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Press Releases

Henniker Plasma Targets Throughput and Process Stability with Stratus Manufacturing Solution

July 2026 – Henniker Plasma, UK.

Stratus Plasma Manufacturing Cells

Manufacturers scaling a bonding, coating or printing process to full production rarely struggle with the science of surface treatment; they struggle with holding it steady, line after line, shift after shift. As volumes rise, small variations in surface preparation compound into rejected parts, reworked assemblies and unplanned downtime. Henniker Plasma is positioning its Stratus system to address exactly this pressure point, bringing repeatable plasma surface treatment to production environments where throughput and process stability determine the cost of every unit. 

The Production-Scale Challenge

Plasma activation is a robust and effective way to prepare engineering materials for bonding, coating and printing. A plasma discharge cleans the substrate at a molecular level and introduces functional groups that raise surface energy and improve wettability. In the laboratory the result is immediate and well understood. On a production line the harder question is consistency: can that same increase in surface energy be delivered on every component, at line rate, without operator intervention.

When surface preparation drifts, the downstream symptoms are familiar. Adhesion becomes variable, delamination appears in service, and quality teams tighten inspection to compensate. Each response adds cost and slows the line. The underlying issue is process control, not plasma chemistry.

henniker plasma model stratus 2

Stratus Series V System.


The Stratus Solution 

Stratus is designed for production-scale treatment rather than one-off trials. Built on Henniker's proven plasma architecture, it applies controlled, repeatable surface activation across larger throughput volumes while holding treatment parameters stable across extended runs. The emphasis is on reliability under real operating conditions: consistent surface energy on every part, predictable adhesion, and treatment that behaves the same at the end of a shift as it did at the start.

This level of process control matters most where surface treatment sits inside a wider manufacturing flow. Consistent activation reduces the adhesion variability that leads to delamination and rework, supports tighter first-pass yield, and lets production teams treat plasma preparation as a dependable process step rather than a source of uncertainty. Engineers can integrate it into established lines and rely on it to keep pace.

Robot Central Profile with logo

Stratus Series III System.


Built for Advanced Manufacturing Environment

Stratus is aimed at manufacturers in sectors where bond integrity and surface quality are non-negotiable, including medical devicemedical device production, automotive and aerospace assembly, electronics, and precision component manufacturing. In each, the value of plasma treatment is realised only when it is repeatable at volume. Henniker works with customers to match the system to their components, materials and line requirements rather than supplying equipment in isolation.

“On a production line, the question is never whether plasma works. It’s whether it works the same way on the thousandth part as it did on the first. That is what we have engineered Stratus around: stable, repeatable surface activation that holds across long runs, so manufacturers can design it into their process and trust it to keep pace.”

Sam Dickenson, Head of Test & Installation at Henniker Plasma

Manufacturers can put Stratus to the test on their own components at a Henniker Discovery Day: a hands-on session at Henniker’s UK facility where you can see plasma treatment applied to your specific materials and validate the results before committing to capital equipment. It is a practical, low-risk way to move from interest to evidence. To book a Discovery Day, fill in the contact us form.


Click here to download the press release

See it on your own parts. Book a Discovery Day and watch Stratus treat your materials at our UK facility, before any commitment.

REQUEST A QUOTATION OR FURTHER INFORMATION

See what our customers have to say

Phix logo

"With the HPT-500, Henniker offers a plasma cleaner that is easy to use and effective in organic residue removal and surface activation. Whenever users can't find the right process parameters in the extensive manual, they can rely on the knowledgeable support of the Henniker engineers."

Jan-Joost Lankwarden - Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Medical Device Manufacturing Centre logo

"The equipment was incredibly user-friendly — easy to set up ourselves, allowing us to integrate plasma treatment into our processes with minimal downtime. Henniker has proven to be a dependable partner; whenever we've encountered technical issues, their team has been extremely prompt in their response and efficient in servicing the machine."

Dr Joshua Paulinus - Technology Specialist

Vivid Dx Blue and transparent logo

"In 2024, we needed a plasma cleaner for rapid prototyping and PDMS microfluidic bonding. Henniker Plasma quickly identified the right system and provided practical PDMS bonding guidance. The system was delivered within 8 days, enabling us to start R&D earlier than planned. Same-day technical support and protocols have greatly accelerated our research."

Aaron Teo - Vivid Dx

Vivid Dx

"The technical team at Henniker are very knowledgeable and supportive and always approachable. I have found it a pleasure to work with them."

