Balzers, Liechtenstein, 29 October 2019 – On 1 and 2 October Oerlikon Balzers, a leading provider of surface solutions, invited special guests and customers to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its customer centre in Limoges, France. Limoges is best known as Oerlikon Balzers' competence centre for the motorsports industry, offering coating solutions for precision components used in high-performance engines.
Marc Hervé, Motorsports Segment Manager, gave a presentation in which he outlined the history of the Limoges site from the beginning and its development over the years, introduced the company’s latest coating technologies and solutions for precision components used in the motorsport industry, and looked ahead to future innovations. The evening event gave the invited special guests and customers the opportunity to meet and talk to experts from Oerlikon Balzers to discuss the latest developments, before the anniversary celebrations concluded with a tour of the impressive production facilities the next day.
Oerlikon Balzers’ success in the motorsports industry over more than 25 years is primarily based on the high-performance diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating BALINIT CAVIDUR, which has become the global industry standard for valve train parts as it reduces friction, increases wear resistance and extends the service life of components. DLC coatings are now widely used in racing series such as Formula 1, the World Rally Championship, the US National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) and the German Touring Car Championship (DTM), but it’s not just cars that benefit: motorbike and motocross components have also been optimised using this coating for more than 20 years.
“Our expertise, innovative technologies and close relationship with our customers have played a big part in making Limoges a hub for coatings used in motorsports. We have shown that Oerlikon Balzers deserves its position as a market leader in the world of motorsport coatings, and celebrating this anniversary together will strengthen our relationship and help us tackle the challenges of the future in this sector”, said Gilles Widawski, Head of Oerlikon Balzers France, who was quick to thank his team: “Providing outstanding customer service and setting the standard for 30 years in this unique industry is no mean feat. It demonstrates even more clearly that the team have performed extremely well and used their in-depth expertise and passion to build up such a productive relationship with their customers – so it’s no wonder they have had so much success and received so many awards over the years.”
Marc Hervé said: “High-performance coatings for motorsports, consistent customer service excellence and a strong team spirit among our employees have paid off over the years and helped Oerlikon Balzers forge an enviable reputation as a market leader for coatings, especially for motorsports.”