Extrusion die pre-heating system, apparatus and method

A die pre-heating system comprising:

• at least one die oven, each die oven comprising a top having an upper lid disposed thereon;
• a robotic hoist;
• and
• processing structure in communication with the hoist and said at least one die oven, the processing structure being configured to control the hoist to permit an extrusion die to be loaded into the at least one die oven and to be unloaded from the at least one die oven, the processing structure also being configured to cause the at least one die oven to operate according to a production formula for pre-heating an extrusion die loaded therein,
• wherein each die oven comprises an actuator in communication with the processing structure, the actuator being responsive to the processing structure to open and close the upper lid to permit the robotic hoist to place an extrusion die into the die oven or to remove an extrusion die from the die oven.