There is a requirement for surface protection in a vast range of industrial applications. Tool coatings continue to represent a significant proportion of the applications for PVD technology. Follow the links for more information cutting tool coatings, cutting tools australia.However recently, the application of low friction, wear resistant PVD thin film coatings in the area of components has expanded.



Typical specific applications are fuel injection systems, roller and plain bearings for harsh environments, gears, pumps and compressors. A BMBF study published in 1996 estimated the market for wear protective coatings as 83 billion €.

PVD Coating Applications

This has expanded to the point that the world-wide market for coatings produced under vacuum is estimated to be well over 200 million €. No figures are in the public domain for the component market but in 1990 it was estimated to be worth approximately 1.5 billion €. Future growth of the machine tooling market is difficult to predict but market forecasters expect a growth of at least 8% by 2005.There is as yet a vast untapped market for the coating of plastics even though this is possible for industrially relevant quantities and dimensions.

Click the button above to view some examples of current PVD coatings. More PVD information.