TTX’s SlideRail Square Transfer® (SST®)

Therma-Tron-X, Inc.® (TTX®) was established in 1969, starting out as an oven manufacturer. Throughout the years, TTX expanded into an industrial finishing system supplier. TTX has strived to engineer innovative systems for the future through a commitment to continuous improvement. Today, TTX designs, manufactures, and installs industrial finishing systems, water and wastewater treatment systems, and material handling systems for customers across the globe.

In 1987 Therma-Tron-X, Inc. manufactured and patented the first SlideRail Square Transfer® (SST®). The SST system was designed around the idea of using an indexing motion instead of, or alongside, a flow through motion. Parts are suspended from load bars that raise and lower into the processing tanks, moving simultaneously through the finishing process. This finishing system package revolutionized the industry by using low maintenance slide rails instead of traditional chain conveyors, reducing the amount of floor space a system needed, and providing a customizable finishing solution for compact and large-scale use.

The SST was first utilized for compact finishing operations in the Econ-E-Coat® system. This system was developed and patented in 1990 by TTX. It gave small job shops the ability to electrocoat their products in house, reducing their outsourcing costs. The SST allowed for easy transfer of the product through the pretreatment and electrocoating process and into a bottom entry oven for curing, maximizing efficiency and offering an automated approach to finishing. The Econ-E-Coat system was made for compact finishing, built in places where floor space was limited by operating under a small footprint. The versatility of the SST allows it to be paired with any conveyor system, and its modular design provides customization based on the customer, their product, available space, and coating technology. Since the Econ-E-Coat, the SST has been used in combination with several different conveyor systems, including monorails, power and free, and the TTX patented Automated Conveyor Carrier® (ACC®).

Therma-Tron-X Econ-E-Coat® system

Not only is the SST compatible with multiple conveyor systems, but it can also be used with a variety of coating technologies. Electrocoating, powder, and liquid systems can all be designed with SST integration.  TTX has designed, manufactured, and installed a variety of systems with unique functions for different coating abilities including:

• Systems with hold ups to bypass tanks in the pretreatment and E-coat process

• Tilting during and after immersion to ensure coverage of all internal and external surfaces

• Spray and immersion pretreatment options

• Electric, gas, and natural gas-powered systems

Sustainability is one of the pillars of every TTX system and that is no different with the SST. Each system can reduce the paint, chemical, and water usage through efficient process design, allowing for cost and environmental benefits. SST systems can also be easily integrated with water and wastewater treatment, fume scrubbers and VOC destruct systems, reducing pollution and providing a long-term economical way to reduce air pollution and water waste. The SST combines functionality with sustainability, creating a system that will last for years to come, while offering economic and environmental benefits.

TTX continues to be a leader in innovation, designing the finishing systems for the future. For over 55 years, TTX has helped shape the industry through innovative compact and large-scale finishing solutions. The SST advanced industrial finishing and provided a growth opportunity for small businesses to electrocoat their products in house. This flexible finishing system package has grown into both large scale and compact finishing operations. Today, TTX has installed hundreds of SST systems, coating parts that range in size from screws to truck bodies and providing solutions for both compact and large-scale finishing. The SST provides flexibility, automation, and sustainability, proving its ability to enhance the finishing industry.