This July 2023, we’re celebrating our tenth anniversary as part of the Hatco Corporation family, marking the occasion by reflecting on the journey that has led to our company’s history of innovation! Ovention, Inc officially launched in 2011 with the help of founders Phil McKee and Appliance Innovation and their intense desire to solve culinary problems that others were walking away from. That spirit of innovation produced a series of ovens that met the real-world needs of commercial kitchens; it created Ovention. Before Ovention McKee was the inventor of oven technologies for well-known industry brands such as Turbochef, Merrychef, and Alto-Shaam.

It all started in Dallas, Texas

The year following its inception, Ovention released the Matchbox 1718/1313 line of countertop ovens. The Matchbox took traditional conveyor ovens to a new level with our innovative Precision Impingement technology and proprietary Auto Load and Unload technology. These ovens are designed to be 100% ventless, making setting up a kitchen anywhere with a power source possible.

In July 2013, Ovention was acquired by customer service award-winning, Milwaukee-based Hatco Corporation, a 100% employee-owned company with over 70 years of industry-leading  in the design, production, and servicing of foodservice equipment. With this acquisition, Ovention moved to Wisconsin with our plant located in Sturgeon Bay and corporate office in Milwaukee. This means our innovative fleet of ovens is designed and manufactured in the heartland of the USA.

Premium Design and Innovation

The next couple of years saw the introduction of the Conveyor 2000, a high-throughput conveyor oven, and the Shuttle 2000/1200, the only oven on the market that can operate as both a conveyor and a closed-cavity oven. In 2015 we released the Matchbox M360, featuring a patented unique cooking carousel and a small footprint. With the release of these ovens, Ovention received Three Kitchen Innovation Awards.

The latter half of the 2010s brought our revolutionary MiLO Double/Single line of ovens, which introduced our patented Linear Impingement and Infrared (IR) technologies. This first-of-its-kind oven combines hot air and IR in an enclosed cavity, allowing for a fast and consistent cook without over-drying.

In 2021, we introduced the MiSA-a12 and F1400 to the market. The MiSA is our first rapid-cook unit with the power and speed of a microwave and is the first of its kind to offer consistent browning with our patent-pending artisanal plate. In contrast, the F1400 is perfect for those wanting to add beautiful finishing touches to their dishes before serving.

The Legacy Continues

Focusing on innovation and integrity, Ovention strives to make quality personal. We are dedicated to listening to our customers and providing quality products that solve their problems. That’s why all our ovens are energy efficient, 100% ventless, and designed with labor-saving in mind. Our range of ovens is designed to not only function in professional kitchens but convenience stores, coffee shops, bars, and school cafeterias. Cheers to many more years of award-winning innovation!