Soltech Solutions and its team are proud to live, work and produce all of your products in Bethlehem, PA. It is in this small Pennsylvania city where our Aspects, light stands and developing products are built. We pride ourselves on Soltech’s hometown not only because of its beautiful communities and people, but also because of its rich history that has led to the development of much of America and the world as we know it.
Bethlehem Is A City of Rich American History
Founded in Bethlehem, PA during the industrial revolution, Bethlehem Steel was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States after U.S. Steel based in Pittsburgh, PA. Across all its facilities, Bethlehem Steel produced over 1 billion tons between 1905 and 1999- that’s over 12,000 Golden Gate Bridges worth of material! A high quality of steel, dependent upon rigorous testing during the many manufacturing processes set Bethlehem products apart. The military relied on this quality for arms and equipment that helped the US win both World Wars.
In peacetime, the company focused on structural steel. It developed the innovative “Bethlehem Beam” or now-ubiquitous “I-beam” which allowed skyscrapers, bridges, and tunnels to span longer distances than ever before. In later years, Bethlehem made top-quality forgings for the nuclear and aerospace industries. The workers of Bethlehem made a century of American progress and innovation possible.
Some of the many notable buildings and landmarks that Bethlehem Steel is responsible for include:
- Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, CA)
- Chrysler Building (New York, NY)
- Empire State Building (New York, NY)
- Hoover Dam (Clark County, NV)
- George Washington Bridge(New York, NY)
- Madison Square Garden(New York, NY)
- Rockefeller Center(New York, NY)
A Newer Greener Era of Manufacturing
Since the bankruptcy of Bethlehem Steel in 2003 due to the rapid increase of overseas outsourcing, the ghostlike yet gorgeous remains of the local steel mill have led Bethlehem to become a local event hub and tourist destination. However, pride in industry and work-ethic remains deeply rooted in the community. Nobody has forgotten what this city and this country were built on. Even the Soltech office within blocks of the Bethlehem Steel Mill is a daily reminder that the team has the responsibility of a century-long legacy to carry on.
Soltech chooses to respect the Bethlehem Steel legacy through its own craftsmanship and mission-based manufacturing. But rather than steel beams, the team develops series of eco-friendly products and provides the world with the means to a greener home and a healthier, happier life. As Charles Schwab the founder of Bethlehem Steel once said, “There’s no limit possible to the expansion of each one of us.” It is in this spirit of personal expansion and growth that we build each of our products to enhance your home and refresh your life.
Andrew Garn, "Bethlehem Steel", 1999 Biography (1999).