Smit Thermal Solutions
Smit Thermal Solutions is a Dutch B2B equipment manufacturer (founded 2001, ~50 FTEs) that designs custom-engineered thermal processing and thin-film deposition systems — CSS, VTD, PE-CVD with proprietary ETP, CVD, and industrial ovens — serving solar, battery, glass, and semiconductor manufacturers from pilot to mass production.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersEindhoven, Netherlands
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Smit Thermal Solutions does
Smit Thermal Solutions B.V. is a privately held Dutch industrial equipment manufacturer, founded in 2001 and headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands, with a wholly-owned production and service subsidiary in Hangzhou, China (established 2018). The company designs and builds custom-engineered thermal processing and thin-film deposition equipment for pilot and mass-production applications across solar/photovoltaics, battery/energy storage, glass, and semiconductor customers. Core technology spans four deposition platforms — Closed Space Sublimation (CSS), Vapour Transport Deposition (VTD), Plasma Enhanced CVD with proprietary Expanding Thermal Plasma (ETP) capable of deposition rates above 1 µm/min, and Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) — plus industrial ovens operating across -40 to +1,800°C, inline drying furnaces, vacuum dryers, and roll-to-roll atmospheric-pressure CVD systems. Proprietary CFD simulation and digital twin tooling support process scale-up from laboratory to industrial production.
Smit operates a direct enterprise sales model with a collaborative design process involving customer requirements gathering, prototype development, and Factory Acceptance Testing at the Netherlands facility before shipment and on-site installation. Revenue derives from three streams: thermal equipment sales (hardware), project engineering and custom solutions (professional services), and lifecycle management including remote diagnostics, preventive maintenance, and technology updates (managed services). Pricing is structured as milestone payments of 30% on order, 30% after Final Design Review, 30% after Factory Acceptance Test, and 10% after installation/commissioning, with multi-year contract horizons. The company employs approximately 50 FTEs and reports 3,000+ systems delivered worldwide since inception, having expanded capabilities through the 2019 acquisition of Meyer Burger NL's Thin Film business.
Smit Thermal Solutions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Smit Thermal Solutions
- Legal name
- Smit Thermal Solutions B.V.
- Website
- https://smitthermalsolutions.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Smit Thermal Solutions is a Dutch B2B equipment manufacturer (founded 2001, ~50 FTEs) that designs custom-engineered thermal processing and thin-film deposition systems — CSS, VTD, PE-CVD with proprietary ETP, CVD, and industrial ovens — serving solar, battery, glass, and semiconductor manufacturers from pilot to mass production.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Smit Thermal Solutions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Thermal Processing Equipment
- NAICS
- Industrial Process Furnace and Oven Manufacturing (333994), Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing (333242)
- SIC
- Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens (3567)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Thermal Processing Equipment (Furnaces/RTP/Anneal) (HDAHAEAE)
Keywords
Where Smit Thermal Solutions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Eindhoven
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Smit Thermal Solutions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Thermal Equipment Manufacturing and Sales: Custom-engineered thermal processing equipment sold to solar, battery, and glass manufacturers for pilot and mass production applications. Equipment includes deposition systems (CSS, VTD, PE-CVD, CVD), thermal ovens, and complete production tools.
- Project Engineering and Custom Solutions: Collaborative design and engineering services for made-to-measure thermal technology solutions, including process optimization and scalability consulting from laboratory to industrial production.
- Service, Maintenance and Lifecycle Management: Remote diagnostics, maintenance services, life-cycle planning, technology updates, and optimization services for installed equipment worldwide.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom equipment pricing based on specifications |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Smit Thermal Solutions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Smit Thermal Solutions designs, manufactures, and services custom-engineered thermal processing equipment and thin film deposition systems for pilot and mass production. Core offerings include four deposition technologies (PE-CVD with proprietary ETP, CVD, CSS, VTD), industrial thermal ovens operating from -40 to +1800°C, advanced CFD and digital twin simulation tools, and lifecycle services (remote diagnostics, maintenance, process transfer). Solutions target solar, battery, and glass manufacturers scaling from laboratory to industrial production.
