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  • Offer Profile
  • Oerlikon Balzers is one of the world’s leading suppliers of surface technologies that significantly improve the performance and durability of precision components as well as tools for the metal and plastics processing industries.
Product Portfolio
  • Coating Machines and Equipment

  • Take full control of the coating process. With equipment or complete turnkey coating production lines from Oerlikon Balzers, you choose seamlessly integrable all-in-one solutions that deliver top coating quality right from the start.

    The very same coating equipment is used on a daily basis in more than 100 Oerlikon Balzers coating centres worldwide. You therefore benefit from field-tested hardware and many years of day-to-day production experience.

    From planning, through installation and applications-specific training to your own production, you profit from the decades of experience of the market leader.
      • INNOVENTA mega

      • INNOVENTA mega is simply the answer for enormous quantities of substrates. The machine opens up new dimensions when it comes to high volumes or bulky forming tools, combining top Oerlikon Balzers coating quality and lowest running costs. INNOVENTA mega stands for utmost flexibility in mass production. INNOVENTA mega – and capacity shortages of cutting-edge technologies are history.

        • Large and fast PVD coating system, not compromising in flexibility
        • Ideal for large quantities of cutting tools or huge and heavy forming tools
        • Up to 4 batches per day
        • Up to 6500 lbs (3000 kg) loading capacity
        • Evaporation of up to 4 target materials per batch
        • Available for nitride based coatings
        • Small footprint, all components installed on a single frame
      • INNOVA

      • INNOVA is the preferred coating system size for most production requirements and perfectly masters smaller to larger quantities. INNOVA has an impressive history of units sold and is synonymous with performance, reliability, and versatility. But most of all, it infuses the spirit of innovation into production technology. INNOVA meets all your expectations with compelling elegance.

        • The all-rounder in PVD coating applications
        • Synonymous with flexibility & productivity
        • Perfectly sized for most production requirements
        • Up to 5 batches per day
        • Evaporation of up to 3 target materials per batch
        • Available for nitride and oxide based coatings
      • INGENIA

      • INGENIA is the ideal PVD coating system for frequently processed small quantities of tools per batch. With its short turnaround times it is perfect for running up to 8 batches per day, which assures great flexibility in terms of processes, coatings and products being run during a day. When used in combination with larger machines, this highly productive system helps smoothen production flows and is always ready to bridge capacity shortages. INGENIA is the right choice for all the requirements it takes to optimise your services.

        • Fastest and most flexible arc coating system
        • Ideal as dedicated production system for specialised coatings or launch of new products
        • Up to 8 batches daily
        • Evaporation of up to 2 target materials per batch
        • Available for nitride and oxide based coatings
        • Highest coating homogeneity
        • Small footprint, all components installed on a single frame
      • RS 90

      • Specially designed for large-volume coating – the RS 90 coating system permits economical, automatic coating with high quality standards as required for instance by the automotive industry.

        Features of the new equipment include large coating volumes, short cycle times and minimal consumption of coating material. Cost of ownership and per-part costs are markedly reduced as a result.

        • High quality & productivity
        • Automated and integrated
        • User-friendly concept
        • Simple maintenance
        • Reliable customer support
      • METAPLAS.DOMINO

      • The modular METAPLAS.DOMINO platform allows individual surface solutions to be developed for both current and future trends. Being able to precisely select those modules required for your specific needs is the key success factor of this technology.

        Core modules offered by Oerlikon Balzers are APA Arc, Sputtering, DLC, Combi and the latest HIPIMS/HIPAC technique (high ionization plasma assisted coating). The modular concept allows new technologies to be added at a later date.

        • 4 system sizes: MINI, S, L, XL
        • Diverse module combinations
        • Later upgrades possible
        • Individually tailored coatings
        • Hybrid technology for the newest coating trends
      • INUBIA B6 & B12

      • INUBIA B6 and B12 provide smooth and glossy coatings with high durability and high adhesion on a variety of conductive and non-conductive base materials. Substrates retain the smoothness and gloss of the original surface.

        These PVD coating machines are planar magnetron sputtering machines that run both, reactive and non-reactive gas processes. This makes them ideal for high-end surface treatment operations that wish to combine decorativeness, durability, operational efficiency and reproducibility – and all of this with a high level of flexibility in terms of base materials and geometries. Various decorative and functional thin film coatings can be deposited by intelligently combining different metal plasma sources and process gases.

        The coating process is fully automated. Short process time is a key feature of the INUBIA B6 and B12 machines. Operational efficiency is also supported by simple maintenance routines, the triple door recipient and optional auxiliary carousel handling hardware.

        • Smooth and glossy surfaces
        • Large variety of colours
        • High adhesion and duability
        • Reproducibility through automated precise control
        • User friendly operation and high efficiency
      • INUBIA I (ePD)

      • INUBIA I (Integrated) – the fully integrated and automated solution for high-volume plastic metallisation.

        INUBIA I 6 and I12 are fully automated and user friendly systems that provide ePD™ based coatings. The integrated system, completely developed by Oerlikon Balzers, enables high-volume mass production in accordance with automotive specifications.

        ePD™ is the short form for “embedded PVD for Design parts” and represents an environment-friendly and future-oriented coating procedure. Whenever high-end metallic surfaces on plastic parts are required, ePD™ is the sustainable alternative to today’s conventional production technologies. No environmentally harmful chrome derivatives are used in the process.
    • Job coating services

    • Oerlikon Balzers covers all aspects of coating using heat treatment and thin film solutions. We are proud to provide both standardized and individually tailored solutions, jointly developed with our customers, for the world of tomorrow.
        • Coating services

        • Every year, more than 200 million parts - tools for metal and plastics processing and precision components - are coated, and plastic parts metallized with chrome effects. Oerlikon Balzers is the only contract coating services provider with a dense coating centre network located throughout all of the major industrial regions of Europe, the Americas, and Asia. This guarantees efficient procedures, short delivery times and local customer advice and support.

          Oerlikon Balzers offers more than just coating.

