Solon Manufacturing Celebrates 70 Years of Innovation
In 1949, four fraternity brothers and engineering graduates of Case Western University in Cleveland joined together to form Solon Manufacturing Company in a post-war industrialism era. With a shared vision for innovation, Solon’s first products were turbulators used in auto parts cleaning machines and conduit benders used to bend Republic Steel’s electro-mechanical tubing. By the middle of the 1950s, Solon began developing applications for products that used Belleville spring washers, including General Electric circuit breakers. During his first orbit of the earth in 1962, John Glenn’s flight suit had a relief valve using a snap-action Belleville spring that was designed and developed by Solon Manufacturing Company. The suit is currently on display at the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D. C.
Today, Solon Manufacturing Company continues to thrive on the ideals of it’s founders: innovation and passion for the company and its stakeholders, enduring characteristics which have led to 70 years of successful business with 55 employees and three product lines. Solon® Belleville Springs, including Solon® Flange Washers and Solon® Disc Springs, reduce bolted joint failures by maintaining the bolt preload. They are particularly useful where vibration, differential thermal expansion, relaxation, bolt creep and bolt yield are problematic. Solon® Pressure Switches, developed by the company in the 1960s, are rugged, industrial controls designed with electro-mechanical and pneumatic configurations that are used to detect changes in pressure for fluid and gas applications. Solon® SF6 Gas Density Monitors, introduced by Solon in the 1970s, are specifically designed for high voltage circuit breakers and provide a reliable and economical way to monitor sulfur-hexafluoride gas density and leakage over a wide temperature range.
Solon products can be found in a wide variety of industries and applications. Solon’s explosion-proof pressure switches were selected as the primary switch used on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, and Solon’s custom differential vacuum switches are currently in use at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), National Ignition Facility (NIF) in California, on the exterior of the nuclear fusion test chamber, where they ensure the proper atmosphere is in place inside the chamber. Solon Belleville Springs and Washers can be found in applications ranging from ski lifts, packaging equipment, bulldozers, electrical substations, fishing reels, skyscrapers, compressors,heat exchangers and valves.
Since moving to Chardon in 1960 from the original building located in Solon (hence the namesake), Solon Manufacturing Company has expanded its plant and facilities four times to encompass 54,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space.
Capital investments, process improvements and migrating to the latest ISO 9001:2015 standard have allowed for a more streamlined and efficient means of production in recent years, and product quality reaps the benefits of these continuous improvement initiatives. With the skills and expertise of its executive leadership team and team members under the direction of company president, Diane Popovich, Solon is always exploring new ways to improve the customer experience though a shared corporate mission and vision of exceeding expectations through opportunity and innovation.
Solon Manufacturing Company, 425 Center St., Chardon (44024) is grateful to its past and current customers, suppliers and employees for the confidence they have placed in the organization over the past 70 years. It is a global leader in the design and manufacture of Belleville springs, washers, industrial pressure switch products, and SF6 gas density monitoring equipment to industries in over 40 countries. For literature or to request a quote, leave your contact information at www.solonmfg.comand a member of their team will get back to you as quickly as possible.