Product overview
Smit Thermal Solutions provides a comprehensive portfolio of thermal processing and thin film deposition equipment for pilot and mass production systems, centered on four core deposition technologies: Closed Space Sublimation (CSS), Vapour Transport Deposition (VTD), Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition (PE-CVD), and Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD). The PE-CVD systems feature proprietary Expanding Thermal Plasma (ETP) technology for high-rate deposition. Supporting the core equipment are advanced CFD simulation tools and digital twin capabilities for process modeling and equipment design. The product line also includes thermal processes/industrial ovens (temperature range -40 to +1800°C), inline drying furnaces, vacuum dryers, and roll-to-roll atmospheric pressure CVD systems. Services encompass pilot and mass production scaling, remote diagnostics, and life-cycle planning and management. Markets served include solar (CdTe, perovskite), battery (silicon anodes, supercapacitors), glass, semiconductor, and smart glass applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition (PE-CVD) PE-CVD equipment with proprietary Expanding Thermal Plasma (ETP) technology for high-rate thin-film deposition at rates greater than 1 µm/min, supporting materials including a-Si, Silicon Nitride, Silicon Oxide, DLC, Al-doped ZnO, and AlOx. Features remote plasma preventing substrate damage and supports both single-side and dual-side coating.
- Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) Vacuum deposition CVD equipment for high-quality thin films, available for both sheet-to-sheet and roll-to-roll manufacturing. Supports TCO layers and growth of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes for energy storage applications.
- Closed Space Sublimation (CSS) Physical Vacuum Deposition (PVD) technology that heats source material in a crucible, vaporizing and condensing onto nearby substrates. Proven reliable for CdTe and perovskite photovoltaic films with high deposition rates and manufacturing scalability.
- Vapour Transport Deposition (VTD) Thin film deposition technology using inert gas flow to transport vapor from source material to substrate, allowing higher temperature differences between source and substrate. Suitable for low thermal mass substrates and supports both top-down and bottom-up deposition flexibility.
- Advanced Simulations (CFD) Computational Fluid Dynamics software tools using state-of-the-art technology to model physical and chemical behavior of thermal processes including deposition, evaporation, chemical reactions, heat transfer, gas flow dynamics, and deposition rates for thin-film solar cell production.
- Digital Twin Virtual simulation approach connecting simplified CAD representations to create digital twins of equipment subsystems including transport, temperature, and vacuum subsystems, enabling parallelization of software and hardware development.
- Thermal Processes / Industrial Ovens Industrial thermal processing equipment covering annealing, vacuum drying, calcination, and other processes with temperature ranges from -40 to +1800°C. Supports controlled atmospheres for both batch and continuous in-line systems, with over 3,000 systems delivered worldwide.
- Inline Drying Furnaces Inline drying furnace equipment for drying wafers and glass substrates used in perovskite photovoltaics manufacturing.
- Vacuum Dryer Vacuum dryer equipment for drying anode and cathode coils as well as pouch cells for Li-ion battery manufacturing.
- Roll-to-Roll Atmospheric Pressure CVD Continuous roll-to-roll atmospheric pressure CVD system for growing vertically aligned carbon nanotubes at atmospheric pressure, designed for supercapacitor and battery applications.
- Pilot & Mass Production Services Engineering service transferring customer processes from laboratory to pilot and mass production, collaborating to optimize processes for scalability and cost-effectiveness.
- Remote Diagnostics Remote technical support service via internet connectivity enabling rapid diagnosis, performance evaluation, and recommendations for corrective measures and optimizations on installed systems worldwide.
- Life-cycle Planning and Management Proactive maintenance service including remote identification, assessment, and planning of technology updates, preventive maintenance, service calls, half-yearly evaluations, and revision-level maintenance to minimize downtime and optimize equipment performance.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 3000 systems delivered worldwide
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Smit Thermal Solutions
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Smit Thermal Solutions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Smit Thermal Solutions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Meyer Burger NL (Thin Film Business)coreIn 2019, Smit Thermal Solutions acquired the Thin Film business of Meyer Burger NL, significantly expanding their capabilities and market position in thin film applications. This acquisition strengthened the company's legacy of developing and manufacturing high-quality equipment for thermal processes and Thin Film applications.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Smit Thermal Solutions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bühler Group: Swiss industrial equipment group with thermal processing and thin-film deposition capabilities serving glass, battery, and advanced materials markets. Comparable in industrial-oven and process-equipment depth.
