In 1975, a specialist company was established in South Shields on the River Tyne with a focus on developing solar protection solutions for the maritime industry. Fifty years later, Solar Solve Marine Ltd is still there, still manufacturing from the same town, and still the company behind SOLASOLV® the world’s most certified marine anti-glare screen.
Over those five decades, Solar Solve has supplied more than 200,000 Type Approved blinds and screens to over 20,000 vessels and specialist installations across 108 countries. Every one of them has been manufactured in the United Kingdom, in the same part of north east England where the company began.
This is not simply a milestone. It is a statement about what British specialist manufacturing looks like when it is built on a single product done exceptionally well.
South Shields and the River Tyne A Maritime Manufacturing Base
South Shields sits at the mouth of the River Tyne, one of the most historically significant maritime and industrial locations in the United Kingdom. For centuries the Tyne has been a working river: shipbuilding, commercial traffic, North Sea operations, and the supply chains that support them. It is a fitting base for a company whose products are installed on vessels operating in every ocean on earth.
The connection between Solar Solve and the Tyne is more than geographical. DFDS cruiseferries have been arriving and departing from the River Tyne on an almost daily basis for decades, and Solar Solve has supplied and installed SOLASOLV® screens directly on board DFDS vessels during their Tyne port calls a supply and installation model made possible by the company’s proximity to the river.
“Over a 3 month period we received substantial orders for cruiseferry MS Princess Seaways from the company. In total we supplied and installed 116 DIMMLITE roller blinds to windows in the crew accommodation and 25 of Solar Solve’s Type Approved Brand leading SOLASAFE roller sunscreens to the windows on the navigation bridge.” Mark Weatherburn, Operations Director, Solar Solve Marine
This kind of direct, local, hands-on supply relationship is something that only a UK-based manufacturer can offer to vessels operating in UK waters. It is one of the many practical advantages that 50 years of British manufacturing creates.
SOLASOLV® The Product That Defined a Company
Solar Solve began manufacturing SOLASOLV® anti-glare marine screens in the early years of its operation. The product addresses a specific and persistent problem in commercial maritime operations: solar glare and heat at navigation bridge windows impairs the officer of the watch’s ability to see clearly, raises bridge temperature, and contributes to crew fatigue during long operational periods.
The SOLASOLV® solution is a see-through roller screen that reduces solar glare by up to 93%, solar heat by up to 87%, and UV radiation by up to 99%, while maintaining a completely clear, undistorted outward view through the navigation bridge window at all times. Importantly, the screen works in both directions: glare and heat are reduced for the crew, but the view outward is never compromised.
This combination protection without obstruction is what made SOLASOLV® the choice of commercial vessel operators worldwide and what has kept it in continuous production for decades.
Performance at a Glance
| Performance Measure | SOLASOLV® Rating | Operational Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Solar glare reduction | Up to 93% | Eliminates glare impairing navigation bridge visibility during bright daylight conditions |
| Solar heat rejection | Up to 87% | Reduces bridge temperature and lowers air conditioning demand throughout the operational day |
| UV light rejection | Up to 99% | Protects bridge crew from cumulative UV exposure during long voyages |
| Outward visibility | Fully maintained | Completely clear, undistorted view through the screen at all times |
The Four Type Approvals A Certification Record No Other Manufacturer Holds
In the commercial marine industry, Type Approval from a recognised classification society is the independent confirmation that a product meets the international safety standards required for use on commercial vessels. It is not a marketing claim. It is a formal, externally audited certification that carries legal and regulatory weight in port state control inspections and flag state audits.
Solar Solve holds Type Approval from all four of the world’s leading classification societies simultaneously. No other marine anti-glare screen manufacturer holds all four at the same time.
| Classification Society | Awarded | Global Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Lloyd’s Register | May 2001 | Primary certification for UK-flagged vessels and the majority of global maritime nations |
| DNV | July 2002 | Benchmark authority for offshore and energy sector vessels and North Sea operations |
| ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) | September 2001 | Primary certification for US-flag vessels and internationally operating commercial shipping |
| RINA (Registro Italiano Navale) | Confirmed | Leading certification for EU flag states and Mediterranean and international markets |
All four Type Approval certificates are available to download from the Solar Solve downloads page and can be provided to classification society surveyors, flag state authorities, and procurement teams as part of vessel compliance documentation.
50 Years in Numbers
Numbers tell part of the story of what 50 years of specialist manufacturing produces when a company stays focused on a single, well-defined market:
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1975, South Shields, United Kingdom |
| Marine screens in production since | 1987 |
| Screens supplied | 200,000+ Type Approved blinds and screens |
| Vessels and locations supplied | 20,000+ worldwide |
| Countries traded | 108 countries across 6 continents |
| Export turnover | 90% of total turnover exported from the UK |
| Quality system | ISO 9001 certified. Solar Solve Marine Quality Assured system in operation since 1991 |
| Type Approvals | Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA all four held simultaneously |
| Customer commendations | 285+ published on solasolv.com |
| Manufacturing location | South Shields, UK throughout the company’s history |
Quality Management Independently Verified Since 1991
Solar Solve holds ISO 9001 quality management certification and operates the independently managed Solar Solve Marine Quality Assured system. This system has been in continuous operation since 1991, covering every stage of the manufacturing process from raw material intake to finished product despatch.
