Paragon Kilns

Overview

Paragon Kilns, operated by Paragon Industries, L.P., manufactures electric kilns and furnaces for ceramics, glass fusing, pottery, heat treating, knife making, silver clay, and related applications. It serves hobbyists, professionals, and industrial clients from a facility in Mesquite, Texas, with over 4,000 standard and specialized models across 20 product lines.³⁴

History

Paragon began in 1948 when Frances Darby and her husband built one of the first electric kilns in America from a garage workshop.⁴ The company grew due to its reputation for quality and reliability. In 1981, John Hohenshelt, Sr. purchased the assets and established Paragon Industries, L.P., expanding to a 70,000-square-foot facility in Mesquite, Texas.⁴

Product Lines

Manufacturing

All Paragon kilns are manufactured in a 72,000-square-foot production facility in Mesquite, Texas, USA, with complete in-house sheet metal fabrication and automated processes.³ The company employs 67 full-time staff, including 3 engineers.³

Notable Products

• Sure-Fire Controller Kilns - Kilns with digital controllers for automatic firing programs.
• Dragon Kilns - Front-loading kilns for ceramics and glass.
• FireFly Kilns - Compact table-top kilns for jewelry and small projects.
• HTF-27 Heat Treating Furnace - High-temperature furnace for knife making and tool steel.
• GLC Kilns - Glass kilns designed for fusing and slumping.

Reputation

Paragon is recognized among potters, glass artists, and heat treaters for reliable, consistent performance and durable construction.⁴ Users note low employee turnover and focus on quality innovation.³ Some sources highlight it as a leading manufacturer, though revenue estimates vary across reports.¹²