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Viewpoint
Two brands, one segment:
together
actively
shaping the
future
Interview with Dr Roland Herb
In early June 2014, the Swiss Oerlikon Group announced the acquisition of the
coating specialist Metco. Since then, the two coating specialists Balzers (part of
Oerlikon since 1976) and Metco together constitute the Surface Solutions
Segment within the Oerlikon Group. This has produced a global coating solutions
technology leader. As its CEO, Dr Roland Herb is responsible for more than
6,100 employees at 149 sites, and more than 145 coating centres in 37 coun-
tries, which generate turnover exceeding 1.2 billion Swiss Franks.
Dr Herb, you and Oerlikon Balzers,
which is a part of the Surface
Solutions Segment managed by you,
are united by an almost 20 year
shared history. What were the perso-
nal highlights of this journey for you?
At the start of my professional develop-
ment during the 1990’s and early
2000’s, every discussion revolved
around the IT and semiconductor
sectors. I was personally, however,
much more interested in Oerlikon
Balzers, as the name stood, after all, for
pioneer work in the area of industrial
tool coating. I joined Oerlikon in 1997
and since then have played an active
role in shaping the company’s develop-
ment. I was for example involved in
Oerlikon Balzers first steps in compo-
nent coating. Looking back I can say:
Each phase was, in itself, both exciting
and interesting. The developments
moreover continue, and will make the
company even more interesting.
The 2
nd
of June 2014 is of course
very vivid in my memory. Not only
because of the announcement of the
Metco acquisition, but also because I
was named CEO of the newly created
Surface Solutions Segment. This was,
without doubt, one of the most exciting
days in my professional life – faced with
the incredibly thrilling task of bringing