Super Systems Inc. (SSi), based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a global leader in developing and manufacturing products for the thermal-processing industry. With more than 30 years of experience, SSi provides a comprehensive suite of solutions, including oxygen probes, gas analyzers, flow meters, controllers, SCADA software, and fully integrated control systems.
Foundation and Expertise
Founded on the strength of its oxygen probe technology, SSi has grown into one of the world’s largest suppliers of these critical components. While oxygen probes remain central to the company’s legacy and reputation, SSi’s product portfolio has significantly expanded, allowing the company to support a broader range of applications in both atmosphere and vacuum heat treatment.
“While we continue to innovate and expand into new areas, we recognize the importance of oxygen probes and the role they played in founding our company,” said Steve Thompson, CEO of SSi. “We are proud to be one of the largest probe suppliers globally, and that legacy continues to grow as we expand our reach.”
Integrated Solutions
SSi’s capabilities extend beyond individual components. The company specializes in delivering complete, turnkey systems that integrate hardware, software, and controls tailored to customer specifications. This includes advanced analyzers for CO, CO2, CH4, hydrogen, and dew point; flow meters for both high- and low-pressure applications; and supervisory software that provides comprehensive data collection, traceability, and control.
“At our core, we are a technology company that designs and manufactures advanced microelectronic devices used to analyze gases,” Thompson said. “These devices measure CO, CO2, CH4, hydrogen, dew point, and flow — critical parameters for heat treating — and are integrated into control systems that help our customers achieve the highest levels of quality, traceability, and efficiency in their processes. Control systems integration is a major part of our value, where we combine all of these elements into complete turnkey solutions.”
Product Development and Expansion
Continuous improvement is core to SSi’s product development philosophy. As technologies evolve, SSi reinvests in updating and optimizing its product lines. One notable innovation is the eFlo product line, designed for accurate measurement and control of gases such as nitrogen, argon, endothermic gas, ammonia, air, and natural gas.
“We are always looking to enhance and refine our product offerings with the latest technology,” Thompson said. “Our commitment to innovation means continuously improving and modernizing our products to meet evolving industry needs and maintain our position at the forefront of thermal processing solutions.”
To meet growing demand, SSi recently opened a third facility dedicated exclusively to flow technology. This expansion significantly increased its flow testing capacity, with pressure capabilities up to 50 PSI and flow rates up to 30,000 SCFH. The facility includes dedicated high-pressure and liquid flow test stands, enabling SSi to offer more robust and traceable solutions that meet evolving industry standards like CQI-9.
“We invested about close to $300,000 so we can address the flow market, which, for us, is growing very quickly in the thermal sector,” Thompson said. “People want to have CQI-9 capability, traceability, and charting of flow, so that’s driven that market for us, so we’ve invested heavily.”
Pioneering Sustainable Technologies
Sustainability and energy efficiency are at the forefront of SSi’s innovation. The SuperGen system, which replaced the legacy AutoGen line, is a turndown system for endothermic gas generation. It optimizes gas production based on real-time demand, reducing waste, energy use, and emissions such as CO2 and NOx.
“SuperGen represents a major step forward in intelligent gas generation,” Thompson said. “It dynamically adjusts output based on real-time demand, meaning you only produce the endothermic gas you need. The result is measurable energy savings, a reduction in CO2 and NOx emissions, and a direct contribution to our customers’ sustainability goals. It’s a smarter, more responsible way to manage thermal processing.”
ETRIM is a practical and valuable burner efficiency monitoring tool that helps customers document and improve combustion performance. While not revolutionary, it offers significant time and cost savings by simplifying the process of tracking burner efficiency — an essential factor in sustainable and cost-effective heat-treating operations.
Customer-Centric Philosophy
At the heart of SSi’s success is its commitment to customer service. The company maintains a hands-on, solution-oriented approach, collaborating closely with customers to understand their unique challenges.
“Customer challenges have always been the starting point for innovation at SSi,” Thompson said. “From the beginning, our approach has been to actively listen, understand the problem, and collaborate on a solution. That philosophy continues to guide how we engage with our customers today.”
SSi offers direct phone support during business hours, a dedicated support desk for after-hours needs, and a robust ISO 9001-backed quality system that ensures every customer interaction is documented and followed up.
“Customer support is a top priority for us,” Thompson said. “We have a dedicated staff in place to take care of our customers and a structured system to track and manage support tickets. During business hours, every call is answered by a real person, and after hours, customers are directed to our support desk. All inquiries are logged and monitored, ensuring timely responses and weekly follow-ups as part of our ongoing commitment to service.”
Looking Ahead
With an eye on the future, SSi continues to prioritize quality, precision, and innovation. The company remains actively engaged across all sectors of the heat-treating industry and is seeing particularly strong activity in aerospace applications due to increasing demand.
“Everywhere you go, everywhere in the world needs metal parts of a higher quality,” Thompson said. “That’s what our customers expect, and our technologies are designed to help them meet that demand. We see growing interest in industries that value precision, traceability, and high-performance components, and we’re well-positioned to support those needs.”
More info: upersystems.com