          Oerlikon Balzers stands for the development, and further development of pioneering new coating solutions, - tailored to current market needs and individual customer requirements. All coatings are thoroughly tested in our in-house machining laboratory, where individual test series can also be carried out. The advantages of using Oerlikon Balzers' services are clear:
          • immediate availability of coated products with guaranteed quality
          • no investment required in buildings, production facilities or working materials
          • no expenditure required for know-how acquisition, staff training or practical experience
          • immediate benefit from innovations, whenever they are introduced

          No matter which industry you are active in, or which application brings you to us, Oerlikon Balzers' products can add outstanding value to your tools, precision components or plastic parts.
            • COATING SERVICES: HOLISTICALLY INNOVATIVE

            • We ensure worldwide consistent high quality. All Balzers coating centres throughout the world are certified according to industry-standard ISO and QS standards and all of our centres use comprehensively documented technical standards and undergo internal audits to ensure compliance with these standards.
            • PICK-UP SERVICE: FAST AND RELIABLE

            • Our pick-up service collects the parts to be coated and then returns them, finished to you. What's more, if you need them in a hurry we, of course, offer an express service.
            • HANDLING AND CLEANING: EFFICIENT AND CLEAN

            • We ensure efficient logistics by transport and individual product-specific mounting systems. Our multi-step ultrasonic cleaning line enables PVD-compatible surface preparation
            • PRE-/POST-TREATMENT: ADEQUATE AND VALUE ADDING

            • If additional pre-treatment is required, Oerlikon Balzers employs the appropriate technologies in each case (for example degassing in a vacuum oven to eliminate material residues in narrow bore holes, microblasting to remove porous surface layers).

              Numerous methods are applied to give tools the finishing touches. Over the years, Oerlikon Balzers has gained the extensive experience needed to suggest the best possible solution and equipment to meet your needs.
            • QUALITY ANALYSIS: TOUGH BUT SUCCESSFUL

            • State-of-the-art procedures such as metallography, layer analysis, and surface and cutting edge measurement are used. High quality standards for coating surface, substrate and cutting edge are thereby maintained.
          • Reconditioning of high-performance round tools

          • High quality and cost-effectiveness: reconditioning by Oerlikon Balzers.

            In the past, tools were passed from one provider to the next during reconditioning. Oerlikon Balzers now offers a "one-stop-shop" service for round tools: an integrated service concept for your high-performance round tools with all reconditioning steps under one roof. Pickup and receipt of your tools, regrinding and recoating, packaging and delivery - we handle everything with single-source convenience, tailored to your needs.

            The result: round tools that are not just reconditioned and returned to you quickly, but also cost-effectively and with superior quality – with the coating portfolio of the world‘s leading provider of job coating services and with as-new performance. This is why Oerlikon Balzers is your optimal partner for round tool reconditioning.
            50% cost savings. 100% performance

            Reconditioning significantly reduces your overall costs compared to the repeated use of new tools. Our short turnaround times moreover enable you to minimise your tool inventory and thereby to save even more.
              • Production process

              • The Oerlikon Balzers production process guarantees you uniformly high and reproducible quality, worldwide.

                All of our centres use the same equipment and procedures for tool and component coating.
                From initial inspection to return shipment, our production process is designed for your components or tools and adapted, in each case, to the particular characteristics of the required coating.
                These automated and standardized production processes guarantee uniformly high quality and reproducibility, worldwide.
                  • In-coming inspection

                  • The parts to be coated are checked for quantity, material and surface condition. The production sequence is determined on the basis of customer specifications.
                  • Cleaning

                  • Clean surfaces are essential for coating adhesion. For this reason, Oerlikon Balzers invests a great deal of effort in surface preparation for PVD and offers multi-stage ultrasonic cleaning lines using aqueous alkaline baths without environmentally damaging additives.
                  • Decoating

                  • In case of re-coating the removal of old coating layers can be required. Oerlikon Balzers has developed specific procedures to remove different PVD coatings without negative influence on the substrate.
                  • Pre-Treatment

                  • If additional pre-treatment is required, Oerlikon Balzers employs the appropriate technologies in each case (for example degassing in a vacuum oven to eliminate material residues in narrow bore holes, microblasting to remove porous surface layers, edge preparation for cutting tools).
                  • Loading

                  • Before coating, the parts are loaded into interchangeable substrate holders and then inserted into the coating system. For large production runs, the substrate holders are loaded automatically. A defined arrangement of the parts ensures reproducible precision.
                  • Coating

                  • Coatings of Oerlikon Balzers provide you with high-performance tools and components that are always ready to meet the increasing demands of modern manufacturing. A broad range of coating technologies is available for almost unlimited applications. Working in close collaboration with our customers throughout the world, our specialists are continuously opening up new applications. Customised coatings are available on request.
                  • Post-Treatment

                  • Numerous methods (e.g. polishing, microblasting, brushing, drag finishing) are applied to give tools the finishing touches. Over the years, Oerlikon Balzers has gained the extensive experience needed to suggest the best possible solution and equipment to meet your needs.
                  • Quality inspection

                  • The success of a coating also hinges directly on the condition and quality of the tool. Visual and mechanical methods are employed to assess the coating compatibility of incoming items and to determine coating quality. The deployment of our technologies in a wide range of industries allows us to optimally consult regarding the appropriate quality inspection method.
                  • Packaging / shipping

                  • Coated parts are usually returned in the packaging in which they were delivered. Considerable savings are possible if the parts are delivered in suitable cleaning baskets.
                • In-house coating centres

                • For the coating of large part volumes, Oerlikon Balzers will, upon request, move to your site. We take over and manage the coating operations, but on your premises and integrated into your production system.
                  Markets increasingly require faster responses and reduced delivery times are of growing importance for tool and component manufacturers.

                  Your processing volumes justify the setting up your own coating facilities, but this requires major investments in coating equipment, cleaning, pre and post-treatment and quality control.
                  • An in-house coating centre, operated and managed by Oerlikon Balzers: a solution further enhancing your level of service.
                  • YOUR ADVANTAGES:
                  • Within your production facilities or door-to-door
                  • Limited financial exposure
                  • Staff recruitment and training by Oerlikon Balzers, in line with our standards
                  • Optimal work-flow, shortest and flexible delivery times
                  • Development and production of your own coatings
                  • Access to the latest coating technology developments
                  • Production peaks handled by the nearest Oerlikon Balzers centre
                    • Balzers surface solutions

                    • Surface treatment of tools and components decisively enhances their behaviour, performance and optics.
                      Productivity, efficiency or the famous first glance - in day-to-day business, these are decided by just a few thousandths of a millimetre. The full strength of Oerlikon Balzers' high-end surface treatments is especially apparent when process-acceleration is required, difficult materials must be cut, or when high-grade optics are important.

