My New Kiln Has Arrived, Nabertherm Top 60 and AC590

Today my new ceramic kiln arrived. Early in the morning my Nabertherm Top 60 was delivered equipped with the AC590 controller. As soon as I unpacked it I started the initial firing program which is designed to slowly remove any moisture inside the kiln. It’s still running as I write this.

Previously I had been using an old Keramikos kiln which I had bought second-hand. It was already quite aged when it came into my studio. Although it served me well for a time it started to show signs of wear, and technical support was almost non-existent. I struggled for weeks just to replace a kiln wire. Eventually I gave up trying to reach the supplier and began sourcing parts elsewhere, learning to repair it myself along the way. That kiln accompanied me through three years of making but in the end even turning it on required balancing a pen on a chair to press the power button. It still works so I’ve decided to keep it for occasional use.

This new kiln feels like a complete shift — both technically and emotionally.
The AC590 controller brings a whole new level of control and precision to my process. It allows me to store up to 50 custom firing programs each with up to 40 segments. This means I can design every stage of the firing process in detail with full control over ramps, holds, and peak temperatures.

The interface is user-friendly with a large color display that makes programming straightforward. It even includes a built-in assistant called “Conny” which simplifies the setup by guiding me through the essential settings — such as cone value, speed, and hold time — in just a few steps.

But what impressed me most was its integration with a mobile app. I can now monitor the firing process from my phone — tracking current progress, time remaining, and any errors or alerts in real time. I receive notifications when the program finishes or if anything unexpected occurs.

The kiln also features USB data export allowing me to save and review firing data later. This is incredibly useful for analyzing results, comparing tests, and building a consistent, documented workflow. There’s even the option to write programs on a computer and transfer them directly to the kiln.

I hadn’t planned to get something this advanced but now that I have it I’m committed to working in a more disciplined, planned and data-driven way.

With this kiln I also plan to transition to Cone 9 firings. That means I’ll finally be able to test glazes I’ve only dreamed of before and re-visit old experiments under proper high-fire conditions. More tests more clarity and — I hope — more consistent results.