Solara Automation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Innovatech, Inc.
Innovatech was founded in 1990 by Steven Crouch and Dr. Steve Wright as a technology R&D firm, primarily focused on new processes for fine particle separation and filtration. Innovatech received over $3MM in government grants and contracts to develop separation solutions for applications ranging from helicopter engine filters, to biological particle collection, to membrane pre-filtration for sea water. It was awarded numerous patents, resulting in license agreements and joint ventures in several industries.
In 2003, in order to commercialize its patented processes, Innovatech acquired the business interests of Garmen, Inc., an engineering firm that designed and built automation equipment for the automotive industry. In response to growth opportunities for industrial automation, the company formed Solara Solutions, LLC, a subsidiary which brought together Innovatech’s project management and technology development capabilities with Garmen’s manufacturing capacity and its seasoned team of designers and engineers.
Building on its successes in the automotive industry, Solara Solutions expanded its market scope to providing automation solutions for other industry segments including consumer products, pharmaceuticals, industrial components, and electronics. To serve an expanding client base and to accommodate the growing scale and complexity of our custom built machinery, the company moved in 2007 from its Raleigh, NC location to a 10,000 sq. ft. facility in nearby Morrisville, NC. The new facility allows for expansion into larger system manufacturing and houses an automation lab, a fully equipped machine shop, and an industrial controls training facility. From this central location, Solara now serves customers throughout the Carolinas and Virginia.
Solara continued its expansion into smart automation by becoming Certified Systems Integrators in machine vision and robotics, representing PPT Vision and Kuka Robotics in the Southeast. In 2008, Solara Solutions was renamed Solara Automation to better reflect our focus on industrial automation solutions.
As one of the fastest growing industrial automation firms in the southeast, Solara Automation has earned a solid reputation for delivering quality work and satisfying our customers’ needs. With our comprehensive range of capabilities—from engineering design to machine building and systems integration—Solara is ready to solve your manufacturing challenges.