Simon Baxter - BAE Systems, MAI

BAE

"Henniker guided us to choose the most suitable plasma unit for our application, ensured an accelerated delivery time & guided us through the very easy setup. We obtained quality results with their unit within minutes of setup & consistent results thereafter. The support they have provided has been rapid and helpful."

Dr Ravi Desai - Making Lab, Francis Crick Institute

Francis Crick Institute

"Henniker provided our team with excellent service during the course of our work together, the plasma cleaner arrived quickly and was installed with ease, giving us visible results from the outset and confirming that we made the right decision in choosing a local UK manufacturer."

Dr Panagiotis Manesiotis BSc MRSC - Queen’s University Belfast

Queens Uni Belfast

"Our customers and operations demand reliability at every level and were a key factor in our decision to choose a UK based manufacturer of plasma treatment equipment."

Tom Doak - Trak Microwave

Queens Uni Belfast

"Henniker’s after sales support is first class. They have always been extremely responsive if we have ever had need to call on them."

Steve Rackham - Teledyne

Teledyne

"Henniker’s plasma systems have delivered tangible benefits to us right from day one. The team there are very easy to work with."

Ian Bruce - Coopervision

Coopervision

"Henniker really stood out, both in their product range and technical knowledge. They are a great company to work with."

Karthik Nair - University of Bradford

University of Bradford

"We are very impressed with the ease of use and reliability of our plasma unit and were producing results within minutes of setting it up."

Dr Neil Wilson - Warwick University

Warwick University

"Our collaborative work with the team at Henniker was a very positive experience and one that we look forward to developing further."

Ewen Kellar - TWI

TWI

"Henniker provided a tailored product to match our exact requirements. They are a pleasure to work with."

Dr Will Shu - Heriot Watt University

Heriot Watt University
Phix logo

"With the HPT-500, Henniker offers a plasma cleaner that is easy to use and effective in organic residue removal and surface activation. Whenever users can't find the right process parameters in the extensive manual, they can rely on the knowledgeable support of the Henniker engineers."

Jan-Joost Lankwarden - Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Medical Device Manufacturing Centre

"The equipment was incredibly user-friendly — easy to set up ourselves, allowing us to integrate plasma treatment into our processes with minimal downtime. Henniker has proven to be a dependable partner; whenever we've encountered technical issues, their team has been extremely prompt in their response and efficient in servicing the machine."

Dr Joshua Paulinus - Technology Specialist

Vivid Dx Blue and transparent logo

"In 2024, we needed a plasma cleaner for rapid prototyping and PDMS microfluidic bonding. Henniker Plasma quickly identified the right system and provided practical PDMS bonding guidance. The system was delivered within 8 days, enabling us to start R&D earlier than planned. Same-day technical support and protocols have greatly accelerated our research."

Aaron Teo - Vivid Dx

Vividdx

"The technical team at Henniker are very knowledgeable and supportive and always approachable. I have found it a pleasure to work with them."

Simon Baxter - BAE Systems, MAI

BAE

"Henniker guided us to choose the most suitable plasma unit for our application, ensured an accelerated delivery time & guided us through the very easy setup. We obtained quality results with their unit within minutes of setup & consistent results thereafter. The support they have provided has been rapid and helpful."

Dr Ravi Desai - Making Lab, Francis Crick Institute

Francis Crick Institute

"Henniker provided our team with excellent service during the course of our work together, the plasma cleaner arrived quickly and was installed with ease, giving us visible results from the outset and confirming that we made the right decision in choosing a local UK manufacturer."

Dr Panagiotis Manesiotis BSc MRSC - Queen’s University Belfast

Queens Uni Belfast

"Our customers and operations demand reliability at every level and were a key factor in our decision to choose a UK based manufacturer of plasma treatment equipment."

Tom Doak - Trak Microwave

Queens Uni Belfast

"Henniker’s after sales support is first class. They have always been extremely responsive if we have ever had need to call on them."

Steve Rackham - Teledyne

Teledyne

"Henniker’s plasma systems have delivered tangible benefits to us right from day one. The team there are very easy to work with."

Ian Bruce - Coopervision

Coopervision

"Henniker really stood out, both in their product range and technical knowledge. They are a great company to work with."

Karthik Nair - University of Bradford

University of Bradford

"We are very impressed with the ease of use and reliability of our plasma unit and were producing results within minutes of setting it up."

Dr Neil Wilson - Warwick University

Warwick University

"Our collaborative work with the team at Henniker was a very positive experience and one that we look forward to developing further."

Ewen Kellar - TWI

TWI

"Henniker provided a tailored product to match our exact requirements. They are a pleasure to work with."

Dr Will Shu - Heriot Watt University

Heriot Watt University