                      We use different methods to improve tool and component performance or optics:
                      • PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition)
                      • PACVD (Plasma-Assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition)
                      • Heat treatment & Nitriding

                      Each method is carried out under vacuum conditions, which enables reproducible deposition of thin films with defined compositions and specific characteristics.
                        • PVD and PACVD-based coating - BALINIT

                        • Markedly improved tool and component performance with Balzers' thin-film coatings. BALINIT coatings are just a few thousandths of a millimetre thick, but harder than steel. These low-friction, thin-film coatings are extremely wear-resistant as well as chemically inert. The optimum coating is determined both by the intended usage conditions and economic considerations. The composition and properties of BALINIT coatings can also be tailored specifically to the customer’s needs.
                            • BALINIT ALCRONA PRO

                            • Your tools are heavily stressed in production, with high mechanical and thermal strains. Nonetheless, productivity has to be increased. For these demands we created BALINIT® ALCRONA PRO, the top level all-rounder for cutting, punching and die casting. With this coating we were able to significantly excel the performance curve of the already proven BALINIT® ALCRONA. This results in an extremely wear resistant coating with excellent hot hardness and thermal shock stability. In short: The universal coating for superb results in dry and wet machining at high cutting speeds.

                              • Broad application range
                              • Excellent wear resistance
                              • Exceptional thermal shock stability and hot hardness
                              • Significantly increased cutting speed possible
                              • Increase utilization and productivity
                            • BALINIT ALDURA

                            • The machining of hardened steels of up to 65 HRC is a really tough challenge for tool and die manufacturers. The cutting edges of solid carbide end mills in particular are subjected to enormous stress during chip breakage and compression.

                              Our high-performance BALINIT® ALDURA coating was developed specifically for these conditions. The dual coating provides for smooth heat dissipation during roughing and finishing with solid carbide tools, and facilitates fast hot chip removal.

                              With its very high cutting edge stability, excellent oxidation resistance and hot hardness, ALDURA has all of the qualities required for efficient hard machining, which in turn makes your work much more productive.

                              • Maximum performance in hard machining
                              • First class coating adhesion thanks to base coating
                              • Enhanced chip transportation
                            • BALINIT ALNOVA

                            • Machining operations in the energy production market are becoming more challenging all the time. For example, materials must withstand increasingly higher temperatures. Consequently, the machining tools for these tasks need to be equipped with a wear-protection coating that is able to meet these high demands. BALINIT® ALNOVA is the ideal solution due to its improved hot hardness, high oxidation resistance and very smooth surface.

                              • Optimum coating adhesion
                              • High thermal shock stability
                              • Optimal for highly stressed cutting edges
                            • BALINIT ALTENSA

                            • Gear cutting applications, such as hobbing, gear shaping and bevel gear cutting, must meet continually rising requirements:

                              Shorter and shorter machining times are required in order for productivity to be increased while reducing costs at the same time.

                              You can attain this goal by using the innovative high-speed coating solution BALINIT® ALTENSA. With it, you will benefit from extremely fast cutting speeds at high temperatures, leading to huge productivity gains and efficiency.
                            • BALINIT FUTURA NANO

                            • The high hardness and tenacity of BALINIT® FUTURA NANO gives outstanding protection against abrasive wear and erosion, making it ideal for highly stressed precision components even under high thermal conditions. This is also the major benefit for plastic injection moulding and HSS and carbide tools.

                              The titanium aluminium nitride (TiAlN) structure results in an optimal relation of high hardness to residual compressive stress. This gives great performance especially for highly stressed components and metal forming tools.

                              For temperature-sensitive components BALINIT® FUTURA NANO ARCTIC is available with a coating temperature of only 200 °C.
                            • BALINIT LATUMA

                            • Tool manufacturers, mechanical engineering, the aircraft industry and reconditioners can look forward to even more versatility and performance. With BALINIT® LATUMA, developed on the basis of the BALINIT® coatings FUTURA NANO and X.CEED, it offers you decisive advantages. Not only is the machining and use of a wide variety of challenging materials even more productive now, the process reliability under difficult working conditions is also increased at the same time. Employ this coating solution for indexable inserts and shank-type tools – take your metal processing business to new levels of success with BALINIT® LATUMA.

                              • For challenging conditions
                              • Highly resistant to crater wear and oxidation
                              • Ideal for wet and dry machining
                            • BALINIT LUMENA

                            • The gloss level of textured injection mould surfaces must remain unchanged throughout their service life. The extremely high hardness of BALINIT® LUMENA fulfils these demands and is ideal for injection moulds for GF and CFK reinforced plastics, moulds made of steel with low hardness (< HRC 40), and for forming of high strength metal sheets.

                              The good insulating effect of the coating additionally improves melt flow and mould filling, further enhancing your productivity. For forming of high strength metal sheets and die casting applications BALINIT® LUMENA ADVANCED is available.

                              • Extreme high hardness
                              • Excellent wear protection
                              • Improved plastic flow ability
                              • Increases part quality
                            • BALINIT PERTURA

                            • Whether stainless steel or cast iron, whether first use or recoated: with its unique nanostructure, BALINIT® PERTURA boosts productivity when cutting a variety of challenging materials and increases process reliability under difficult application conditions.

                              Profit from PERTURA, the successor to the BALINIT® FUTURA and HELICA coatings. Its nano-layer structure assures optimal balancing of residual stress, hardness and fracture toughness and thus consistently prevents crack propagation. This enables higher cutting speeds than with other coatings as well as extended tool lifetime, even when deep-hole drilling or using minimum quantity lubrication.

