Flat Plate

In the early 1990’s, a group of York County industrialists saw an opportunity in new technology, both here in the U.S. and worldwide. They took advantage of that opportunity and started FlatPlate in 1992 and engaged primarily in research and development. In 1993, the small business moved forward, leasing space in the CYBER Center, a small business incubator owned and operated by the York County Economic Development Corporation (YCEDC). At that point, FlatPlate had moved beyond initial R&D and was seven months away from shipping their first product. Five years later, FlatPlate had outgrown the CYBER Center and moved its operations to the 20,000 square foot Cytec Center facility where they currently operate.

FlatPlate manufactures a high-tech heat exchanger component, utilizing brazed plate heat exchanger technology. This product is used in air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and industrial process equipment. The company manufactures over 30,000 heat exchangers each year, using over 1,000,000 lbs. of stainless steel.

FlatPlate was independently owned by its management team and private investors until November 2005. They have continued to maintain operations in York County due to the area’s tremendous assets, providing high quality machine shops, other needed technologies and innovative, hard working employees. All of FlatPlate’s technological capabilities, except for one, are located within a 15 mile radius or in-house. According to Steven Wand, CEO, “York County has tremendous opportunity in industrial markets and opportunities for innovation and competing world-wide.”

Over the years, the business has grown from one employee in 1992 to 35 employees today. FlatPlate sales are growing 15-25% or more each year and the company expects to continue to add production personnel and support staff as it grows. This continued growth may lead to another expansion of their facility.

FlatPlate has over 700 active customers worldwide, including original equipment manufacturers and distributors. The company is the only U.S. manufacturer and has strong market-share in North America. World-wide, FlatPlate serves a $320million/year market.

YCEDC played a part in the company’s growth through tenancy in the CYBER Center and Cytec Center, as well as, assistance with a MELF loan and initial interface with Ben Franklin Startup Funding.

*In November 2005, FlatPlate announced that they joined Global Engineering Alliance (GEA) Group as an independent subsidiary. GEA, a publicly held company, acquired FlatePlate as a part of a global strategy in the Plate Heat Exchanger Business. Combined with FlatPlate, GEA Brazed Plate Heat Exchanger Group is now the largest supplier of brazed heat exchangers in the US and a leading manufacturer worldwide.