Sunmaxx

What Sunmaxx does

SunMaxx Solar is a US-based, vertically integrated manufacturer of solar thermal hot water and space heating systems headquartered in Bainbridge, New York. Founded in 2006 by Adam and Matt Farrell as the solar thermal division of Silicon Solar Inc., the company operates today as a division of Innovative Solar Solutions LLC following a 2013 merger. Its product portfolio spans evacuated tube collectors (ThermoPower), flat plate collectors (TitanPower), storage tanks (StorMaxx), differential temperature controllers (SmartMaxx), NSF-61 certified flexible piping (FlowMaxx), pump stations (UniMaxx), prepackaged kits (HelioMaxx), and PV panels (GridMaxx), supported by SRCC OG-100 component certifications and OG-300 system-level certifications. Notable technical specifications include TitanPower-ALDH29-V3 output of 33,500 BTU/day on bright sunny days.

The company monetizes through three primary channels: direct online hardware sales via sunmaxxsolar.com with 60-day factory-direct lead times for non-stock items, a network of 3,000+ authorized installers across the United States, and distribution partnerships extending into Germany. Ancillary revenue comes from paid training programs (a 5-level installer curriculum priced at $100-$249 per course with package discounts), free-feasibility engineering and design services that funnel into hardware sales, and consumables such as solar glycol. Customer segments are diversified across homeowners, commercial and industrial facilities, government entities (including US Embassies), educational institutions, and municipal utilities.

SunMaxx Solar serves a mature but niche renewable thermal market projected at roughly $30.9B globally in 2025 (8.18% CAGR per third-party sizing). The company has completed over 5,000 projects worldwide since inception and holds strategic engineering partnerships with IGS Innovation Poland (signed 2020) and Germany's FVR Innovation Hub. A separately incorporated German entity named Sunmaxx (Dresden) raised approximately €3.3M in January 2023 from MAHLE and TGFS to fund a 50 MW hybrid PV-thermal production line in Saxony; this entity is distinct from the US SunMaxx Solar division. The US business remains a small, founder-controlled operation with 1-10 employees, no disclosed institutional outside capital since a 2015 raise, and contractual terms restricting contracted goods to North American installation.

Name

Sunmaxx

Legal name

Innovative Solar Solutions LLC

Website

https://sunmaxxsolar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SunMaxx Solar is a US-based, vertically integrated manufacturer of SRCC-certified solar thermal collectors, storage tanks, controllers, and pre-packaged kits, serving residential, commercial, government, and institutional customers through direct online sales and a 3,000+ authorized installer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Thermal Systems

NAICS

Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341), Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing (33241)

SIC

Heating Equipment, Except Electric & Warm Air Furnaces (3433), Heating Equip, Except Elec & Warm Air; & Plumbing Fixtures (3430)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar Thermal & CSP Systems (Collectors, Receivers, Thermal Storage, CSP EPC) (EUAMABAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Solar Mounting, Racking & Trackers (Fixed-Tilt, Single/Dual-Axis, Rooftop Mounts) (EUAMABAF)

Keywords

• Solar thermal systems
• Solar hot water
• Evacuated tube collectors
• Flat plate collectors
• Solar water heating

Headquarters

HQ city

Bainbridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. Solar Thermal Hardware Sales: Direct sales of solar thermal collectors, storage tanks, controllers, piping, pump stations, and racking systems through online store and distribution partners. One-time product sales with varying lead times.
2. Training & Education Services: Solar thermal training workshops and certification programs for installers. Level 1 courses at $100, Level 2-3 at $149 each, Level 4-5 at $249 each. Package deals available. Network of over 3,000 authorized installers trained.
3. Engineering Services: System sizing, design, project management and consulting services for commercial and residential solar thermal installations.
4. Pre-Packaged System Kits: Turnkey prepackaged solar hot water systems (HelioMaxx series) providing complete solutions for residential and commercial applications with all necessary components included.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SunMaxx Solar manufactures and distributes solar thermal hot water and space heating systems, including evacuated tube and flat plate solar collectors, storage tanks, controllers, piping, pump stations, and pre-packaged system kits. The company sells directly online, through a network of 3,000+ authorized installers across the United States, and via distribution partners in Germany, targeting residential, commercial, and industrial customers.

Product overview

SunMaxx Solar is a vertically integrated manufacturer of solar thermal systems offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services for residential, commercial, and industrial solar hot water applications. The core product line includes SunMaxx ThermoPower evacuated tube collectors and SunMaxx TitanPower flat plate collectors, complemented by StorMaxx storage tanks, SmartMaxx controllers, FlowMaxx piping, UniMaxx pump stations, and HelioMaxx prepackaged kits. The company also offers GridMaxx photovoltaic panels, ConnectMaxx racking systems, and solar glycol. Services include professional engineering support with free system sizing, solar thermal installer training programs with over 3,000 authorized installers nationwide, and project management consulting. All collectors carry SRCC OG-100 certification and the company offers SRCC OG-300 certified system kits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SunMaxx ThermoPower: Cutting-edge designed vacuum tube collectors
• SunMaxx TitanPower
• SunMaxx EduPower
• UniMaxx
• SmartMaxx
• StorMaxx
• ConnectMaxx
• FlowMaxx
• HelioMaxx
• GridMaxx

