What Solderstar does

Solderstar is a UK-based private manufacturer of thermal profiling instruments and process verification software for the electronics manufacturing industry. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in the Yorkshire area of the United Kingdom, the company designs and sells measurement hardware and software used to qualify, monitor, and optimize soldering processes — including reflow, wave, selective, and vapour phase — for electronics manufacturers in automotive, aerospace, defence, contract manufacturing, and OEM segments. Its products are deployed across thousands of manufacturing facilities worldwide, with regional sales and service operations in the UK, the United States (Clearwater, FL), Germany, and Hong Kong.

The company's core technology is the SLX ultra-compact thermal datalogger, a single interchangeable measurement engine that supports multiple soldering processes via swappable sensor modules and verification fixtures. Around this platform, Solderstar sells channel-configurable reflow profilers (R-0625-SLX 6-channel, R-0925-SLX 9-channel, R-1225-SLX 12-channel), the VP-10 vapour phase profiler, the Wave Shuttle Pro for wave soldering, the Selective Shuttle and Wave Selective Flux Sensors for selective soldering, and the Reflow Shuttle O2 for combined oxygen PPM, vibration, and vacuum monitoring. Supporting hardware includes titanium contact sensors, multi-stage fixtures (up to 12 stages), and 2.4 GHz wireless telemetry. Complementing the hardware are software products — Reflow Profiling Software, AutoSeeker profile optimization, and Process Verification Software with SPC (Cp/Cpk reporting) — distributed via a software download portal with licence-keyed access.

Solderstar operates a sales-led go-to-market motion with direct enterprise engagement through its regional offices, complemented by a global distributor network and a named strategic partnership with Scanditron covering Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and the Baltics. Revenue is generated across three streams: hardware sales (profilers, shuttles, carriers, spare parts), software licenses (recurring), and professional services (UKAS/ISO 17025/DAkkS/NIST-traceable calibration, repair, technical support, and preventative maintenance). Pricing is quote-based with no public disclosure, and demand generation is anchored by trade show presence at SMTA, Productronica, APEX EXPO, and InnoElectro, alongside technical articles in industry publications and a library of case studies. Solderstar Ltd is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors or capital structure; regional subsidiaries include Solderstar LLC (USA) and a wholly-owned German entity.

Name

Solderstar

Legal name

Solderstar Ltd

Website

https://solderstar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Solderstar is a UK-based manufacturer of thermal profiling instruments and process verification software for electronics manufacturers across automotive, aerospace, defence, EMS, and OEM segments. Its SLX datalogger platform supports reflow, wave, selective, and vapour phase soldering through interchangeable measurement modules.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electronics Manufacturing Test & Measurement Equipment

NAICS

Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512), Welding and Soldering Equipment Manufacturing (333992)

SIC

Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)

akta.pro primary industry

Heat Exchangers & Thermal Transfer Equipment (IMAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Refrigeration Controls, Thermostats & Sensors Service (HSAOAJAF)

Keywords

• Thermal profiling systems
• Soldering process verification
• Reflow profiling hardware
• Electronics manufacturing quality control
• Vapor phase profiling

Headquarters

HQ city

Oldham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Thermal Profiling Hardware (SLX Datalogger & Profilers): Sale of the SLX ultra-compact datalogger and associated profiling instruments (R-0625-SLX 6-channel, R-0925-SLX 9-channel, R-1225-SLX 12-channel reflow profilers, VP-10 vapor phase profiler). The single datalogger platform supports multiple processes via interchangeable modules.
2. Process Verification Fixtures & Shuttles: Sale of fixed-sensor verification fixtures including Reflow Shuttle O2, WaveShuttle Pro, Wave Selective, Vapor Shuttle, DeltaPRObe, Vacuum Reflow Carrier, Adjustable Reflow Carrier.
3. Reflow Profiling Software & SPC Tools: Sale of profiling software licenses including Reflow Profiling Software, Process Verification Software with SPC, AutoSeeker profile optimisation. Software is available via download portal with licence keys for supported systems.
4. SPC Reporting & Data Management: SPC Manager providing Xbar and Range charts, Cp/Cpk calculations, and long-term process trend monitoring for ongoing quality control.
5. Calibration Services: Calibration services including UKAS traceable calibration (UK), UKAS/ISO 17025 accredited calibration (UK), DAkkS accredited calibration (Germany), and NIST traceable calibration (USA). Services support different regulatory requirements across geographies.
6. Service, Repair & Technical Support: Preventative maintenance, diagnostic testing, equipment repair and refurbishment, firmware/software updates, and ongoing technical support. Support response described as same-day resolution for most issues.
7. Genuine Spare Parts: Supply of comprehensive range of genuine spare parts and replacement components for ongoing maintenance and minimising operational downtime.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Solderstar designs, manufactures and sells thermal profiling dataloggers, process verification fixtures, and associated software for the electronics manufacturing industry. Its SLX platform supports reflow, wave, selective, and vapor phase soldering processes via interchangeable measurement modules, capturing temperature, oxygen PPM, vibration, vacuum, and conveyor speed in a single pass. The company also offers SPC software and globally accredited calibration, repair, and support services.

