Company History
Solar Atmospheres was founded in 1983 by our Chief Executive Officer, William R. Jones. Having previously founded Vacuum Furnace Systems, a manufacturer of vacuum furnace equipment in 1978, Mr. Jones felt it was a natural progression to expand into the commercial vacuum heat treating business, resulting in the establishment of Solar Atmospheres. In addition, in 2002, Mr. Jones founded another sister company, Solar Manufacturing, a producer of top of the line vacuum furnaces specifically designed to be the most energy efficient, cost effective, high performing, and technically advanced systems on the market.
In 2002, Solar Atmospheres further expanded with the purchase of Magnetic Specialties, a manufacturer of custom power supplies and transformers. This group specializes in custom designs of electrical control components, subassemblies and devices for original equipment manufacturers ( OEM ) associated with power electronics and power transformation.
Solar Atmospheres made a major expansion in 1992 when we moved into a new 24,000 square foot building built specifically for vacuum heat treating and brazing. As expansion continued, it quickly became apparent that additional space was necessary. This resulted in the establishment, in 1998, of another 10,000 square foot plant in Hatfield, Pa, devoted primarily to brazing and ion-nitriding.
As the customer base continued to expand, it became apparent that it would be extremely beneficial to both Solar Atmospheres and its customers, that an additional plant be considered in Western Pennsylvania. This conclusion resulted in the start-up of Solar Atmospheres Western Pennsylvania ( Hermitage, Pa. ) in 2001. SAWPA has become the center of large vacuum furnace processing and technology and services customers in the aerospace, titanium, electrical power generation, and oil and gas markets.
Between 2006 and 2008, the Solar groups continued to achieve many new processing, engineering and furnace developments. SAWPA installed its second and third 24 Foot car bottom type furnaces. In 2007, Solar East, along with Solar Manufacturing, co-operated to design and install an advanced vacuum carburizing furnace which has since proven to be able to provide the most excellent and repeatable carburizing results. Also, in 2008, Solar East and Solar Manufacturing worked together to design and install a new vacuum gas nitriding furnace. This equipment has more than fulfilled the design objectives and has shown results capable of reducing cycle times by more than 50 % when compared to other nitriding equipment.
In order to continue to serve the growing aerospace market, SAWPA increased its plant capacity to 70,000 square feet which included 20,000 square feet to house a new 36 foot long car bottom furnace with a load capacity of 150,000 pounds. This is considered to be the world’s largest commercial vacuum furnace.
The Solar R & D department continues to develop many new cycles and applications for our furnaces. This includes the processing of raw materials in large production, a departure from traditional commercial heat treating. Typical cycles might include hydriding and dehydriding of titanium and tantalum, drying of powders and granular materials, processing nano powders, nitriding certain flake and powder grades of manganese along with high temperature sintering of various materials.
A most recent and significant announcement at Solar Atmospheres is a commitment to build a third sister company at a site in Fontana, California, approximately 40 miles East of Los Angeles. This effort is proceeding very nicely with expectation of plant opening by the 4 th quarter of 2010. This new plant will initially have several furnaces including a 24 Foot Car Bottom type furnace expected to serve the aerospace and many other industries in Southern California.
The Solar Atmospheres growth over the past 20 plus years far exceeds that of the general heat treating industry. Sales have more than tripled in the past 10 years while serving more than 18 different industries. In 2009, combined sales for the Solar companies approached $ 40 Million supported by more than 200 employees. Also this past year, Solar Manufacturing was presented with the SBA Exporter of the Year Award for the Eastern Region of the USA and placed within the top 10 nationally. Internationally, Solar Manufacturing furnace sales were primarily to the Pacific Rim countries.