The company THERMO/SOLAR Žiar s.r.o., one of leading European manufacture for thermal solar collectors, was founded on 1.01.1992. It has been based on more than 20-years experience of its founders in the field of development and manufacturing of solar collectors. The founders are aluminium factory ZSNP a.s. Žiar nad Hronom and THERMO/SOLAR Energietechnik Regensburg - at that time the largest manufacturer of solar collectors in Germany.

           This joint venture has opened the door to the markets of western Europe with its subsequent growth of volume for production and its quality. On quality of solar collectors THERMO/sOLAR experienced the positive influence of mutual addition "know-how" of both partners: a high efficient selective absorbing layer - the contribution of the Slovak partner, and progressive deep-drawn aluminium casing of a collector - the contribution of the German side.

           In 1997 we began to manufacture an advanced type of evacuated flat plate collector, which for today is the only collector of this type in the world. Its basic advantage is the high efficiency at higher working temperatures by a rather small capital expenses in area. Its assignment is to produce industrial heat and space heating for buildings.

           In 1999 there was a structure change of the German partner. Now the distribution of collectors in the countries of the EU is managed by thermo|solar AG Landshut. In other countries of the world the distribution of collectors is carried out directly from Žiar nad Hronom and through a network of partner companies.

           The company THERMO/SOLAR Žiar s.r.o. Žiar nad Hronom and its founders have produced and sold more than 600 000 m² thermal solar collectors during a period of the 30-years existence. It represents thousand of solar systems for hot water supply, pool heating, space heating for buildings and other special applications.

           In point of long term operation, the THERMO/SOLAR collector stands for the most highest reliability you can get. This proofs a results of a world wide research which confirms the excellent condition of solar equipment produced and installed in the years 1977 - 1984. This research has been published in 1997 and was provided by the Research center Jülich (Germany), using financial grants of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Technology of Germany.

           THERMO/SOLARs’s main attentions are set to quality, research and development of new products. We have the unique equipment to measure the quality of a selective layer, the transmittance of solar glass and working parameters of all collectors. The cooperation with research institutes, local- and foreign universities allows a steady improvement in the process of production and therefore a product on highest known standards. Research and attentions are set not only in new development. Also the protection of the environment during the process of manufacturing is very important for us. The result is a 100% regeneration of anodising and pigmenting solution in the galvanic line for the production of our high selective conversion layer, and a environmental friendly liquidation of oil used by drawing of the casing.

           The current capacity of manufacture is around 100 000 m² of collector area per year. It can be doubled up in a short period of time. THERMO/SOLAR Žiar s.r.o. is one of the only manufactures which has there own selective coating, press for deep drawn cases and a final installation of solar collectors which is concentrated in one enterprise. Also a various of different types and designs of collectors are issued. The customer receives all the necessary equipment for a complete solar installation. We also supply the training, consultations and education in the large field of a active use of solar heating.

           A lot of installations in different parts of the world proof that THERMO/SOLAR collectors work in extreme conditions and in various different non-standard solar systems. As for example the system of evacuated flat plate collectors in the environmental research center Zugspitze at the height of 2650 meters above sea level in the German Alps or the installation for destilation of sea water in Oman. Technically interesting installation is a social boarding house in city of Slatinany (Czech Republic) where solar heat provides 87% of the space heating and the domestic hot water supply. The system includes an interseasonal heat storage tank of 1100 m³ and a heat pump to cover a backup.

           In the western Europe solar collectors of different manufacturers are usually compared with the help of so-called „installed power price“, the cost of unit of produced heat determined as a ratio of capital expenses to a real thermal prize in certain operational conditions. Collectors THERMO/SOLAR in such comparisons always occupy the first places. To keep and even to improve this position is a primary goal of the company for the nearest years.