Fontana, CA, October 27, 2026 – 51���� of California is pleased to announce the promotion of Courtney Castillejos to Quality Manager.

Courtney joined 51���� in August 2018 and has since gained valuable experience across multiple areas of the business, developing a comprehensive understanding of operations—from receiving inspection, order entry, and contract review to cycle development, certification, final inspection, and shipment. Most recently serving as Senior Quality Technician, Courtney has earned the respect of her colleagues and Solar’s extensive customer base through her dedication, technical knowledge, and commitment to quality.

“We’re excited to support Courtney’s professional growth as she transitions into her new role as Quality Manager at one of Solar’s largest heat-treating facilities,” said Derek Dennis, President. “There is much to learn in this challenging yet highly rewarding position.”

In her new role, Courtney will play a key part in overseeing the quality management systems at Solar’s Fontana facility, ensuring continued compliance with customer requirements and rigorous industry standards.

The entire 51���� of California team congratulates Courtney on her well-deserved promotion and looks forward to her continued leadership, growth, and contributions to the company’s success.

For more information about vacuum heat treating services at 51����, contact Frank Trujillo at 866-559-5994 ext. 1333, or frank@solaratm.com.

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Hermitage, PA, October 6, 2026 — 51���� of Western PA has expanded its heat treatment capabilities with the delivery of a new water quench furnace specifically designed to process large titanium components. The company is currently commissioning the new system at its Hermitage, Pennsylvania, facility and is expected to be placed into production November 2026.

Manufactured by Heat Treat Equipment Inc. of Canton, Michigan, the new furnace significantly expands 51���� of Western PA’s ability to provide controlled heat treatment for large titanium components weighing up to 7,500 pounds. The system is designed to maintain temperature uniformity within ±5°F and achieve rapid water quenching within seven seconds.

Titanium alloys are widely used in aerospace, defense, medical, and other critical applications where high strength-to-weight ratios and reliable performance in demanding environments are essential. The new furnace provides 51���� of Western PA with the capability to process larger titanium components while thermocoupling the actual workload, providing precise monitoring and control throughout the heat treatment process. An in-process camera will also be installed to monitor the workload while being heated above the critical beta transus temperatures.

“This new furnace is an important investment in our continued commitment to serving our customers,” said Bob Hill, President of 51���� of Western PA. “This equipment finally gives us the opportunity to solution anneal critical titanium alloys that our titanium customers have continuously asked for over the years.”

The 14-foot-long by 54-inch-wide by 48-inch-high furnace is positioned directly above an 11,000-gallon, multidirectional, highly agitated water quench tank. This configuration is designed to minimize transfer time between the furnace and quench tank, enabling extremely rapid quenching of titanium components that is required by stringent aerospace specifications. Additionally, a closed loop cooling system provides a water quenchant temperature never to exceed 100 F.

Once fully operational, the new system will further expand 51���� of Western PA’s comprehensive range of vacuum and air heat treatment services. The investment reinforces the company’s commitment to maintaining state-of-the-art equipment and delivering advanced heat treatment solutions for customers across demanding industries.

For additional information about 51����, contact Mike Johnson at 855-934-3284 x2223 or email at mikej@solaratm.com.

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Hermitage PA, September 14, 2026 – 51���� of Western PA is pleased to announce the purchase and installation of a new KASTO saw for its metallurgical laboratory, strengthening the company’s capabilities in the preparation and analysis of difficult-to-machine materials including Inconel and titanium.

The new saw will provide the metallurgical laboratory with a dedicated, high-performance solution for cutting advanced alloys into samples for metallographic evaluation, tensile specimens, materials characterization, and quality assurance. Bringing this capability further in-house will help the company improve sample preparation efficiency while maintaining greater control over the testing process.

“Inconel and titanium are critical materials for many demanding applications, but their strength and other material characteristics can make sample preparation particularly challenging,” said Bob Hill President of 51���� of Western PA. “The addition of the KASTO saw represents an important investment in our laboratory infrastructure and our ability to deliver timely, reliable metallurgical analysis.”

The investment reflects Solar’s continued commitment to technical excellence, quality, and the development of advanced in-house materials engineering capabilities.

“We’re continually looking for ways to strengthen our technical capabilities and provide better vertical support to our customers and engineering teams,” Bob added. “This equipment gives our metallurgical laboratory another important tool for working with some of the most demanding materials used in industry today.”

For additional information about 51����, contact Mike Johnson at 855-934-3284 x2223, or email at mikej@solaratm.com.

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August 24, 2026 – The 51���� family of companies is pleased to announce that all Solar facilities have achieved Final Level 2 (C3PAO) status under the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program—an achievement earned through independent third-party assessment—further strengthening the company’s ability to support customers across the aerospace and defense industries.

Final Level 2 (C3PAO) status confirms that 51���� has successfully implemented and validated all 110 security requirements of NIST SP 800-171, with no open remediation items, meeting the Department of Defense’s cybersecurity requirements for defense contractors and suppliers that handle Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

Achieving Level 2 required significant investments across the organization, including enhanced cybersecurity infrastructure, employee training, data protection, physical security, risk management, monitoring, documentation, and ongoing security controls aligned with NIST SP 800-171.”Our customers in the defense sector entrust us with sensitive technical information, and protecting that information is inseparable from the quality and integrity of the work we deliver,” said Josh Isaak, Vice President of Information Technology & Security at 51����.