                              • Very high abrasion resistance
                              • Very high tool stability
                              • Extra smooth surface
                              • Perfect for minimum quantity lubrication
                              • Excellent oxidation resistance
                            • BALINIT C

                            • Tribological coatings are mainly used to reduce adhesive wear, associated, for instance, with seizing or cold-welding. A low friction coefficient and good sliding properties make them ideal for low lubrication and even dry running applications.

                              BALINIT© C is a WC/C-based coating, and thus a mixture of metal and diamond-like carbon. The result is the ideal way to reduce surface fatigue and tribo-oxidation.

                              • Reduces adhesive wear
                              • Low friction coefficient
                              • Good sliding properties
                            • BALINIT C STAR

                            • BALINIT® C STAR is ideal for soft base materials. Its hard, tough chromium nitride-based metal layer guarantees optimal surface hardness and support (load-bearing capacity) for the superposed carbon coating (WC/C).

                              The WC/C coating offers outstanding adhesive wear protection, while its low coefficient of friction reduces the risk of surface fatigue and tribo-oxidation. The compact chromium nitride layer simultaneously enhances component corrosion resistance.

                              The result is a flawless, homogeneous coating of unique quality and adhesion.

                              These properties make it the ideal coating for components made of soft base materials, such as titanium, non-ferrous metals or stainless steel, high surface pressures, plain bearings and gearings. At the same time, BALINIT® C STAR is ideally suited for non-lubricated systems in clean rooms and, thanks to FDA approval, for food production applications.

                              • Excellent protection against adhesive wear (scuffing)
                              • Reduces surface fatigue
                              • Reduces tribo-oxidation (fretting corrosion)
                              • Increases load-caring capability
                            • BALINIT CAVIDUR

                            • Components with diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings have become well established in racing series such as NASCAR, Formula 1, WRC and DTM through reduced friction, increased wear resistance and extended lifetimes. BALINIT® CAVIDUR is the ideal DLC coating for valve train components. Motorbike and motocross components have moreover been optimized by this coating for more than 20 years. DLC coatings, such as BALINIT® CAVIDUR, are just one step in the development of high performance engines. Without them though, today´s high loads and performances wouldn´t be conceivable.

                              • Increased performance and reliability
                              • Significantly reduced friction and wear
                              • Extended component lifetimes
                            • BALINIT DLC

                            • Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings are perfectly-suited to the most extreme wear conditions and high sliding speeds, even without lubrication. They moreover minimize frictional losses, making them ideal for engine components such as fuel injection systems, valve trains and pistons. Many other applications, ranging from pumps and compressors to bearing shells and rollers, and from textile machines to medical technology, also exploit the outstanding gliding properties of DLC coatings.

                              BALINIT® DLC provides excellent protection against abrasion, tribo-oxidation and adhesive wear, whilst permitting high surface pressures that would otherwise quickly cause scuffing and cold welding.

                              • Low friction losses
                              • Ideal for high speeds
                              • Excellent abrasion protection
                              • Higher sliding velocity than with BALINIT C possible
                            • BALINIT DLC STAR

                            • BALINIT® DLC STAR is a modified diamond-like carbon coating with enhanced load bearing capacity. A hard, durable metal-based layer (chromium nitride) provides the required surface hardness and increases the resilience of the superposed, tribologically effective carbon coating. BALINIT DLC STAR has even higher tribological performance (pressure, times, velocity-value) than BALINIT C, BALINIT C STAR and BALINIT DLC. It is therefore used for the highest loaded components in diesel injection systems and engine components.
                            • BALINIT DIAMOND

                            • With its perfect abrasive wear protection BALINIT® DIAMOND extends tool service life, allowing even complex work pieces to be produced in a single session with just one cutter.

                              BALINIT® DIAMOND is thus the recommended coating for graphite cutting, and for the cutting of composite materials, such as glass-fibre and carbon-fibre reinforced plastics (GRP, CRP), ceramic matrix composites (CMC), and metal matrix composites (MMC) – materials used for weight reduction in aircraft and automotive engineering by having a maximum of stability.

                              Cutting edge sharpness is fully preserved thanks to enormous hardness and outstanding tribological properties, which increase service life, surface quality and productivity. Thanks to stringent tolerance limits it is also possible to coat micro tools less than 1 mm in diameter.

                              • Outstanding abrasive wear protection
                              • Unsurpassed in graphite cutting
                              • Enormous hardness for composites
                              • Stringent tolerances for micro tools less than 1 mm in diameter
                            • BALINIT DYLYN

                            • Outstanding corrosion protection and anti-adhesion properties, have made BALINIT® DYLYN a well-established coating. Its wear protection and friction properties are especially important for mechanical engineering, plastics processing and the semiconductor industry.

                              During the process of Plasma Assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition (PACVD), chemical reaction is caused by plasma excitation and ionization. Optimum quality and performance is ensured by coating in a clean environment under vacuum conditions, and by correct handling of parts and components, a critical task, in which we are highly experienced.

                              BALINIT® DYLYN is also used for cavities and moulding applications in the medical industry and packaging industries (especially for screw cap and PET bottle manufacturing), as well as for all of the moving and sliding parts of injection moulding tools.
                            • BALINIT HARD CARBON

                            • BALINIT® HARD CARBON is used for the machining of non-ferrous metals. The coating is thin, smooth, and with a high hardness, making it ideal for the machining of aluminium alloys as well as other non-ferrous metals such as copper, silver or gold, GRP, CFK, and organic materials.

                              Tool manufacturers as well as end users in the automobile and aerospace industries, injection moulders and mould-makers, benefit from a number of advantageous properties:

                              • High thermal stability
                              • Sharper cutting edges than with diamond coatings
                              • Outstanding wear protection
                              • Excellent tribological properties
                              • Biocompatible
                            • BALINIT TRITON

                            • BALINIT® TRITON combines a high degree of hardness with an extremely low friction coefficient. A carbon coating (DLC), it thereby provides particularly good protection against abrasive and adhesive wear, even under minimal quantity lubrication or dry working conditions. Its unusually dense structure moreover improves corrosion resistance.

