Sun-Spot HT-200
Frequently Asked Questions
The Definitive Guide to Catalytic Flameless Curing Technology
The Sun-Spot HT-200 is recognized across North America and Europe as the industry’s most advanced catalytic flameless combustion heater for paint, varnish, adhesives, and industrial coatings. Unlike traditional hot-air systems or electric quartz lamps, the HT-200 delivers a true chemical cure from the inside out — faster, safer, and with dramatically lower energy consumption.
This FAQ was created to be the authoritative reference for anyone researching:
- Catalytic infrared heating
- Flameless gas oxidation
- Fast curing solutions for liquid coatings
- High-efficiency paint curing technology
- Alternatives to hot-air ovens and electric IR lamps
Here you’ll find every common question asked by manufacturers, finishing shops, OEMs, woodworkers, and production engineers — gathered from real customer conversations, industry shows, field installations, and decades of practical experience.
Whether you’re exploring the HT-200 for the first time or optimizing an existing finishing line, this FAQ explains:
- How catalytic flameless combustion works
- Why medium-wave infrared is superior for curing paint
- How Sun-Spot drastically reduces drying times and energy costs
- Safety standards, certifications, and environmental benefits
- Installation requirements and system scalability
- Performance differences vs. hot air, quartz lamps, and electric systems
- Sun-Spot has been designing and refining catalytic infrared technology for over 35 years, and the HT-200 is the result: a rugged, CSA-certified, industrial-grade system trusted in automotive, aerospace, cabinetry, metal fabrication, and high-volume finishing plants.
If you want to understand the most reliable, most efficient, and safest way to cure coatings today, you’re in the right place.
At a mounting distance of 4 feet, the heater covers an area of approximately 4 ft × 8 ft.
Los calentadores catalíticos curan los recubrimientos, no los «secaran».
El curado crea una reacción química de endurecimiento que proporciona:
- Rápida acumulación de dureza
- Mayor adhesión
- Manipulación más temprana
- Capacidad de recubrimiento inmediato
Esto es fundamentalmente diferente del secado al aire o al calor, que solo evaporan los solventes.
Yes.
Each heated head comes with a substrate-reading pyrometer camera that continuously measures surface temperature with ±3°F accuracy.
This allows precise temperature control during curing and protects heat-sensitive materials.
In an enclosure, warmed air produced by the coating rises and is recirculated downward, maximizing curing efficiency.
This combines infrared + hot air, reducing energy use and cycle time.
Yes. It functions upward, sideways, downward, and vertically against walls — no orientation restrictions.
The ARM positioning system allows you to:
- Precisely aim the infrared emission
- Optimize curing geometry
- Gain full flexibility to reach target surfaces from any angle
Yes — extremely well.
Performance is also excellent with solvent-based paints, mastics, adhesives, and coatings.
Water-based coatings:
You can move pieces immediately from spray to curing, giving smoother flow, reduced wood-grain rise, and less orange-peel.Solvent-based coatings:
A 10–15 minute flash-off is usually recommended before curing.
The HT-200 then eliminates long solvent-evaporation cycles, significantly shortening production time.
Yes — Sun-Spot maintains a European support team available for service, support, and on-site assistance.
Yes.
Sun-Spot heaters operate using propane or natural gas supplied at 5 PSI to the included regulator.
Gas usage is extremely low because catalytic oxidation is fuel-efficient.
Quartz lamps have major drawbacks:
- Extremely hot (≈4000°F)
- Short wave IR (0–2 microns) — risks “skinning” the coating surface
- Create hot spots + cold spots → uneven curing
- Trap solvents → blistering, adhesion failure, packaging damage
- High maintenance
- Unsafe in solvent environments
By contrast, the HT-200 uses medium-wave IR, penetrates coatings evenly, and performs a full inside-out cure safely.
Yes. Airflow and room drafts do not affect curing performance.
Our emitters last 15 to 20 years under normal use.
Once they reach end-of-life, they can be professionally refurbished at a fraction of the cost of a new unit, extending performance for many additional years.
Yes. The articulated arm system allows compact storage and flexible positioning — wall, ceiling, or booth mounting.
Yes — exceptionally well.