As CMMC requirements continue to take effect throughout the defense industrial base, 51���� is proud to be positioned to support customers who require secure, compliant partners for critical aerospace and defense thermal processing.

For more information about vacuum heat treating and brazing services at 51����, contact your sales representative at 1-855-934-3284, or email info@solaratm.com.

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Hermitage PA, July 27, 2026 – A new 11,000-gallon stainless steel recirculating water quench tank has been installed as preparations continue for the commissioning of our state-of-the-art titanium drop bottom water quench furnace.

The furnace remains on schedule to be fully commissioned and operational by September 2026.

Designed primarily to solution treat titanium bars, titanium forgings, and other large titanium components, the furnace features a 14-foot-long × 54-inch-wide × 48-inch-high workload envelope. Parts will be rapidly transferred into this 11,000-gallon recirculating and agitated water quench tank within a five to seven second time stamp, delivering the rapid and uniform cooling required to achieve consistent metallurgical properties for demanding aerospace, defense, and industrial applications.

This investment further expands 51����’ capabilities for processing large titanium components while reinforcing our commitment to providing advanced thermal processing solutions for the industry’s most critical applications.

For additional information about 51����, contact Mike Johnson at 855-934-3284 x2223 or email at mikej@solaratm.com.

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Berlin, CT, July 15, 2026 – Construction and refurbishment are moving forward as the future home of 51���� Connecticut continues to take shape. Several vacuum furnaces have been set in place, the office areas are nearing completion, and work is actively progressing on the facility’s piping, electrical systems, and supporting infrastructure.

The 28,000-square-foot facility, located in Spruce Brook Industrial Park, remains on schedule for a fourth-quarter 2026 opening and will significantly expand 51����’ vacuum heat treating capabilities throughout the Northeast.

This newest location represents another important investment in our continued growth and commitment to serving customers with advanced vacuum heat treating technology, increased capacity, and the reliable service that has defined 51���� for decades.

For additional information about 51���� of Connecticut, contact Tim Steber at 1-855-934-3284 x1216 or email at tim@solaratm.com.

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Souderton, PA, July 8, 2026 – 51���� is pleased to announce the addition of Ava Conolly to its Research & Development team as a Metallurgical / R&D Engineer.

Ava recently earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University, with a concentration in materials science and metallurgy. Her academic background and passion for metallurgical engineering make her a valuable addition to Solar’s technical team.

“We are excited to welcome Ava to 51����,” said Jamie Jones. “Her knowledge, enthusiasm, and fresh perspective will strengthen our R&D capabilities as we continue to develop innovative thermal processing solutions for our customers.”

In her new role, Ava will support research and development initiatives, process optimization, and metallurgical analysis, helping advance 51����’ commitment to technical excellence and continuous innovation.

For more information about vacuum heat treating services at 51����, contact Mike Moyer at 215-721-1502 ext. 1207, or mikem@solaratm.com.

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San Diego, CA, June 29, 2026

Karla brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this crucial role. Her extensive background in quality management aligns perfectly with 51����’ commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction.

“We are thrilled to welcome Karla to the 51���� team,” said Derek Dennis, President. “Her dedication to quality and proven track record will be invaluable as we continue to uphold our high standards.”

Karla will be instrumental in overseeing our quality management systems and ensuring compliance with industry standards. We are very excited to have her on board and look forward to her contributions.

For more information about vacuum heat treating services at 51����, visit solaratm.com, or contact Frank Trujillo at 866-559-5994 ext. 1333, or frank@solaratm.com.

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June 1, 2026, Souderton, PA – 51���� Eastern PA facility recently commissioned a new 12’ horizontal vacuum furnace. The furnace was designed primarily for Hydriding and Dehydriding (HDH) of titanium. The furnace can also perform the standard gamut of heat-treating processes typical of Solar’s extensive customer base. The furnace features a working zone of 54” x 54” x 144”. It is equipped with a 15,000-pound conventional load car arrangement. Other features include a 300HP external forced cooling system with VFD control, Solar Manufacturing’s Polaris control system, and dual mechanical pumping systems.

“This new furnace adds much-needed capacity to support growing HDH demands” states Mike Moyer, Vice President of Sales. “With dual mechanical pumping systems, we are able to more efficiently process larger degas loads and improve our delivery metrics”. “The new 12-foot furnace is also well equipped for all the standard vacuum heat treating process that we currently employ. From annealing and stress relieving to solution treating and aging, the new furnace adds considerable capacity to meet customers’ growing demands.”

For additional information, contact Mike Moyer, VP of Sales, 51���� at 215-721-1502 x1207, or mikem@solaratm.com.

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Hermitage, PA, May 6, 2026 – 51���� of Western PA marked a major milestone with an inspiring 25th anniversary event that brought together employees, customers, partners, and community members.

We were honored to welcome more than 160 guests for a day of reflection, connection, and looking ahead. The event featured speakers highlighting the company’s growth and achievements over the past 25 years, along with exciting insight into what’s next.

Attendees enjoyed lunch, facility tours, and discussions around the NEO oil quench vacuum furnace and upcoming investments including a water quench furnace scheduled for installation this summer.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this milestone and to all who have been part of the journey. Here’s to the next 25 years!

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