Solar Atmospheres Inc. announced the acquisition of commercial heat treater Vac-Met Inc., which has locations in Warren and Fraser, Mich. The addition of Vac-Met to the Solar family of companies will increase the number of commercial vacuum heat-treating and brazing facilities to five plants across the United States. Vac-Met’s goals of providing state-of-the-art commercial heat treating, primarily in a vacuum environment, aligns perfectly with Solar’s mission. Joseph White will continue to head the day-to-day operations of Vac-Met’s nine vacuum furnaces. He will report to Robert Hill, president of Solar Atmospheres of Western PA. 

Solar Atmospheres’ Greenville, S.C., facility has been awarded Aerojet Rocketdyne approval, their second aerospace prime approval of 2021. With the ability to support vacuum thermal-processing needs ranging from development cycles to 50,000-pound loads at temperatures of up to 2400°F, Solar Atmospheres provides AS9100 and Nadcap-quality accredited heat treatments.

SECO/WARWICK will deliver a retort furnace with vacuum purging for oxidation to a tool manufacturer. The furnace for the oxidation process operates under a nitrogen and hydrogen mix and then under steam. It will be adjusted to the individual needs of the tool manufacturer, providing the appropriate final hardness and color of the workpieces. The retort furnace, which will also enable tempering after vacuum purging, will be designed with a customized heating chamber so that it is compatible with the tooling used in the production process and so that the process itself is safe and repeatable. 

When an opportunity arose, Solar Atmospheres took advantage of it. In 2001, Solar Atmospheres recognized a dire need within the titanium markets for quality vacuum thermal processing.