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Our History and Milestones

Passion for surface solutions: from our beginnings in 1946 until today

1946 - 2021: From an idea to a global technology leader.

For 75 years, Oerlikon Balzers has stood for pioneering developments and global technology leadership in thin-film coatings. We live our passion for surface solutions with a unique combination of sustainability, innovative drive, entrepreneurial spirit and tradition. This benefits our customers – and our environment – yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Explore 75 years of Oerlikon Balzers

Balzers' first PVD hard coating for tools, BALINIT® A, was officially "born" on September 1st 1978. Since then, Oerlikon Balzers has been an unprecedented success story, ranging from pioneering the world of coatings to being a market leader.

Explore 75 years of Oerlikon Balzers

Historical milestones

  1. With the support of Prince Franz Josef II and Swiss industrialist Emil Georg Bührle, Professor Max Auwärter founded Gerätebauanstalt Balzers

  2. Introduction of the BALINIT® C (WC/C) carbon coating

  3. Technological breakthrough with proprietary and patented P3e™ technology which allows deposition of hard aluminium-oxide coatings at coating temperatures clearly below 600°C

  4. Launch of BALINIT FORMERA / FORMERA PLUS – the coating solution for AHSS forming applications

  5. 75 years of Oerlikon Balzers: endless passion for sustainable surface solutions

  6. The "Smooth Revolution" celebrates its anniversary: The first BALIQ coatings were introduced 10 years ago

Timeline

Timeline filter

  1. 1940
  2. 1941
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  74. 2013 2013 2 Events
  75. 2014
  76. 2015 2015 3 Events
  77. 2016 2016 4 Events
  78. 2017 2017 10 Events
  79. 2018 2018 10 Events
  80. 2019 2019 17 Events
  81. 2020 2020 11 Events
  82. 2021 2021 10 Events
  83. 2022 2022 5 Events
  84. 2023 2023 6 Events

Oerlikon acquires Finnish surface engineering company DIARC Technology Oy

Oerlikon has acquired DIARC Technology Oy, a provider of surface engineering technologies and services in Finland. The acquisition will enhance the range of technologies provided by Oerlikon Balzers in the automotive and precision components industries and expand its portfolio of surface treatments.

Oerlikon acquires Swiss CVD equipment manufacturer Sucotec AG

Oerlikon has acquired Sucotec AG, a Swiss manufacturer specializing in CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition) equipment for the tools market. The acquisition enhances the range of products and services provided by Oerlikon Balzers, which focuses on PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) and PACVD (Plasma Assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition).

Oerlikon Balzers opens doors of largest coating centre for tools in Europe

Coating specialist Oerlikon Balzers opened its new plant in Bielefeld with a two-day event attended by guests – both customers and experts – from the areas of politics and the economy. The coating centre combines the expertise from three previous locations on a floor space of 6,000 square metres with cutting edge surface technologies for machining, forming and plastics processing. Customers from many different sectors are to benefit, from the automotive and pharmaceutical industries to tool making.

Oerlikon Balzers and Oerlikon Metco, Friction Systems, inaugurate joint production facility in Nagoya, Japan

The Oerlikon Group, a leading global technology provider of market-leading technologies and services, announced the inauguration of a new production plant in Nagoya, Japan, on June 7. The company will leverage synergies to further strengthen the excellent market position of Oerlikon Balzers and Oerlikon Metco Friction Systems in Japan’s top car manufacturing industry area.

Oerlikon Balzers opens largest production centre in Slovakia for heat treatment of automotive components

Oerlikon Balzers, a leading provider of surface solutions, has inaugurated its second production centre in Veľká Ida, Slovakia. The new plant marks another stage in Oerlikon’s growth strategy in the automotive industry, a major investment which meets the highest quality and environmental standards and offers automotive manufacturers state-of-the-art heat treatment processes. Together with the service centre opened in 2015, the Veľká Ida plant now represents Oerlikon Balzers' largest and most important site for coating and heat treating of automotive components.

Oerlikon Balzers introduces primeGear, a customised and integrated service package to realise unmatched gear cutting tool performance

primeGear is an all-round service package consisting of detailed analysis, consultation and tailored solutions for production. From treating tools and establishing optimal machining/ environmental conditions to the basic materials and designs, Oerlikon Balzers’ experts determine the crucial improvements which can be made in the production chain.

Oerlikon Balzers expands automotive surface treatment portfolio with heat treatment acquisition in Germany

Oerlikon, a leading provider of surface solutions, has signed and closed a targeted acquisition in Germany to expand its plasma nitriding service offering for customers and to strengthen its position in the automotive market. Härterei Dipl.- Ing. Peter Eicker KG (Eicker), a specialised heat treatment supplier for the automotive industry, will now operate under the Oerlikon Balzers brand.

Oerlikon Balzers inaugurates largest customer centre in India in the presence of guests of honour

On 12 October, Oerlikon Balzers India, a leading provider of surface solutions, inaugurated its largest Indian production centre in Manesar in the presence of Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein and Dr Doris Frick, the Ambassador of Liechtenstein in Switzerland. The new facility represents a further major commitment by Oerlikon Balzers to the Indian market as it continues to grow, and this significant investment in the future and in India will allow Oerlikon Balzers to serve its customers across various industries even more effectively.

Launch INNOVENTA kila at JIMTOF: The next level of flexibility, productivity and connectivity when it comes to PVD coatings!

For JIMTOF Oerlkon Balzers launch INNOVENTA kila. INNOVENTA kila has the preferred coating system size for most production requirements and perfectly masters smaller to larger quantities. The successor of the best-selling INNOVA meets all your expectations with compelling elegance. It's the perfect coating system for tools, and also R&D. Entirely compatible with the INNOVENTA family.

Oerlikon Balzers receives Qualified Supplier status for BALINIT C coatings on copper alloys

Oerlikon deepens partnership with Airbus: Oerlikon Balzers receives Qualified Supplier status for BALINIT C coatings on copper alloys.

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Contact

Oerlikon Balzers Coating UK Limited; Bradbourne Drive, Tilbrook, MK7 8AT Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

© Copyright 2024 OC Oerlikon Management AG

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