Balzers, Liechtenstein, and Erkelenz, Germany, 8 January 2020 – Oerlikon has acquired D-Coat GmbH, a leading provider of diamond coating technology in Germany. The acquisition expands Oerlikon Balzers’ portfolio of surface treatment technologies, especially for cutting tools applied in the aerospace and automotive industries.
Oerlikon Balzers has acquired the German company D-Coat GmbH. From left to right, after contract signing: Dr. Wolfgang J. Schmitz (Regional Executive Europe, Oerlikon Balzers), Dirk Breidt (Managing Director Production & Development, D-Coat GmbH), Olaf Dietrich (Business Managing Director, D-Coat GmbH), Corinna Heinz (Oerlikon Balzers), Dr. Wolfgang Kalss (Head of Cutting Tools, Oerlikon Balzers)
D-Coat GmbH a German company founded in 2006, is recognised as a technology leader in diamond coatings for cutting tools, in particular for carbon fibre reinforced polymers used in structures of airplanes, ships, vehicles and other areas where sustained high reliability during long-term operation is needed. D-Coat is a globally preferred supplier of these coating applications for major airplane manufacturers.
“D-Coat’s technologies complement Oerlikon Balzers’ existing diamond coating services extremely well. Combining our expertise makes us a clear technology leader for these applications”, said Marc Desrayaud, Head of Business Unit Balzers Industrial Solutions at Oerlikon.
“We intend to leverage the synergies from our combined technological power and expertise to create the best diamond coating solutions and services for tooling customers in the aerospace, automotive, die and mold and other industries”, said Dr. Wolfgang Kalss, Head of Business Line Cutting Tools at Oerlikon Balzers. “D-‑Coat will be our fourth and biggest Customer Centre for diamond coatings, in addition to the centres in the USA and Korea, and will expand the portfolio of our Centre of Competence for Diamond Coatings in Luxembourg. In total, D-Coat is our 113th global Customer Centre.”
D-Coat supplies diamond coatings using the hot-filament chemical vapour deposition (HFCVD) method. The deposition of diamond films using HFCVD is suitable for coating surfaces, three-dimensional base bodies and for interior diamond coating. When applied to tools, machine components or electrodes, these coatings provide resistance against most chemical substances, low friction coefficients even in low lubrication conditions, and maximum wear resistance even when in contact with abrasive substances.
The acquisition is another step forward in Oerlikon’s strategy to strengthen its surface solutions portfolio and provide more value for customers. As a result of the acquisition, D-Coat is now part of Oerlikon Balzers, a leader in surface solutions with an established global R&D and production network. All day‑to‑day operations at the existing D-Coat site, including business and cooperation with D-Coat customers and partners, will continue as usual, now as part of Oerlikon Balzers. The acquisition agreement was signed and closed in December 2019 and both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
“We are pleased to be merging our team with the experts from Oerlikon Balzers”, said Dirk Breidt, co-founder of D-Coat. “Becoming a part of Oerlikon Balzers will help us grow the business diamond coating on cutting tools”, said Olaf Dietrich, also co-founder of D-Coat.
