Solar Atmospheres
Solar Atmospheres is one of the world’s largest providers of commercial vacuum heat treating services. Through unmatched technical expertise, equipment, and quality assurance, Solar`s thermal processing produces bright, scale-free parts with minimal distortion. For clients requiring an `out-of-the ordinary` application, an in-house R&D team of metallurgists and scientists develop innovative, custom process solutions. Serving over 18 markets, Solar`s state-of-the art services include vacuum brazing, carburizing, nitriding, and advanced processing of raw materials such as Titanium, Tantalum, and nano powders. With over 40 furnaces ranging from lab sized to 36 feet long, Solar can efficiently handle any size job. Headquartered in Souderton, near Philadelphia, Solar also operates plants in Hermitage, near Pittsburgh -Solar Atmospheres of Western PA and in Fontana, California, near Los Angeles -Solar Atmospheres of California. Nadcap, ISO9001 / AS9100, ITAR.
Company details
Find locations served, office locations
- Business Type:
- Service provider
- Industry Type:
- Energy
- Market Focus:
- Nationally (across the country)
- Year Founded:
- 1983
- Employees:
- 101-1000
This company also provides solutions for other industrial applications.
Please, visit the following links for more info:
About Us
Unsurpassed quality and capacity for the vacuum heat treating and brazing of metal parts
Solar Atmospheres is a commercial heat treating company leading the industry in:
- vacuum heat treating
- vacuum brazing
- vacuum carburizing
- vacuum nitriding
- thermal processing research & development
Solve your metal processing challenges with our advanced technical expertise, world-class equipment, and quality assurance. Contact us today to learn how you can benefit from our:
- 3 plant sites – Souderton (Eastern PA), Hermitage (Western PA) and Fontana, California serving over 18 industries including Aerospace, Medical, Power-Gen and more
- Over 40 furnaces with advanced ten to twenty bar quenching from lab-sized to one of the world’s largest commercial vacuum furnace (up to 40+ feet long with a 150,000 pound capacity)
- Continuously upgraded, state-of -the-art furnace technology from sister company Solar Manufacturing led by CEO William R. Jones a pioneer in the field of vacuum furnace technology
- Expert metallurgical consultation and R&D services for custom processes and unique challenges
- Quality results and coast-to-coast, 24/7, responsive service
- On-site laboratory for hardness and microhardness testing
Mission Statement
Adding significant value to our customer’s operations
The mission of Solar Atmospheres is to add significant value to our customer’s operations by thermally treating parts, principally in a vacuum environment, with an unwavering commitment to honesty in all relationships. We will strive to fulfill this mission while,
- Performing our work with an emphasis on quality and responsiveness
- Operating with an awareness and appreciation of the value of our customer’s parts while in our care
- Forever looking “forward” in the area of technical capabilities
- Demonstrating a willingness to “accept the challenge”
- Providing and maintaining a work environment that is safe, clean and reflects our respect for human dignity
- Providing our employees with an opportunity for personal growth, challenge and reward
- Maintaining a workplace that is environmentally friendly
- Sustaining long-term growth and profitability
Experience
Quality heat treating and responsive service
Through our foundational strengths—processing skills, furnace engineering knowledge, metallurgical consultation, and commitment to service—Solar has gained a reputation for quality heat treating and responsive service. Our customers regularly express appreciation for Solar and its people going the “extra mile”. Taking on the challenge as a commitment to new types of work is evidenced by the R&D work done for universities and national laboratories.
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.
A most recent and significant announcement at Solar Atmospheres is a new plant in Fontana, California, approximately 40 miles East of Los Angeles. With several furnaces including a 24 Foot Car Bottom type furnace, Solar Atmospheres of California is expected to serve the aerospace and many other industries on the West Coast.
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.