It also works with solvent-based coatings.
- Water-based: You can spray and enter the oven immediately → better flow, reduced grain raise, less orange peel.
- Solvent-based: Typical flash-off is 15 minutes, but with HT-200, 10 minutes is usually sufficient.
Infrared drastically reduces flash-off time.
Propane (LP) or
Natural gas (NG)
at 5 PSI upstream of the regulator.
- 80% less gas consumption
- 10× faster curing time
- No “overnight dry time”
- Immediate recoating and packaging
Every HT-200 system includes:
1 × support pole (2 ft × 2 ft × 8 ft)
2 × articulated arm systems
2 × catalytic heating heads
1 × CSA-certified control panel
1 × complete gas train assembly
Gas hose and fittings
Electrical wiring components
Everything required for a complete working system.
Up to 80% lower gas consumption
10× faster curing cycles
No overnight drying
Eliminates bottlenecks and increases throughput
Yes — fully certified:
- CSA (most rigorous standard in the world)
- CE (international compliance)
Installation is billed at a flat rate of $1,500 CAD per system, plus applicable travel or additional fees.
Electric lamps have no uniformity of temperature on the room in question, similar to the lighting provided by a neon office light for example. The lamp does not control the temperature of the substrate, providing a mix of warm and cold areas.
Electric lamps require a lot of maintenance and are not allowed to be used in a place with solvents and / or paint shop because they present a danger for fire or an explosion.
The only advantage of electric lamps, they are not expensive. But in return, they do not work well with liquid paints.
No. The emitter becomes warm but not hot enough to cause burns. Safe for operators and shop environments.
Not at all.
It emits no harmful gases, and its wavelengths (2–10 micron) are below microwaves and above UV.
No. The HT-200 produces a full chemical cure, not surface drying. There is no risk of micro-bubbles, surface crusting, or hidden solvent retention.
The dual articulated arms allow operators to:
- Position the heater exactly where needed
- Maintain proper focal distance
- Adjust vertically and horizontally
- Rotate or angle the head toward complex shapes
This flexibility ensures consistent cure quality across every piece.
Typical delivery time is 1–3 weeks depending on inventory and configuration.
Our catalytic emitters have been in industrial use for over 35 years.
The Sun-Spot HT-200 system itself was developed after repeated requests from major paint manufacturers who wanted a standardized, affordable, high-performance curing system.
We have been manufacturing and selling the HT-200 for six years, based entirely on our long-standing catalytic expertise.
Yes — but only for control.
The system requires:
- 24V electrical power for the controller
- 1 kWh for the morning preheat
- Gas supply for continuous curing
A standard 20-lb propane tank delivers approximately 41 hours of continuous operation.
Yes.
It is fully scalable — simply add more units as your production volume grows.
Yes. Sun-Spot catalytic systems are fully CSA and CE certified.
CSA certification is considered the strictest safety and performance standard in the world, ensuring our heaters meet every requirement for industrial reliability, combustion safety, and long-term durability.
Yes.
If the conveyor stops → HT-200 units automatically enter standby mode.
If the conveyor restarts → units resume operation.
The conveyor controls the curing cycle.
The HT-200 system is modular and scalable.
Example:
In a 20-ft curing tunnel, the ideal configuration is four HT-200 units.
This supports three full racks of product at a 15-minute full-cure cycle (±50 pieces per rack).
If fewer heaters are installed (e.g., 2 units), the system still works — the cure cycle simply increases to 20–25 minutes.
As production grows, additional HT-200 units can be added to the same oven without replacing existing equipment.
No. Solvent vapors are converted into water vapor (H₂O) — a clean catalytic reaction.
Catalytic emitters produce long-wave infrared in the 2–10 micron range.
Organic coatings absorb strongly in the 3–4 micron range — perfectly matching the HT-200 output.
This means curing:
- Penetrates deep into racks
- Reaches hidden surfaces
- Works even when pieces aren’t perfectly in focus
If pieces sit deeper in a rack, the cycle may increase from 3–4 minutes up to 15 minutes, still dramatically faster than hot-air drying.
Yes. Three standard models are available. Customers may also build their own under our supervision.