Products and services

• SunMaxx ThermoPower Series Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors Cutting-edge vacuum tube collectors that capture solar energy for hot water heating applications for residential and commercial solar thermal systems.
• SunMaxx TitanPower Series Flat Plate Solar Collectors High-efficiency flat plate solar collectors for residential and commercial solar hot water systems. TitanPower Plus-SU2 is one of the highest rated OG-100 certified collectors using ethylene glycol heat transfer fluid.
• StorMaxx Series Solar Hot Water Storage Tanks Glass-lined, stainless steel and non-pressurized storage tanks for solar thermal systems, UL Listed for safety compliance.
• SmartMaxx Series Solar Hot Water Controllers Plug and play differential temperature controllers and circulator pumps for solar thermal systems, including SmartMaxx-DHWBPlus and SmartMaxx Economy Plus models with PT1000 sensors, VBus data logging, and programmable arrays.
• FlowMaxx Solar Thermal Piping Insulated solar flexible stainless steel piping for solar hot water installations, NSF-61 certified for drinking water contact safety.
• UniMaxx Series Solar Pump Stations Turnkey solar pumping and HVAC solutions combining pump and control functionality for solar thermal systems.
• HelioMaxx Series Prepackaged Solar Hot Water Kits Complete pre-packaged solar hot water and space heating kits including collectors, storage tanks, controllers, piping, and pump stations. SRCC OG-300 certified DIY systems available for residential and commercial applications.
• ConnectMaxx Universal Racking Systems Universal racking systems designed for both thermal and photovoltaic solar installations.
• Solar Glycol Heat Transfer Fluid Heat transfer fluid for solar thermal systems requiring freeze protection, used with TitanPower flat plate collectors.
• GridMaxx Photovoltaic Panels Photovoltaic panels for solar electric generation, complementing the company's solar thermal product line for complete solar solutions.
• Solar Thermal Engineering and Design Services Professional engineering support including free system sizing and design, customized product solutions, sales lead generation, and system project management and consulting for commercial and residential solar thermal installations.
• Solar Thermal Training Program Industry-leading solar thermal installer training and educational programs with five levels of certification. Level 1 courses at $100, Level 2-3 at $149 each, Level 4-5 at $249 each, with package deals available ($347 for Levels 1-3, $749 for Levels 1-5). Includes access to a network of over 3,000 authorized SunMaxx installers.

Quantifiable outcome

• TitanPower-ALDH29-V3 produces 33,500 BTU/day on bright sunny days and 23,600 BTU/day on medium sunny days
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• IGS Innovation PolandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership with Poland-based IGS Innovation for system planning and engineering of renewable energy systems. Collaborated on projects including Richard Stockton College solar thermal installation.
• Innovative Solar Solutions LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013SunMaxx Solar merged with Innovative Solar Solutions LLC, a leading technology provider of consumer solar energy products for home and business use. Innovative Solar Solutions is the legal entity operating the SunMaxx Solar division.
• Silicon Solar Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Originally established in 2006 as the solar thermal division of Silicon Solar Inc., a PV-based sales and distribution company, to meet growing demand for solar thermal products in North America.
• FVR Innovation HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with leading German renewable energy consultant FVR Innovation Hub to incorporate leading technologies and solutions from around the world into SunMaxx product offerings.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Caleffi Hydronic Solutions: Manufacturer of hydronic components including pump stations, controls, and distribution manifolds. Adjacent to SunMaxx's UniMaxx and SmartMaxx product lines; both serve the solar thermal installer channel with system integration components, though Caleffi is broader and more established in hydronics.

Direct peers

• Heliodyl: Manufacturer of flat plate solar thermal collectors, with a niche focus similar to SunMaxx's TitanPower series. Comparable product mix, SRCC certification approach, and small-scale independent manufacturer profile.
• Alternate Energy Technologies (AET): US manufacturer of solar thermal collectors and pre-engineered systems with both flat plate and evacuated tube offerings. Direct competitor to SunMaxx across residential and commercial hot water segments, with overlapping certification and installer-channel strategies.
• Apricus (Kingspan Renewables): Apricus was a leading evacuated tube solar thermal collector manufacturer, now part of Kingspan's renewables division. Most directly comparable to SunMaxx's ThermoPower evacuated tube product line in technology, customer base (residential/commercial hot water), and certification strategy (SRCC OG-100).
• Wagner & Co Solartechnik: German manufacturer of solar thermal collectors, large-scale solar heating systems, and complete system solutions. Comparable to SunMaxx in vertically integrated product portfolio and turnkey system approach, though operating primarily in the European market.
• Solar Skies (formerly Solar Development Inc.): US-based solar thermal manufacturer offering flat plate collectors and pre-packaged kits for residential and light commercial markets. Directly comparable product mix and small-to-mid scale manufacturer profile.
• SunEarth Inc. US-based manufacturer of flat plate solar thermal collectors and complete systems for residential and commercial applications. Closely comparable to SunMaxx's TitanPower flat plate line, sharing the same SRCC certification pathway, installer-channel GTM, and California/US geographic focus.
• Enerconcept Technologies (now part of The Go Solar Group): Canadian solar thermal manufacturer of glazed flat plate collectors for residential and commercial applications. Similar technology platform and small-scale manufacturer profile to SunMaxx, with comparable SRCC-equivalent certification focus.

Broad incumbents

• Bosch Thermotechnology (formerly Bosch Solar Energy): Global heating and hot water manufacturer with a legacy solar thermal product line. Overlaps with SunMaxx in collector technology and residential hot water applications but is orders of magnitude larger and more diversified.
• Viessmann Werke: Large German heating/HVAC manufacturer with a substantial solar thermal division offering flat plate and evacuated tube collectors. Overlaps with SunMaxx in residential and commercial hot water applications but operates as a much broader multi-product incumbent across boilers, heat pumps, and HVAC systems.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sunmaxxsolar
• Facebookfacebook.com/sunmaxxsolar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sunmaxx-solar-inc.

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sunmaxx