Abstract: A random access oven system including an oven, a vestibule, a loading conveyor, and a cooling conveyor. A plurality of load carriers, arranged in one or more tiers, are translated within the oven by one or more drive chains, in response to remotely generated commands. Loads to be treated in the oven are queued on the loading conveyor and are supplied to the vestibule in response to remotely generated commands. Any desired load carrier may be brought to a position adjacent the vestibule where the load carried by the carrier may be transferred to a conveyor within the vestibule, or a load within the vestibule may be transferred to the load carrier. After exiting the oven following heat-treatment, a load within the vestibule may be transferred onto the cooling conveyor. After a desired cooling period, each load on the cooling conveyor may be transferred out of the inventive system, for example to an adjacent conveyor.