30 Years of Precision Cooling
13th July marked 30 years since the founding of Applied Thermal Control – a proud milestone for a company that has become a trusted name in laboratory and industrial process cooling.
Established in 1995 by Professor Michael Walls of Loughborough University and James Stenhouse, ATC was created to meet the specific cooling needs of high-vacuum and deposition equipment in laboratory environments. What began as a small, specialist manufacturer quickly gained a reputation for reliability, precision, and innovation.
A Legacy of Innovation
From the very beginning, innovation in design has been central to ATC’s success. The company’s first chillers – the compact K1 and versatile K3 – laid the foundation for a robust and reliable product family tailored to the needs of laboratory users. Designed by James, these early models set the tone for what ATC would become: precise, dependable, and built with engineers in mind.
As customer demand grew and applications became more diverse, so did ATC’s product range. The KT series was developed as a compact solution for smaller applications, delivering reliable performance where space and capacity were limited. The K4 and K6 models followed, increasing cooling capacity for more demanding laboratory systems, while the K9 provided a powerful mid-sized option that offered the ideal balance of size and performance for general-purpose laboratory use.
As requirements for both power and compactness continued to evolve, ATC introduced the KT1 – a more powerful evolution of the KT range, delivering greater cooling capacity while maintaining a small footprint. The K12 followed, bringing high-capacity cooling to large-scale or multi-instrument applications, and was soon complemented by the Mini – a breakthrough in ultra-compact design developed to meet the growing need for reliable performance in the smallest possible spaces.
Following the merger with Thermal Exchange in 2019, ATC’s portfolio grew beyond recirculating chillers to include airblast coolers and heat exchangers, strengthening its presence in industrial markets. The introduction of the G and H Series has since brought even greater flexibility and performance to customers needing robust process cooling solutions with sustainability in mind.
A Journey of Growth and Collaboration
ATC’s story is also one of evolution and resilience. In 2017, the company joined the SDI Group – a collective of scientific and technology businesses with a shared focus on precision, innovation, and growth. Two years later, in 2019, fellow process cooling specialist Thermal Exchange also became part of the SDI Group.
This shared ownership laid the groundwork for a strategic merger, bringing together two respected manufacturers with complementary strengths and decades of experience. In 2020, ATC and Thermal Exchange united under one roof at a new facility in Barrow upon Soar, relocating from ATC’s original base in Coalville.
The merger strengthened ATC’s manufacturing capabilities, broadened its product portfolio, and deepened its expertise across both laboratory and industrial cooling applications – all while preserving the customer-first approach that has defined both companies for decades.
Leadership with Insight
Today, ATC is led by Managing Director Robert Poniatowski, who joined the company as a salesperson in early 2001 and rose through the ranks to take the helm.
“I’ve watched ATC grow from a specialist laboratory chiller manufacturer to a recognised temperature control specialist. I look forward to seeing the company continue to flourish as it launches into the next 30 years.”
Robert Poniatowski, Managing Director
With a background in chemistry, Robert brings not only strong commercial insight but also a deep understanding of the scientific and industrial environments that rely on ATC’s products. Under his leadership, the company has maintained its commitment to quality and service while embracing innovation and environmental responsibility.
Cooling for the Future
As sustainability becomes increasingly important across the industries that ATC serves, the company has focused on developing low-GWP solutions to help customers to reduce their environmental impact. This includes the recent launch of new chiller ranges using low-GWP refrigerants such as R290 and R454C – combining efficient performance with responsible design.
Now part of the SDI Group, ATC continues to grow as a global manufacturer and supplier of recirculating chillers, heat exchangers, and airblast coolers. Despite the changes and expansion, ATC’s core values remain the same: engineering excellence, responsive service, and a commitment to helping customers to succeed.
Looking Ahead
From the first chillers designed for vacuum applications in university labs to a global portfolio of advanced process cooling solutions, ATC’s 30-year journey is one of innovation, adaptability, and shared achievement.
As the company looks ahead to the next chapter, the entire team remains focused on pushing boundaries, supporting customers, and delivering temperature control solutions built to perform – today and for decades to come.
Here’s to the next 30 years!
