A rotary rack oven is quick to commission when the site is ready and slow when it is not. Most delays come from the same few things: a door narrower than the oven, the wrong power supply, no flue route, or no room in front to roll the trolley out. Work through this list while the oven is being built, and send Alif Ovens a photo and rough plan of the room so any problem is found before dispatch.
1. Floor Space for the Oven
These are the overall sizes of each Alif model. Plan the room around them, then add the working space in section 2.
| Model | Trays | Overall size (in) | Approx. in metres | Motor power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AO-70 | 15 | 52 × 70 × 65 | 1.32 × 1.78 × 1.65 | 2HP + 0.5HP |
| AO-80 | 15 | 51 × 66 × 87 | 1.30 × 1.68 × 2.21 | 2HP + 1HP |
| AO-90 | 20 | 58 × 76 × 87 | 1.47 × 1.93 × 2.21 | 3HP + 0.5HP |
| AO-110 | 20 | 66 × 82 × 87 | 1.68 × 2.08 × 2.21 | 3HP + 0.75HP |
| AO-130 | 40 | 70 × 91 × 87 | 1.78 × 2.31 × 2.21 | 3HP + 1HP |
| AO-170 | 40 | 86 × 115 × 87 | 2.18 × 2.92 × 2.21 | 5HP + 1.5HP |
| AO-180 | 80 | 91 × 123 × 87 | 2.31 × 3.12 × 2.21 | 5HP + 1.5HP |
| AO-220 | 80 | 106 × 137 × 87 | 2.69 × 3.48 × 2.21 | 7.5HP + 2HP |
- Service access on Alif rotary ovens is from the front and the top only, so the sides can stand close to a wall
- Leave clear space above the oven for the flue and for top access. Most models are about 2.2 m tall before the flue
- The floor must be level and strong enough for the oven and fully loaded trolleys
2. Working Space in Front
Every batch is a loaded trolley rolled in and a hot one rolled out, so the area in front of the door matters as much as the oven's own footprint.
- Room for a trolley to come straight out of the door and turn, plus space for the next loaded trolley waiting to go in
- Somewhere for hot trolleys to cool, away from walkways
- A short, clear route from the mixer and make-up table to the oven, and from the oven to cooling and packing
3. Getting It Through the Door
Measure every door, corridor, lift and stair the oven must pass, and compare them with the size in the table. Alif rotary ovens can be delivered fully assembled or disassembled. If any opening is smaller than the oven, ask for disassembled delivery when you order, not on delivery day.
4. Power Supply
- Alif rotary ovens run on three-phase 440 V or single-phase 220 V. Tell Alif which one your site has before the oven is built
- The power ratings in the table are for the oven's motors. An electric-heated oven also needs power for its heaters, so confirm the total load with Alif and with your electrician
- Ask your electrician for a dedicated supply with its own isolator near the oven
- If your power supply is unreliable, plan for a generator or stabiliser before the first bake, not after
5. Fuel and Flue
Alif rotary ovens are built for diesel, LPG, electric or wood firing. Choose the fuel by what is cheap and dependable at your site, then prepare for it:
| Fuel | Have ready |
|---|---|
| Diesel | A tank and fuel line to the burner, placed and protected as local fire rules require |
| LPG | A gas supply and piping installed by a licensed gas fitter, with the storage your local rules require |
| Electric | A supply sized for the heaters as well as the motors |
| Wood | Dry fuel storage and room to load it safely |
Fuel-fired ovens need a flue to take combustion gases outside. Plan its route through the roof or wall before installation, keep it away from windows and air intakes, and check whether your local authority needs to approve it. An electric oven still benefits from an extractor above the door, because steam and heat come out every time a trolley is unloaded.
6. On the Day
- Clear the delivery route and arrange lifting equipment or enough people to move the oven
- Have the electrician and, for gas, the gas fitter available for connection
- Keep flour, dough and trays ready for a test bake, so commissioning ends with your own product coming out right
- From cold, the oven reaches 225°C in about 20 minutes, so the first test bake can start soon after it is connected
Not sure which model fits your room? Read the rotary rack oven size guide, see the rotary rack oven page, or send a photo and measurements of the space on WhatsApp at alifovens.com/whatsapp.
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