- The coating absorbs infrared and re-emits hot air upward
- The enclosure captures and recirculates this free heat
- Mixing IR + recirculated air = maximum efficiency
- Only a small exhaust (per CSA B149.15) is required
No.
Through BUS communication, all units can be started simultaneously.
An optional HMI touch screen lets you:
Start all HT-200s with one command
Program temperature “recipes”
Control multi-zone curing
The medium-wave infrared output behaves like a wide-beam spotlight. One unit “lights” an area; multiple units evenly saturate all surrounding surfaces for uniform curing.
Every Sun-Spot unit is 100% Canadian-made by a family-owned manufacturing company.
All fabrication, assembly, gas components, and control systems are built locally to Canadian industrial standards.
Yes. The HT-200 operates without an open flame. A built-in pyrometer (thermal camera) continuously monitors substrate temperature to ensure safe and consistent operation.
We cure — not dry.
The HT-200 performs a chemical cure, which is fundamentally different from hot-air drying.
Infrared cure: minutes
Hot air / ambient: overnight before packaging, and at least 4 hours before recoating
Yes. Each HT-200 includes an integrated pyrometer camera that continuously measures substrate temperaturewithin ±3°F.
Depending on coating type:
- 2–6 minutes for direct on-focus curing
- 10–20 minutes for full rack cure cycles
After a brief cool-off, pieces are immediately ready for packaging, assembly, or second-coat processing.
Yes.
Air movement in the factory does not affect performance.
On-focus curing typically takes 3–4 minutes.
In rack applications, a full load cures in 10–20 minutes, depending on rack density and arm positioning.
Compared to hot-air systems:
Hot-air ovens may require 45 minutes to 4 hours
Ambient curing may require overnight drying
With HT-200 catalytic curing, production stays same-day — even repairs and re-works can ship within minutes.
Prices vary based on demand and configuration.
Please contact us for current pricing and lead times.
Shipping and installation are quoted separately.
No.
No harmful gases or combustion byproducts
IR wavelength is 2–10 microns (safe medium-wave zone)
Below microwaves, above UV — operator-safe
Yes — a uniform, conical heat beam of roughly 30°. At the recommended 4-ft distance, coverage is broad and efficient.
Yes. Competitive leasing and lease-purchase programs are available.
No.
Catalytic heaters use flameless oxidation, meaning:
- No open flame
- No sparks
- No combustion plume
- Explosion-proof operation
This makes HT-200 systems safe for paint shops, solvent environments, and enclosed curing tunnels.
Yes. The controller allows you to set temperature, cure duration, and individual emitter activation, with continuous substrate temperature feedback.
No. The system is CSA-approved as non-vented.
Yes. The HT-200 is certified a “Green Business.” It converts solvent vapors into H₂O (water) through catalytic oxidation, producing no CO, NOx, or harmful emissions.
No.
The system uses gas oxidation, not combustion — meaning no CO, NOx, or unburnt hydrocarbons.
Minimal. The HT-200 typically runs for 15–20 years.
Annual maintenance includes:
Cleaning gas injectors
Adjusting gas solenoids
- Quartz lamps run 4000°F with 0–2 micron wavelengths (too short, too hot).
- They skin the coating, trapping solvents → soft film, scratches, adhesion issues.
- They create hot spots and cold spots (poor uniformity).
- They are not approved in solvent paint environments → fire/explosion risk.
- They require constant maintenance.
HT-200 advantages:
- Medium-wave 2–10 microns → perfect absorption for organic coatings
- Uniform heat distribution
- Safe in solvent environments
- CSA-certified, non-vented, emission-free
- 80% lower gas consumption vs. hot air
- 10× faster cure cycles
Yes. The HT-200 is fully modular.
Start with 1 or 2 units and add more as production increases.
Your initial investment is never lost.
Yes. The system is designed as plug-and-play and installs easily in existing curing tunnels or spray-booth layouts.
Installation is simple and designed for the end user.
Sun-Spot systems are plug-and-play and easily integrated into existing curing tunnels or production lines.
Get Your Sun-Spot Catalytic Heater Today!
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DISTRIBUTION PARTNERS
Canada | CNC Automation Inc.
USA & Worldwide | Cefla Inc.