- Oerlikon (Surface Solutions Division): Provides advanced surface treatments, PVD/CVD coating systems, and thermal processing used in solar, automotive, and industrial markets. Comparable thermal/deposition technology applied across similar end-markets.
- Applied Materials, Inc. Global semiconductor and display equipment leader with growing solar exposure (e.g., thin-film deposition, metallization). Competes with Smit in deposition technology, but at much greater scale and breadth.
- AIXTRON SE: Specialist in MOCVD/CVD deposition systems for compound semiconductors, power electronics, and optoelectronics. Comparable deposition technology stack but serves different primary end-markets and at much larger scale.
- Tokyo Electron Limited: Major semiconductor and FPD equipment manufacturer with deposition, etch, and thermal processing tools. Overlaps with Smit in thin-film and thermal processing, but in broader semiconductor markets.
Direct peers
- Centrotherm International AG: German-headquartered supplier of thermal processing and production equipment for the photovoltaic industry (e.g., diffusion, PECVD, firing furnaces). Directly comparable to Smit in serving solar cell manufacturers with custom-engineered thermal and deposition tools.
- Von Ardenne GmbH: Provides industrial deposition and coating equipment (sputtering, PECVD, evaporation) used in solar, glass, and battery applications. Comparable to Smit as a custom-engineered thin-film equipment supplier with similar end-markets and technology portfolio.
- Manz AG: German equipment specialist with integrated production lines for solar, battery, and electronics, including CIGS thin-film lines. Comparable in custom-engineered equipment model for solar and energy storage customers.
- Singulus Technologies AG: German specialty equipment maker serving solar, semiconductor, and optical disc markets with deposition, wet-processing, and thermal tools. Closely matches Smit's customer verticals and bespoke equipment model.
- Meyer Burger Technology AG: Swiss-headquartered solar manufacturing equipment supplier (HJT, TOPCon, smart-wire connection). Directly comparable end-market exposure; Smit acquired Meyer Burger NL's Thin Film business in 2019, making them former sister-businesses.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Smit Thermal Solutions social profiles
Digital presenceSmit Thermal Solutions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Smit Thermal Solutions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Smit Thermal Solutions subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Smit Thermal Solutions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Smit Thermal Solutions M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Smit Thermal Solutions
What does Smit Thermal Solutions do?
Smit Thermal Solutions designs, manufactures, and services custom-engineered thermal processing equipment and thin film deposition systems for pilot and mass production. Core offerings include four deposition technologies (PE-CVD with proprietary ETP, CVD, CSS, VTD), industrial thermal ovens operating from -40 to +1800°C, advanced CFD and digital twin simulation tools, and lifecycle services (remote diagnostics, maintenance, process transfer). Solutions target solar, battery, and glass manufacturers scaling from laboratory to industrial production.
Is Smit Thermal Solutions a public or private company?
Smit Thermal Solutions is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Smit Thermal Solutions founded?
Smit Thermal Solutions was founded in 2001. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Smit Thermal Solutions based?
Smit Thermal Solutions is headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Smit Thermal Solutions make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Thermal Equipment Manufacturing and Sales are the primary driver. The others are project Engineering and Custom Solutions and service, Maintenance and Lifecycle Management.
Who are Smit Thermal Solutions's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bühler Group, Oerlikon (Surface Solutions Division), Applied Materials, Inc., AIXTRON SE and Tokyo Electron Limited. Direct peers are Centrotherm International AG, Von Ardenne GmbH, Manz AG, Singulus Technologies AG and Meyer Burger Technology AG.
Does Smit Thermal Solutions have an API?
No public API is recorded for Smit Thermal Solutions.
What industry is Smit Thermal Solutions in?
Smit Thermal Solutions's product category is Industrial Thermal Processing Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAEAE, Thermal Processing Equipment (Furnaces/RTP/Anneal). Its NAICS code is 333994 and its SIC code is 3567.