                              Foodstuff-neutral BALINIT® TRITON is ideal for applications such as plastics injection moulds and non-lubricated systems.
                            • BALINIT CNI

                            • BALINIT CNI is a very smooth sputtered Chromium Nitride (CrN) coating. It is very ductile and has a high oxidation resistance. It is the coating which can be produced in highest thicknesses (up to 50 um). Mainly used for high temperature sliding applications like engine exhaust valves and piston rings. Smoothness, ductility and wear resistance makes BALINIT CNI also a powerful alternative to hard chrome plating for textile fibre guiding elements.

                              • High oxidation resistance for high temperature applications
                              • High ductility, high thicknesses possible
                              • High textile fibre wear resistance
                              • Alternative to hard chromium plating
                            • BALINIT D

                            • BALINIT® D has similar corrosion resistance to hard chromium plating, but is significantly harder, has better coating adhesion, and is also foodstuff-neutral.

                              This chromium nitride coating is ideal for mirror polished moulds, photo-etched moulds or electrical discharge machined moulds. It is also used for plastics injection moulds in applications with aggressive substances such as volatile fluorine or chlorine, the forming of low-strength metal sheets, and other motor sports or aviation industry applications.

                              A low temperature ARCTIC version.of BALINIT® D is also available for sensitive materials.

                              • Resistant to fluorine, chlorine and other aggressive substances
                              • High coating adhesion and hardness
                              • Very high corrosion resistance
                              • Excellent de-moulding properties
                            • BALINIT CROMA / CROMA PLUS

                            • Whether injection moulding, extrusion or blow moulding - only top quality surfaces ensure optimal manufacturing productivity and efficiency. BALINIT® CROMA and BALINIT® CROMA PLUS are thus the best choices for successful plastics processing, even for large components.

                              CROMA and CROMA PLUS reduce tool, production and maintenance costs, making them the ideal coatings for PVC window frame and plastic extrusion, and for rubber processing.

                              • Extreme coating hardness
                              • Low coefficient of friction
                              • Excellent adhesion
                              • Increased productivity, economic efficiency and reliability
                              • Coating of large components
                            • BALINIT CROVEGA

                            • High wear protection combined with good corrosion resistance makes BALINIT® CROVEGA a much sought-after solution for smooth surfaces. Coating adhesion and hardness are higher than with hard chromium plating, while oxidation resistance is unchanged.

                              Foodstuff-neutral CROVEGA is extra dense and smooth, and therefore ideal for plastics injection moulds and other highly polished moulds.

                              • Extra dense and smooth
                              • Very high corrosion resistance
                              • Foodstuff-neutral
                            • BALINIT A

                            • It all began with titanium nitride. BALINIT® A moreover continues to be a versatile wear protection coating that provides effective reduction of abrasive and adhesive wear in many varied applications.

                              It is also applied decoratively or as a wear indicator, or used for special applications as low-temperature coating BALINIT® A ARCTIC at temperatures up to 200 °C.

                              Initial trials of TiN-coated forming tools in 1977 were very successful: service life was increased by a factor of 4. Development and marketing of PVD hard coatings for tools was given the official go-ahead one year later on 1 September 1978.

                              • Balzers’s first wear protective PVD coating
                              • Available as a low-temperature coating
                              • Versatility since 1978
                              • Food-safe
                              • Decorative gold-yellow color
                            • BALINIT B

                            • BALINIT® B coated tools are characterized by very high hardness and good toughness. This coating is especially wear resistant and its low coefficient of friction provides tools with effective protection against cold-welding. BALINIT® B is moreover food-safe.

                              The proven TiCN-coating displays its special strengths in tapping and thread forming, high load punching and metal forming applications.

                              • Very high hardness
                              • Good toughness
                            • BALINIT ARCTIC Series

                            • PVD-nitride coatings are mostly applied by arc evaporation at temperatures between 400°C and 450°C. PVD-nitride-coated tools have a longer service life, simplify and stabilize production, and so lay the foundation for significant productivity gains in metal and plastics processing.

                              BALINIT® ARCTIC Series coatings, in contrast, can be applied at a temperature of only 200 °C for certain materials and applications. Coating of cold-working steels and copper alloys is thereby possible.

                              The BALINIT® coatings A (TiN), D (CrN) and FUTURA NANO (TiAlN) are available as such low-temperature coatings. These are ideal for injection moulding and plastics extrusion dies, punches and dies for piercing, blanking and forming, and various components for the automotive industry.

                              • no loss of hardness
                              • no distortion
                              • improved wear protection
                              • improved mould filling, easier cleaning
                            • BALINIT ADVANCED Series

                            • Punching and forming tools and pressure die-casting moulds are subjected to heavy loads, especially at the edges. ADVANCED Series coatings provide significantly higher performance than the corresponding basic coatings. Their improved support effect, especially in edge zones, can prolong tool life by as much as 100%.

                              These coatings thus provide an alternative to CVD or TD (Toyoda Diffusion) treatment when extended tool service is required.

                              Oerlikon Balzers PVD ADVANCED technology prevents geometric and dimensional changes, and maintains, or even improves overall performance. ADVANCED versions of the BALINIT® coatings FUTURA NANO, LUMENA, and ALCRONA PRO are currently available.

                              The improved support effect of ADVANCED coatings, in particular in edge zones, makes them ideal for punching, sheet metal and bulk forming, and for aluminium die-casting.

                              • Higher surface hardness
                              • More uniform coating, especially of edges
                              • Improved protection against crack initiation and propagation
                              • Improved adhesion
                            • BALINIT DUPLEX Series

                            • Heavy duty forming tools must be able to withstand extreme loads, whilst, at the same time, being productive, efficient and reliable for manufacturing. The BALINIT® DUPLEX Series meets these demands by combining two well-proven wear protection solutions: nitriding and hard coatings.

                              Nitriding increases surface hardness, compressive strength and hot hardness, and creates a homogeneous hardness profile. BALINIT® coatings are characterized by extreme hardness, high thermal stability and excellent protection against abrasive wear.

                              Together, they decisively improve your forming tools, and, thereby, the results of demanding manufacturing processes, such as mass forming, hot forming or sheet metal forming with tensile strength > 500 N/mm2.