Product overview

Solderstar delivers a unified thermal profiling ecosystem centered on the SLX datalogger platform, supporting multiple soldering processes from a single interchangeable system. The core portfolio includes: SLX Datalogger with multiple channel configurations (6, 9, and 12 channel) for reflow profiling, paired with reflow profiling software and AutoSeeker profile optimization software; VP-10 Vapor Phase Profiler and Vapor Shuttle for vapor phase soldering; Wave Shuttle Pro for wave solder optimization and process verification; Selective Shuttle (Wave Selective) with Multi-Stage Selective support and Flux Sensors for selective soldering; and Reflow Shuttle O2 with DeltaPRObe for advanced reflow verification. The system integrates Process Verification Software & SPC for real-time monitoring, automated process checks, and statistical quality control. Supporting services include global calibration capabilities (UKAS, ISO 17025, DAkkS, NIST traceable). This modular architecture enables manufacturers to deploy a single datalogger across reflow, wave, selective, and vapor phase applications, reducing equipment costs while maintaining consistent process control across all soldering technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SLX Datalogger Single datalogger platform supporting multiple soldering processes (reflow, wave, selective, vapor phase) via interchangeable measurement modules, delivering repeatable, high-accuracy thermal profiling data for electronics manufacturing teams.
• R-0625-SLX 6-Channel Reflow Profiler 6-channel thermal profiler for precision temperature measurement in reflow soldering applications, for electronics manufacturers.
• R-0925-SLX 9-Channel Reflow Profiler 9-channel thermal profiler for detailed temperature profiling across more complex reflow soldering applications.
• R-1225-SLX 12-Channel Reflow Profiler 12-channel thermal profiler for comprehensive temperature measurement in demanding reflow soldering environments.
• VP-10 Vapor Phase Profiler Vapor phase thermal profiler providing advanced profiling performance for vapor phase soldering applications.
• Wave Shuttle Pro (Wave Solder Optimizer) Wave solder optimizer combining contact-based wave measurement with full thermal profiling to capture wave height, contact time, parallelism, preheat behavior, and solder pot temperature in a single pass.
• Selective Shuttle (Selective Solder Optimizer) Selective solder optimizer for analyzing, verifying, and fine-tuning mini-wave selective soldering machines, capturing wave height, nozzle performance, X/Y positioning, speed, and optional flux application.
• Reflow Shuttle O2 (Advanced Reflow Oven Verification) Advanced reflow oven verification system combining temperature profiling with oxygen PPM measurement, vibration monitoring, and optional vacuum measurement for complete process understanding in nitrogen-assisted reflow ovens.
• Reflow Profiling Software Software tools for visualizing thermal profiles, analyzing zone-to-zone behavior, and performing trend analysis with pass/fail assessments, available via the Solderstar download portal with license keys.
• AutoSeeker Profile Optimization Software Software module that automatically analyzes processes to identify optimal profiles, enabling faster oven setup and tighter process control.
• Process Verification Software & SPC Comprehensive toolkit for analyzing, verifying, and controlling soldering and reflow process parameters with real-time insight, automated process checks, and long-term statistical control using Cp, Cpk charts and control limits.
• Calibration Services Global calibration services including UKAS traceable calibration, ISO 17025 accredited calibration (UK), DAkkS accredited calibration (Germany), and NIST traceable calibration (USA), along with servicing, repair, and spare parts support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced calibration costs through single datalogger serving multiple processes
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ScanditroncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic distribution partnership with Scanditron covering Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and the Baltics. Scanditron brings over five decades of experience supporting electronics manufacturers in the region, with strong technical capability and long-standing customer relationships. The partnership aims to expand access to Solderstar's thermal profiling solutions across Northern Europe.
• Hilpert ElectronicsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHilpert Electronics hosted a Technology Day event at the Umweltarena in Spreitenbach, providing Solderstar with a platform to showcase thermal profiling solutions to regional manufacturers. The event facilitated direct engagement with manufacturers and discussions on process monitoring and verification.
• IPC (Association Connecting Electronics Industries)coreOthersCorporate membership association providing Solderstar with industry credibility, participation in standards development, and networking within the global electronics manufacturing community.
• SMTA (Surface Mount Technology Association)coreOthersCorporate membership association providing Solderstar with industry credibility, participation in SMTA events, and networking with electronics assembly professionals globally.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• PACE Worldwide: PACE Worldwide supplies soldering, rework and process control tools to electronics manufacturers, including selective soldering and verification equipment that overlaps with parts of Solderstar's portfolio.
• Optimorph: Optimorph is a Germany-based provider of thermal profiling and process optimization tools for electronics manufacturing. It competes with Solderstar in the German and Central European market with overlapping reflow and wave profiling capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• BTU International: BTU International is a reflow oven manufacturer that acquired KIC, giving it both oven hardware and thermal profiling capability. It is a broader incumbent offering integrated profiling alongside its core oven business.
• Metcal (OK International): Metcal/OK International supplies soldering, rework and process verification equipment to electronics manufacturers. Its broader portfolio includes tools that overlap with Solderstar's selective and rework profiling use cases.

Direct peers

• Insystemtech: Insystemtech specializes in thermal profiling, reflow oven verification and wave solder inspection equipment for SMT manufacturers. It competes with Solderstar in the same profiling and verification niche.
• ECD (Electronic Controls Design): ECD designs and manufactures thermal profiling and process verification systems used in PCB assembly. Its product range directly overlaps with Solderstar's profiling, oven verification and SPC offerings.
• KIC (KICpro): KIC is the historical market leader in thermal profiling for electronics assembly, offering profilers and process optimization software for reflow, wave and selective soldering. It is the closest direct competitor to Solderstar's SLX platform.

Others

• Heller Industries: Heller Industries manufactures reflow ovens and curing systems for SMT lines. It is an adjacent peer whose customers overlap with Solderstar's, and which increasingly offers or recommends profiling tools alongside its ovens.
• Kurtz Ersa: Kurtz Ersa is a major manufacturer of soldering equipment including selective and wave soldering machines. It is an adjacent peer supplying the same electronics assembly customers that Solderstar serves.
• Rehm Thermal Systems: Rehm manufactures reflow, condensation soldering (vapour phase) and drying systems for electronics manufacturing. Its vapour phase equipment is closely adjacent to Solderstar's VP-10 and Vapor Shuttle profiling offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Solderstar