Solar Solve Celebrates 45 Years in Business
Solar Solve Ltd, the South Shields-based British manufacturer of SOLASOLV® marine anti-glare sunscreens, is celebrating 45 years in business. This milestone reflects five decades of innovation, family dedication, and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.
Founded in 1975 by Chairman John Lightfoot MBE, an ex-marine engineer, and his wife Lilian, Company Secretary, Solar Solve has grown from a small domestic window blind supplier into the world’s leading manufacturer of Type Approved marine roller sunscreens. Today the business is trusted by vessel operators, shipbuilders, and procurement teams across 108 countries worldwide.
The Beginning — Northern Window Blind Company, 1975
Solar Solve’s story begins not in the marine industry but in a showroom in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. John and Lilian Lightfoot founded the Northern Window Blind Company as a domestic manufacturer and supplier of window blinds serving the local market.
It was a modest start, but it established the values that have defined the business ever since: quality manufacturing, genuine customer focus, and a commitment to doing things properly.
John Lightfoot MBE reflected on those early years:
“I have always loved my job, even when things were tough, and still get an enormous amount of satisfaction from being able to help our customers and make them extremely happy. The Customer Is King has been the motto of our family business since we opened in 1975 and it has served us well for 45 years.”
The Innovation That Changed Everything — SOLASOLV® Is Born, 1987
In 1987, twelve years after founding the business, John Lightfoot identified an opportunity that would completely transform Solar Solve’s direction.
Drawing on his background as a marine engineer, John recognised the need for a purpose-built roller screen that could be easily installed by ships’ staff at wheelhouse windows, functioning as a practical navigation safety aid rather than a conventional window covering.
The result was SOLASOLV®, a revolutionary roller sunscreen engineered specifically for marine navigation bridges and later trademarked as Sunglasses for Ships®.
While a simple description of the product might be a roller blind made from a thin, tinted, rigid plastic film, SOLASOLV® is far more technical than that. The screen is engineered to meet precise optical and thermal performance standards required on commercial vessel navigation bridges, where crew visibility is a direct safety requirement.
SOLASOLV® Performance Specifications
|
Performance |
Rating |
|
Solar glare rejection |
Up to 93% |
|
Solar heat rejection |
Up to 87% |
|
UV light rejection |
Up to 99% |
|
Outward visibility |
Fully maintained and undistorted |
To learn more about how SOLASOLV® performs on marine vessels, visit the SOLASOLV® marine sunscreen product page.
Becoming Solar Solve Marine — 1988 and Beyond
Following the launch of SOLASOLV®, the business was formally rebranded in 1988 as Solar Solve Ltd, trading as Solar Solve Marine. This reflected the company’s clear shift in strategic focus toward the global marine industry.
By 1993, having made the decision to exit the domestic blind market entirely, Solar Solve relocated to a purpose-built factory in South Shields, the Lightfoot family’s home town. The move allowed the company to concentrate all of its resources on supplying the marine sector, growing the team, and building the international distribution network that would eventually reach every corner of the world.
A True Family Business — Three Generations of the Lightfoot Family
Solar Solve is not simply a family-founded business. It remains a family-led business at every level of its operation today.
John and Lilian’s twin children, David and Julie, were just six years old when the business was established in 1975. Both grew up alongside the company and both went on to play defining roles in its continued success.
Julie Lightfoot — Managing Director
Julie joined the company full time in her early twenties, initially as General Manager before being promoted to Managing Director after two years. Julie’s leadership has been central to Solar Solve’s growth, internationalisation, and the operational standards that underpin the company’s global reputation.
David Lightfoot — ICT Consultant
David chose a career in computing and information technology and became Solar Solve’s external ICT consultant, guiding the company’s technology direction continuously over the decades. His most recent achievement is securing Solar Solve’s Cyber Essentials Accreditation, an important step in the company’s ongoing commitment to digital security and best practice.
Together, the Lightfoot family has steered Solar Solve through 45 years of change in the marine industry, maintaining the same values and customer-first approach that John and Lilian established on day one.
Solar Solve Today — A Global Leader in Marine Solar Protection
What began as a domestic blind supplier in Sunderland is today one of the most respected specialist manufacturers in the global marine industry. The numbers tell the story clearly:
- Supplied to 108 countries worldwide
- More than 200,000 Type Approved screens and blinds supplied
- Installed on over 20,000 vessels and specialist locations across 6 continents
- Numerous export achievement and good business practice awards won over 45 years
- Over 200 customer commendations published on the Solar Solve testimonials page
- Products supplied to marine vessels, air traffic control towers, cranes, and heavy mining equipment worldwide
- All products manufactured in the United Kingdom at the South Shields factory
SOLASOLV® products hold Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, ABS, and DNV-GL, making them the most independently certified marine anti-glare sunscreens available anywhere in the world. You can find out more about Solar Solve’s full range of marine products on the marine sector page.
Looking Forward
As Solar Solve enters its 45th anniversary year, the Lightfoot family remains as committed to the business and its customers as they were when John and Lilian opened their first showroom in Sunderland nearly five decades ago.
John Lightfoot MBE concluded: “With Solar Solve’s great team of dedicated employees supporting us, I am confident it will continue to do so for years to come.”
For procurement teams and vessel operators looking for proven, Type Approved solar protection solutions, you can explore Solar Solve’s offshore product range on the offshore sector page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Solar Solve founded?
Solar Solve was founded in 1975 by John Lightfoot MBE and his wife Lilian in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, initially trading as the Northern Window Blind Company, a domestic window blind manufacturer and supplier.
What is SOLASOLV® and when was it invented?
SOLASOLV® is Solar Solve’s range of Type Approved marine anti-glare roller sunscreens, developed in 1987 by founder John Lightfoot. Engineered specifically for installation at navigation bridge and wheelhouse windows on commercial vessels, SOLASOLV® rejects up to 93% of solar glare, up to 87% of heat, and up to 99% of UV light while maintaining full outward visibility. The product is trademarked as Sunglasses for Ships®.
Where is Solar Solve based and where are products manufactured?
Solar Solve Ltd is based in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, in the north east of England. All SOLASOLV® products are designed and manufactured in the UK at the company’s South Shields factory.
How many countries does Solar Solve supply to?
Solar Solve has traded with 108 countries worldwide, supplying SOLASOLV® marine sunscreens and specialist roller blinds to vessels, air traffic control towers, cranes, and heavy mining equipment across 6 continents.
Who owns and runs Solar Solve?
Solar Solve is a family business owned and led by the Lightfoot family. Chairman John Lightfoot MBE founded the business in 1975. His daughter Julie Lightfoot serves as Managing Director and his son David Lightfoot serves as the company’s ICT Consultant. Company Secretary Lilian Lightfoot co-founded the business alongside John.
What awards has Solar Solve won?
Solar Solve has won numerous awards over its 45-year history for export achievement and good business practice. John Lightfoot MBE holds an MBE awarded for services to international trade.
What Type Approvals do SOLASOLV® products hold?
SOLASOLV® marine sunscreens hold Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, ABS (American Bureau of Shipping), and DNV-GL. SOLASOLV® is the only marine anti-glare sunscreen in the world to hold simultaneous Type Approval from all three leading classification societies.