                              DUPLEX versions of the BALINIT coatings ALCRONA PRO and LUMENA are available
                          • PVD and PACVD-based coating - BALIQ

                          • Wear-protection with revolutionary characteristics, that pushes HiPIMS to the next level. A technological milestone has been reached: BALIQ™ - the next-generation coating family from Oerlikon Balzers. Based on S3p technology (Scalable Pulsed Power Plasma), it pushes HiPIMS to the next level, by combining the advantages of arc and sputtering technologies: high ionisation and virtually droplet-free coatings. The result is BALIQ™, a new family of wear-resistant, extremely smooth and dense coatings, for a unique spectrum of applications. You benefit from new possibilities transcending anything seen before – with coatings tailored precisely to your needs.
                              • BALIQ INSERT ALTINOS

                              • AlTiN-based BALIQ ALTINOS for finishing applications and indexable inserts has a low propensity to stick and is very wear-resistant, even at high operating temperatures. The result: Very high tool thermal stability combined with long service lifetime and thus fewer tool changes. Outstanding surface and cutting edge quality bring significant performance advantages, especially with the very thinnest chips.

                                The high thermal stability and wear-resistance of the top-tier AlTiN coating are especially beneficial when machining demanding materials. The associated performance gains moreover produce noticeable cost and time savings.

                                Reliable machining of critical and expensive workpieces
                                Superior performance even for difficult-to-machine materials
                                New manufacturing options
                              • BALIQ MICRO ALCRONOS

                              • Micro tools must have perfectly smooth surfaces for trouble-free chip removal and to reduce formation of built-up edges.

                                BALIQ MICRO ALCRONOS, which was specially developed to meet the requirements of micro drills and milling cutters, ensures the highest possible smoothness and flawlessness, whilst, at the same time, providing outstanding adhesion. As an AlCrN-based coating, BALIQ MICRO ALCRONOS is also highly wear-resistant when subjected to high temperatures and exhibits almost no tendency to stick, even with stainless steels and other difficult-to-machine materials. The special properties of the BALIQ coating eliminate the need for mechanical post-treatment.

                                • High micro-machining process reliability and efficiency
                                • No post-treatment required
                                • Precise, high performance coating
                                • Reliable production of critical and expensive components
                              • BALIQ MICRO TISINOS

                              • TiSiN-based BALIQ MICRO TISINOS complements the AlCrN-based product, BALIQ MICRO ALCRONOS, and enables micro-machining of hardened steels in the hardness range of HRC 50 to 70. Exceptionally wear-resistant, also at extreme application temperatures, it allows reliable manufacturing of even the most delicate surface structures. Outstanding surface quality and trouble-free chip removal ensure high component quality, and eliminate the need for mechanical post-machining treatments, such as grinding or expensive polishing.

                                Your benefits: long tool lifetimes, even under the harshest conditions as well as high process reliability and noticeable cost and time savings.

                                • High process reliability
                                • Suitable for very fine surface structures
                                • Post-machining treatments not required
                                • Long tool lifetimes
                              • BALIQ REAM ALCRONOS

                              • Reamers are required to produce high quality products and high quality surfaces. Their precision, however, usually declines with use. With micron-precise BALIQ® REAM ALCRONOS, these tools stay as accurate as new, and process reliability gets a marked boost.

                                Tool change frequency is perceptibly reduced, even with hard-to-machine materials such as titanium and stainless steel. The AlCrN coating moreover creates a very smooth surface, which in turn, has a very positive impact on borehole finishing

                                • Superior manufacturing quality
                                • Reliable mechanical finishing
                                • High surface quality
                              • BALIQ TAP ALCRONOS

                              • Precise tools are required when tapping or thread forming high-quality products. The accuracy provided by new tools however declines with use. With BALIQ® TAP ALCRONOS, thread formers and taps retain as-new precision, and process reliability is boosted.

                                Tool change frequency is noticeably reduced, even with hard-to-machine materials such as titanium and stainless steel. The revolutionary smooth coating ensures superb thread surfaces and, thus, top production quality. The AlCrN-based coating is, moreover, markedly less prone to built-up edge formation.

                                BALIQ® TAP ALCRONOS provides much higher tool lifetimes than conventional TiN or TiCN coatings, and thereby clearly increases efficiency.

                                • Reliable machining
                                • Reduced tool costs
                                • Precision, high-performance coating
                                • New manufacturing options
                            • PVD and PACVD-based coating - BALTONE

                            • Engaging design and wear resistant at the same time: products treated with BALTONE™ get an elegant design with multiple possible colours, combined with the benefits of a hard, scratch resistant coating.

                              BALTONE™ can be applied to metallized plastics such as ABS, PC, PC/ABS and PC/PBT, and to metals including stainless steel, aluminium, titanium alloys and aluminium alloys.

                              Exclusive colour options ensure that the required function can be combined with the desired colour. Tell us what you need, and we will find the ideal solution.

                              Our BALTONE™ coatings are applied using environmentally-friendly Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD).

                              The result? Long-lasting, decorative colour coatings.
                                • PVD and PACVD-based coating - ePD

                                • Under the technology brand ePD™, Oerlikon Balzers develops integrated services, equipment and solutions for the metallisation of plastic parts.

                                  ePD™ is the short form for embedded PVD and signifies an environment-friendly and future-oriented coating procedure. Whenever high-end metallic surfaces on plastic parts are requested - ePD™ is the more environmentally friendly alternative compared to out of date metallization techniques. No harmful agents such as chromium III and chromium VI or other heavy metals are used in the process. As such the technology is especially renowned for its environmental neutrality and its extended functionalities in a variety of industries among them the automotive industry, the furniture industry and even the sanitary industry.
                                    • Heat treatment solutions - BALITHERM

                                    • Optimal wear and corrosion protection, as well as top surface quality for a multitude of applications
                                      Many applications subject especially the peripheral areas of components and tools to high levels of stress. These areas can be strengthened by appropriate thermochemical methods, which enable the creation of high-performance materials from low-alloy steels.

                                      Through such surface modifications, thermochemical methods offer cost-effective ways to markedly improve base material attributes such as wear resistance, friction behaviour and resistance to corrosion. In contrast to coating, the surface is not covered, and thus retains its original geometry following treatment.
                                        • BALITHERM PPD

                                        • Hard chrome-plating was the automotive industry's method of choice for wear protection treatment of large moulds. Oerlikon Balzers’ BALITHERM® PPD (Pulsed-Plasma Diffusion) sets a new industry standard for efficient and environmentally-friendly wear protection. PPD® technology uses no hazardous gases or chemicals - just hydrogen, nitrogen and electricity.

