Solar Atmospheres of Western PA Third Year Anniversary

April 2004 marked the third year of operation for Solar’s plant in Hermitage, PA.  Since its inception in 2001, this start-up company has infused approximately $9 million in sales for Solar operations.  More importantly, sales continue to grow as our capacity and customer base increases.

In the beginning, the five original employees from Souderton made the trek out west.  Bob Hill, Bob Sandora, Kevin Bekelja, Mark Carper and Annette Augsburger started as a one shift, five days/week operation.  With additional employees, Solar rapidly grew to two shifts, then three shifts and finally a 24-7 operation.

Roger Jones, Corporate President of Solar operations, commented regarding the Hermitage plant’s growth.  “North America is divided up into a number of different districts from which each commercial heat treater, who belongs to Metal Treating Institute (MTI), submits his sales figures.  As you would expect Solar in Western PA started pretty close to the bottom of the heap.  However, they are now pleased to be rated #8 out of 44 MTI respondents in District 3.”

Solar Atmospheres of Western PA currently employs 23 of the hardest working people.  It is the people shown in this “team” picture that are making it happen for Solar’s Western PA plant.  It is their “can do” attitude, a commitment to quality, coupled with the best and largest vacuum processing equipment, that makes this Solar company a success.