Solar Atmospheres has installed and fully commissioned a new ten-bar vacuum furnace at its Fontana, Calif. facility. This further grows its high-pressure vacuum heat treating capabilities in the U.S.

The furnace was manufactured by sister company Solar Manufacturing. The horizontal vacuum system features a 48″ wide x 48″ high x 96″ deep hot zone and maximum load capacity of 12,000 pounds. Its advanced vacuum pumping package is capable of achieving an ultimate vacuum level of 1×10⁻⁶ Torr and suited to process titanium and other high-performance alloys that need clean, tightly controlled vacuum environments.

The new furnace bolsters the company’s ability to support aerospace, defense, medical, and power generation markets with advanced vacuum heat treating technology and reliable turnaround performance.

“This investment gives our customers another regional solution for high-pressure quenching of large components and heavy workloads,” said Derek Dennis, president of Solar Atmospheres California. “It also allows us to drive greater efficiency and cost competitiveness through increased capacity and economies of scale. This addition reflects our continued commitment to innovation, quality, and delivering measurable value to our customers.”

In December, the company revealed that it earned Nadcap 18-Month Merit Status for heat treating and brazing. According to the company, this honor is given only to organizations that consistently show the highest levels of quality, process control, and specification compliance. Every Solar Atmospheres location nationwide now has Nadcap merit status thanks to this achievement.