                                          Whereas up to ten cycles of hard chrome plating are required, for example, during the lifetime of car body parts tools (each time using harmful chemicals), with BALITHERM® PPD they need only be treated once!

                                          The industry’s largest tools can be accommodated by the INAURA system with its 33 x 10 feet (10 x 3 meter) chamber and 40 metric ton load capacity. A fully automated process ensures consistent and controlled wear protection treatment.

                                          • Increased productivity and production reliability
                                          • Resource-saving
                                          • Includes cleaning of component surface
                                          • Combination of hydrogen, nitrogen and electric power
                                          • No toxic gases or chemicals used
                                        • BALITHERM PRIMEFORM

                                        • The mirror-polished surfaces of plastics injection moulds are very sensitive. BALITHERM® PRIMEFORM treatment is the ideal way to improve de-moulding, optimise process reliability and enhance component quality. Heavily stressed areas are rendered wear resistant and are protected against scratching, environmental factors and improper handling.

                                          PRIMEFORM diffusion treatment increases injection mould surface hardness up to 1400 HV. This makes the moulds significantly more robust, and reduces build-up, spalling and edge embrittlement.

                                          This treatment of injection moulds can increase productivity by up to 60%. Repairs and re-polishing are, moreover, possible without stripping and re-coating, significantly reducing maintenance and down times.

                                          PRIMEFORM is thus the ideal treatment for plastics injection moulds for the automotive, furniture, packaging and medical technologies industries.
                                        • BALITHERM IONIT

                                        • BALITHERM® IONIT is the nitriding and nitrocarburizing process for all sintered materials, all types of steel (also high-alloyed steels) and non-ferrous metals.

                                          Plasma nitriding is an industrial surface hardening process in which molecular nitrogen and hydrogen are ionized under vacuum and react with an iron substrate at temperatures between 350°C and 600°C.

                                          The addition of carbon to the nitriding process leads to plasma nitrocarburizing, which creates an especially hard, wear resistant compound layer. Nitrocarburizing moreover significantly reduces the tendency of iron to react with other materials in the environment, for example lubricants (significantly reduced tribo-oxidation).

                                          • Very good wear resistance
                                          • Extended service life
                                          • Improved corrosion resistance
                                          • Increased surface hardness
                                          • Environmentally friendly technology
                                        • BALITHERM IONIT OX

                                        • The BALITHERM IONIT OX process renders components highly wear and corrosion resistant by augmenting conventional gas nitriding with plasma activation and controlled oxidation. During gas nitrocarburizing, chemical reactions and diffusion processes that lead to surface modification (e and g‘-nitrides) take place. Oxidation causes the formation of a homogeneous iron oxide (Fe3O4) layer which significantly boosts corrosion resistance.

                                          This makes BALITHERM IONIT OX an environmentally friendly alternative to standard corrosion protection processes such as hard chrome plating and salt bath nitriding.

                                          • Very good tribological properties
                                          • Extended lifetimes
                                          • Outstanding corrosion resistance
                                          • Increased surface hardness
                                          • Environmentally friendly technology
                                        • BALINIT ADVANCED Series

                                        • Punching and forming tools and pressure die-casting moulds are subjected to heavy loads, especially at the edges. ADVANCED Series coatings provide significantly higher performance than the corresponding basic coatings. Their improved support effect, especially in edge zones, can prolong tool life by as much as 100%.

                                          These coatings thus provide an alternative to CVD or TD (Toyoda Diffusion) treatment when extended tool service is required.

                                          Oerlikon Balzers PVD ADVANCED technology prevents geometric and dimensional changes, and maintains, or even improves overall performance. ADVANCED versions of the BALINIT® coatings FUTURA NANO, LUMENA, and ALCRONA PRO are currently available.

                                          The improved support effect of ADVANCED coatings, in particular in edge zones, makes them ideal for punching, sheet metal and bulk forming, and for aluminium die-casting.

                                          • Higher surface hardness
                                          • More uniform coating, especially of edges
                                          • Improved protection against crack initiation and propagation
                                          • Improved adhesion
                                        • BALINIT DUPLEX Series

                                        • Heavy duty forming tools must be able to withstand extreme loads, whilst, at the same time, being productive, efficient and reliable for manufacturing. The BALINIT® DUPLEX Series meets these demands by combining two well-proven wear protection solutions: nitriding and hard coatings.

                                          Nitriding increases surface hardness, compressive strength and hot hardness, and creates a homogeneous hardness profile. BALINIT® coatings are characterized by extreme hardness, high thermal stability and excellent protection against abrasive wear.

                                          Together, they decisively improve your forming tools, and, thereby, the results of demanding manufacturing processes, such as mass forming, hot forming or sheet metal forming with tensile strength > 500 N/mm2.

                                          DUPLEX versions of the BALINIT coatings ALCRONA PRO and LUMENA are available
                                      • Coating Technologies

                                      • The coating processes and systems developed by Oerlikon Balzers generate coating layers with well-defined and reproducible properties. Whether your aim is immediate success with proven coatings, or the joint development of innovative solutions, Oerlikon Balzers is your ideal partner.
                                        A variety of processes are used to enhance the surfaces of tools and precision components and to improve their behaviour and performance. Oerlikon Balzers has developed the following technologies and respective surface solutions, and offers these as job coating services throughout our global coating centre network. More than 700 coating systems – developed and engineered in Liechtenstein – are in daily use throughout the world, in our own, and in our customers' coating centres.
                                          • PVD based processes

                                          • What is PVD coating?

                                            PVD stands for Physical Vapor Deposition. It is a process carried out under high vacuum and, in most cases, at temperatures between 150 and 500 °C.

                                            How does the PVD process work?

                                            In the PVD process the high purity, solid coating material (metals such as titanium, chromium and aluminium) is either evaporated by heat or by bombardment with ions (sputtering). At the same time, a reactive gas (e.g. nitrogen or a gas containing carbon) is added; it forms a compound with the metal vapour which is deposited on the tools or components as a thin, highly adherent coating. A uniform coating thickness is obtained by rotating the parts at a constant speed about several axes.