The quality management system is audited externally every year as part of the Type Approval renewal process. This means that the quality of every SOLASOLV® screen is not self-certified. It is verified by the same independent bodies Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA that issue the Type Approval certificates themselves.
Every screen is manufactured to the specific dimensions of the window it is being supplied to, with no standard catalogue sizes. Every order is packed in purpose-built protective packaging. Every despatch includes a feedback form inviting the installer and customer to report on product quality and service. This feedback loop has contributed to the 285 customer commendations published on the Solar Solve website from vessel operators and installation partners across 108 countries.
What British Manufacturing Means for the Customer
For the ship manager, procurement team, or reseller ordering SOLASOLV® screens, British manufacturing has direct practical advantages:
Custom manufacture to the specific window
Every screen is made to the exact dimensions provided. Navigation bridge windows on commercial vessels are not standard sizes. Some are rectangular, some are sloped, some are tapered. Solar Solve’s South Shields factory can manufacture screens for many different window shapes. The manufacturing process is controlled at every stage in the UK, meaning Solar Solve can respond to unusual specifications, last-minute changes, and urgent requirements from its own facility without dependence on overseas subcontractors.
Direct technical support from the manufacturer
Solar Solve’s technical and sales team in South Shields is available to review specifications, answer compliance questions, and provide documentation before and after every order. This is the kind of direct, immediate support that is only possible when the manufacturer and the commercial team are in the same building.
Documented supply chain and provenance
For customers who require documented evidence of origin whether for Made in Britain accreditation purposes, government procurement requirements, or internal quality management, Solar Solve can confirm the UK origin of every product supplied. The company is a member of Made in Britain.
For more information on SOLASOLV® products, their applications, and the team behind them, visit the Solar Solve marine sector page or read about the people at Solar Solve on the meet the team page.
Global Reach from One South Shields Factory
The scale of Solar Solve’s reach relative to its size as a single-site UK manufacturer is striking. Products manufactured in South Shields have been installed on vessels operating in the North Sea and the Norwegian Continental Shelf, in the Arabian Gulf and the South China Sea, in Alaskan waters and in the Mediterranean. They have been fitted to DFDS passenger ferries on the Tyne to Amsterdam route, to Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth during Alaska cruise operations, and to six Damen Shipyards passenger ferries built in Singapore.
They have been installed in offshore crane cabs in Abu Dhabi, in Gatwick Airport’s air traffic control tower, and in Vessel Traffic Services towers at ports across Europe. The same product, made in the same factory, in the same town on the River Tyne.
“We had SOLASOLV® sunscreens installed on Princess Seaways and were extremely happy with them, so we chose to install them on King Seaways as well. The Solar Solve team did an excellent job measuring and fitting both the bridge screens and cabin blinds. Once again, we are extremely satisfied with the products and service.” Captain, MS King Seaways, DFDS
This global reach of 108 countries from one South Shields factory is a direct product of 50 years of specialist focus, consistent quality, and the trust that comes from holding the highest independent certifications in the sector. You can read more about Solar Solve’s case studies and vessel installations on the Solar Solve case studies page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are SOLASOLV® marine screens manufactured?
All SOLASOLV® marine anti-glare screens are designed and manufactured in South Shields, UK, by Solar Solve Marine Ltd. Solar Solve has been manufacturing specialist marine window screens at the same South Shields facility since the early 1990s and exports 90% of its turnover to customers across 108 countries worldwide.
How long has Solar Solve been in business?
Solar Solve was founded in 1975 in the United Kingdom, giving the company 50 years of continuous operation. The company began manufacturing specialist marine anti-glare screens in the early years of its operation and has remained a specialist UK manufacturer throughout its history.
How many vessels has Solar Solve supplied?
Solar Solve has supplied more than 200,000 Type Approved blinds and solar roller screens to over 20,000 vessels and specialist locations worldwide, including passenger ferries, cruise ships, tankers, offshore construction vessels, bulk carriers, platform supply vessels, LNG carriers, and air traffic control towers. Solar Solve products are installed in 108 countries across 6 continents.
What Type Approvals does Solar Solve hold?
SOLASOLV® marine anti-glare screens hold Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register (awarded May 2001), DNV (awarded July 2002), ABS American Bureau of Shipping (awarded September 2001), and RINA Registro Italiano Navale. SOLASOLV® is the only marine anti-glare screen in the world to hold simultaneous Type Approval from all four of these leading classification societies.
What quality management certifications does Solar Solve hold?
Solar Solve holds ISO 9001 quality management certification and operates the independently managed Solar Solve Marine Quality Assured system, which has been in continuous operation since 1991. The quality management system is audited externally every year as part of the Type Approval renewal process. Full quality documentation is available on request. Technical specifications for all products are available on the Solar Solve technical information page.
