California Facility Adds 10-Bar Vacuum Furnace

March 24, 2026 / MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, QUENCHING NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Solar Atmospheres has announced the installation and full commissioning of a new 10-bar vacuum furnace at its Fontana, California, further expanding the company’s high-pressure vacuum heat treating capacity in the western United States. The system enables vacuum heat treating and high-pressure quenching of large components essential to high-performance applications across aerospace and other critical industries.

The furnace, manufactured by sister company Solar Manufacturing, is a horizontal vacuum system with a 48″ wide x 48″ high x 96″ deep hot zone and a maximum load capacity of 12,000 pounds. Equipped with a vacuum pumping package capable of reaching an ultimate vacuum level of 1×10⁻⁶ Torr, the furnace is designed for processing titanium and other high-performance alloys that require tightly controlled, low-contamination environments.

Derek Dennis
President
Solar Atmospheres California

“This investment gives our [clients] another regional solution for high-pressure quenching of large components and heavy workloads,” said Derek Dennis, president of Solar Atmospheres California. It also allows the company to increase capacity and improve efficiency as demand continues to grow, he adds.

The move supports vacuum heat treating needs across aerospace, defense, medical, and power generation markets, with capacity aimed at maintaining consistent turnaround and performance.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Car Bottom Heat Treat Furnace Installed in CA

March 22, 2023 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, ATMOSPHERE AIR FURNACES NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT

Solar Atmospheres of California (SCA) installed a new 14 foot long car bottom air furnace. With a maximum operating temperature of 1450°F, this furnace tempers large tool steel components, age hardens 15-5 PH, 17-4 PH, 13-8PH and nickel-based alloys, and anneals titanium forgings.

SCA is typically known around the world as a “vacuum only” heat treater. However, there is a great need for heat treating non finished parts and materials in accordance with the same specifications (AMS, MIL, Boeing, and Airbus) within different atmospheres where surface oxidation is permissible. This furnace allows for a “raw material” option.

“Solar Atmospheres of California is excited to be adding this new furnace and the added capability/capacity," stated Derek Dennis, president of SCA. The furnace has a working zone that is 60" square by 168" long with a total load capacity of up to 30,000 pounds.

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R&D and Additive Manufacturing Heat Treater Adds Vacuum Furnace

December 16, 2021 / FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Derek Dennis
President
Solar Atmospheres of California

To support R&D and additive manufacturing projects, Solar Atmospheres of California (SCA) has added some small vacuum furnace capacity to their equipment offerings.

The new vacuum furnace was acquired from SCA’s furnace manufacturing sister facility, Solar Manufacturing (SAMI) located in Sellersville, PA, and was specifically designed to process a variety of materials between 600°F – 2400°F (+/-10°F) in both vacuum and/or partial pressure environments. Precise cooling capability up to 2-Bar in argon, nitrogen or helium is available with a maximum operating temperature up to 2650°F. The furnace is also equipped with the SAMI’s state-of-the-art SolarVac® Polaris Control System for optimum performance and precise cycle control.

"We are pleased to add this needed piece of vacuum furnace equipment to service our valuable customers," said Derek Dennis, president of SCA. "The additive manufacturing industry continues to grow, and this new furnace will allow SCA to respond to small builds and R&D projects quickly and precisely."

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Heat Treat Provider Cuts Costs with Solar and Energy Storage

February 10, 2021 / HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

In response to the challenges of California’s energy market, Solar Atmospheres of California (SCA) has installed and recently commissioned the state’s largest commercial solar & energy storage system.

By combining onsite generation, an advanced energy storage system, and an artificial intelligence powered analytics platform, SCA looks to optimize energy use by automatically switching between onsite generation, battery power, and grid power. The large system will enable SCA to achieve a wide variety of goals, including energy expense reductions through reduced peak demand, onsite renewable power generation and demand response program participation. Additional benefits include energy resilience, sustainability, environmental and corporate responsibility, and innovation. The digitally connected energy storage network includes a 772kW PV Solar System and a 1,561kW/3,122kWh Tesla Battery Storage System.

“We’re very pleased to have this new and innovative system fully operational and producing valuable power for use in daily production,” said Derek Dennis, president of SCA, “SCA has been working closely with our energy partners and Southern California Edison to develop, design and install a system that best meets the energy needs of our rapidly growing heat treat facility.”

“From day one of operation,” he continued, “the system began saving energy costs, increased plant capacity/flexibility while applying an environmentally friendly technology. SCA takes pride in partnering with our neighbors in operating a safe and environmentally friendly atmosphere. Additionally, this investment was particularly attractive to SCA now because of two federal tax incentives and additional state sponsored incentives. SCA expects full ROI on the Solar + Energy Storage System within 30-36 months.”

All media from Solar Atmospheres.

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Heat Treater Expands Vacuum Processing Capabilities

December 9, 2020 / FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Derek Dennis
President
Solar Atmospheres California
Source: solaratm.com

West coast heat treater Solar Atmospheres of California (SCA) recently added additional large furnace capacity to their inventory of vacuum equipment. The furnace was specifically designed to process a variety of materials that require optimum performance during controlled heating and cooling, vacuum processing, positive pressure processing, and differential pressure processing.

Key equipment characteristics include 84” x 144” all graphite and CFC hot zone, temperature uniformity ±10°F, 2-bar high performance 800 HP cooling system. Additionally, the furnace has a maximum operating temperature of 2650°F and a maximum loading capacity of 50,000 lbs. SCA worked closely with sister company, Solar Manufacturing, to design and fabricate the equipment to meet all prime requirements and AMS 2750 standards.

“We are very pleased to add the additional large furnace capacity,” SCA President Derek Dennis states. “Each new furnace installation is built on a building block approach from the personal knowledge and experience accumulated by operating previous furnace models. I really appreciate the ability to bounce different ‘out of the box’ ideas to our manufacturing team, who then takes those ideas and makes them a reality. Often, the team takes the ideas to another level before the final build plans go to the shop floor.”

All images provided by Solar Atmospheres.

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derek dennis