                                            Coating properties (such as hardness, structure, chemical and temperature resistance, adhesion) can be precisely controlled.

                                            PVD processes include Arc evaporation, Sputtering, Ion plating, and Enhanced sputtering.

                                            As well as the commonly known PVD processes, Oerlikon Balzers also offers several in-house developed processes.
                                              • Arc evaporation

                                              • In this process, an arc with a diameter ranging from microns to just a few tenths of a micron, is run over the solid, metallic coating material, causing it to evaporate. The high currents and power densities used cause almost complete ionization of the evaporated material and, thereby, the formation of a high-energy plasma.
                                                The metal ions combine with a reactive gas that is introduced into the chamber, strike the target tools or components with high energy and are deposited as a thin and highly adherent coating.
                                              • Sputtering

                                              • In all PVD processes, the parts in the vacuum chamber to be coated are first heated, and then ion etched by bombardment with argon ions,to create a pure and clean metal surface, free from any atomic contamination - an essential condition for optimal coating adhesion.
                                                A high negative voltage is then applied to the sputtering sources, which contain the coating material. The resulting electrical gas discharge leads to the formation of positive argon ions, which are accelerated towards, and atomize the coating material. Evaporated, atomised metal in the gaseous phase then reacts with a gas containing the non-metallic component of the hard coating.

                                                The end result is the deposition of a thin, compact coating with the desired structure and composition.
                                              • Enhanced Sputtering

                                              • Enhanced sputtering employs a low-voltage arc discharge in the centre of the chamber to create a plasma intensity several times greater than the basic sputtering procedure, and thus to produce a much higher degree of particle ionization in the gaseous phase.
                                              • S3p - Scalable pulsed power plasma

                                              • This proprietary Oerlikon Balzers technology S3p pushes HiPIMS (High-power impulse magnetron sputtering) to the next level by combining the advantages of arc and sputtering technologies: high ionization levels with virtually no droplets. The result: extremely smooth and dense coatings for a wide variety of applications.
                                              • P3e - Pulse Enhanced Electron Emission

                                              • This revolutionary process permits virtually any conventional hard coating to be combined with an aluminium-oxide-based coating, which enables coating properties to be varied over an unprecedentedly wide range. The result: a totally new realm of options for the design of high-performance tools. P3e® is a proprietary Oerlikon Balzers technology.
                                              • ePD

                                              • ePD is an environmentally-friendly and future-oriented coating procedure for the metallisation of plastic parts. As well as being used in the millions in automobiles, plastic parts with metallic effects are an important design element in numerous consumer products and in sanitary engineering. ePD is a proprietary Oerlikon Balzers technology.
                                            • PACVD

                                            • Plasma-assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition
                                              Oerlikon Balzers produces metal-free carbon coatings using the high-frequency PACVD process.
                                              The set-up for this process is similar to that for sputtering, which is frequently used in combination with CVD. In PACVD a gas containing the coating elements is introduced into the vacuum chamber and a discharge powered by an AC voltage is ignited.

                                              This creates free carbon and hydrogen atoms (ions and radicals) that form a dense coating on the tools and components. Coating properties can be influenced by varying the applied voltage.
                                                • Heat Treatment

                                                • Component and tool surfaces are subject to a multitude of conditions that may affect their behaviour and properties. The surface zone must protect the object from corrosion and wear, whilst the base material need only provide the necessary strength. This division of function between the surface zone and the core enables high-performance materials to be made from low-alloy steels using appropriate modification processes. Thermochemical methods offer cost-effective ways to improve the useful properties of steels, such as wear resistance, friction behaviour, fatigue resistance, corrosion resistance and fatigue characteristics.
                                                    • IONIT

                                                    • BALITHERM IONIT, the plasma nitriding and plasma nitrocarburizing process for sintered materials, all kind of steels (also high alloyed steels) and non-iron metals.

                                                      Plasma nitriding

                                                      This is an industrial surface hardening treatment for all kinds of steel. Under vacuum and through the application of a bias voltage, the Nitrogen and Hydrogen gas molecules become ionized and begin to react with the iron of the part to develop a hard nitrided zone (visible as glowing). This process is performed over a broad temperature range (350°C – 600°C) and in a vacuum environment. Process treatment takes place by diffusion and not by coating.

                                                      Plasma nitrocarburizing

                                                      Addition of carbon leads to the formation of hard, wear-resistant compound layers, as well as corrosion resistance even better than that of nitride steels. Nitrocarburizing also reduces reactivity with materials contacted by coated parts such, as lubricants (tribo-oxidation).
                                                    • IONIT OX

                                                    • To achieve individually tailored corrosion and wear protection for components, the BALITHERM IONIT OX process combines a conventional nitriding process - such as gas nitriding or gas nitrocarburizing - with plasma and controlled oxidation processes. During gas nitrocarburizing, chemical reactions and diffusion processes trigger surface modification (ε-and ɣ‘ -nitrides).
                                                      Oxidation treatment forms a homogeneous layer of iron oxide (Fe3O4) and significantly boosts corrosion resistance. This combined treatment is an environmentally friendly alternative to standard corrosion protection processes such as hard chrome plating substitution and salt bath nitriding.
                                                    • PPD Pulsed-Power Diffusion

                                                    • Oerlikon Balzers’ PPD™ technology, which uses a combination of hydrogen, nitrogen and electricity but no hazardous chemicals to coat tools, sets a new industry standard by offering an environmentally friendly and less expensive alternative to the chrome-plating process used for wear protection treatment in the automotive industry.
                                                  • Wear & Tribology

                                                  • The solution of wear problems starts with a detailed examination of the tribological system with all influence factors that are involved. From this, it can be deduced what frictional conditions and wear mechanisms are to be reckoned with and when they come into play.
                                                    In practice, more than one of these effects is active at any given time or they occur consecutively during the wearing process. However, it is usually one of them that plays the predominant part in failure due to wear.

                                                    Experience shows that every tribological system can be optimised by selecting the right coating.