat is also working on some technology improvements for their kilns. They are integrating new touchscreen interfaces on select models to make programming firing profiles and adjusting kiln settings more intuitive. These new touchscreens will provide real-time graphs and data readouts to help monitor firings. The company is also exploring adding WiFi connectivity to enable monitoring and control of kilns remotely through smartphone apps or web interfaces.

Evenheat plans to unveil these new larger kiln models and technology features at major pottery trade shows and ceramic arts conferences over the next 1-2 years. They are excited to bring these innovations to market to better serve professional artists and educational institutions with high-capacity kiln needs. As Evenheat continues pushing the boundaries of kiln design and performance, customers can look forward to new ways of firing their work to achieve optimal results.

Conclusion

Evenheat kilns have been manufactured in the United States since 1985. The company was originally based in California but later moved its operations to Idaho. All Evenheat kilns are made at the company’s 60,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Nampa, Idaho. This facility employs over 100 people and runs 24 hours a day to meet production demands.

The manufacturing process at Evenheat involves state-of-the-art robotic welding equipment and rigorous quality control procedures. Each kiln is hand-assembled by trained technicians before undergoing performance testing. Evenheat offers a wide range of electric and gas kiln models to meet the needs of hobbyists, artists, and commercial ceramists. The company prides itself on providing excellent customer service and stands behind its products with strong warranties. Evenheat plans to continue innovating and improving its kiln technology for years to come.