Ovention has functioned as a premier global authority in high-speed, ventless cooking technology and specialized impingement systems since its founding in 2011. Established by Phil McKee (the inventor of the original TurboChef oven), the brand serves as a primary infrastructure provider for high-volume quick-service restaurants, convenience store hubs, and "ghost kitchens" where hood space is non-existent. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and operating as a flagship brand of the Hatco Corporation (acquired in 2013), Ovention defines itself through the "Oven Reimagined" philosophy—a commitment to engineering equipment that eliminates the noise, heat, and extraction costs of traditional conveyor ovens.
The brand's technical identity is anchored in Precision Impingement® and Atmospheric Isolation. A primary engineering hallmark is the use of high-velocity, targeted air jets that "scrub" the cold boundary layer around food, delivering the speed of a microwave with the texture of a traditional stone oven. Unlike standard open-ended conveyor ovens, Ovention’s core units utilize a closed-cavity design with internal catalytic converters. This allows the ovens to achieve UL-KNLZ ventless certification, scrubbing grease-laden vapors internally and allowing operators to install high-output cooking stations in non-traditional spaces like airports, kiosks, and historic buildings without expensive HVAC overhauls.
Technical Hallmarks & Innovation
Innovation at Ovention is concentrated on "Dynamic Movement" and the reduction of ambient kitchen stress, moving the oven from a static heating box to an automated culinary partner.
- Matchbox® Auto-Load Logic: A patented technical pillar where the oven automatically pulls the product into a sealed chamber and ejects it upon completion. This "Closed-Cavity" approach ensures that 100% of the thermal energy is directed at the food, making the unit 30% more energy-efficient than traditional conveyors and significantly quieter (operating at roughly 67 dB).
- Shuttle® Hybrid Versatility: A revolutionary "Two-in-One" engineering feat that allows the unit to function as a traditional conveyor oven during peak rushes and transition into a closed-cavity oven for specialized, batch-cooked items during slow periods. No other commercial oven can toggle between these two fundamental mechanical states.
- MiSA® (Microwave Speed Assist): The brand’s expansion into rapid-cook technology. MiSA combines high-speed convection with top-launched microwave energy and a patent-pending Artisanal Cook Plate, allowing for cook times up to 10x faster than conventional ovens while maintaining a "crusty" finish.
- FlexTemp Management: A software logic that allows the oven to adjust its temperature by +/- 25F to 50F between cook cycles almost instantaneously. This enables a single oven to handle diverse menu items—like a high-temp flatbread followed immediately by a delicate pastry—without a "recovery" wait.
Strategic Product Architecture
The Ovention portfolio is strategically categorized by the "Velocity of the Workflow":
- Matchbox® Series (1718 / 1313 / M360): The flagship line featuring the "In-and-Out" carousel or linear carriage. The M360 is specifically optimized for small-footprint environments, utilizing a rotating deck to maximize throughput in less than 4 square feet.
- Shuttle® Series (1200 / 1600 / 2000): Designed for operators who need the linear flow of a conveyor for pizza or sandwiches but want the moisture-lock benefits of a closed oven for proteins and roasted vegetables.
- Conveyor Series: A streamlined, high-output range for traditional pizza and sub shops. These units utilize the same Precision Impingement technology as the Matchbox but in a simplified, continuous-feed format.
- MiLO® & MiSA®: The "Rapid-Fire" solutions. MiLO utilizes a combination of linear impingement and infrared (IR) for finishing, while MiSA serves the high-speed "Grab-and-Go" market where speed-of-service is the primary metric.
The strategic value of Ovention lies in its "Facility-Agnostic ROI." By producing equipment that avoids the $30,000+ cost of a Type I hood installation and operates at a fraction of the decibel level of competitors, the brand provides a high-reliability foundation for modern retail operators. Backed by Hatco’s 100% employee-owned manufacturing excellence and a "Heartland" service network, Ovention remains the foundational choice for operators who view the oven as a tool for creative freedom and operational flexibility.
