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Our History and Milestones

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
  3. 1942
  4. 1943
  5. 1944
  6. 1945
  7. 1946
  8. 1947
  9. 1948
  10. 1949
  11. 1950
  12. 1951
  13. 1952
  14. 1953
  15. 1954
  16. 1955
  17. 1956
  18. 1957
  19. 1958
  20. 1959
  21. 1960
  22. 1961
  23. 1962
  24. 1963
  25. 1964
  26. 1965
  27. 1966
  28. 1967
  29. 1968
  30. 1969
  31. 1970
  32. 1971
  33. 1972
  34. 1973
  35. 1974
  36. 1975
  37. 1976
  38. 1977
  39. 1978
  40. 1979
  41. 1980
  42. 1981
  43. 1982
  44. 1983
  45. 1984
  46. 1985
  47. 1986
  48. 1987
  49. 1988
  50. 1989
  51. 1990
  52. 1991
  53. 1992
  54. 1993
  55. 1994
  56. 1995
  57. 1996
  58. 1997
  59. 1998
  60. 1999
  61. 2000
  62. 2001
  63. 2002
  64. 2003
  65. 2004
  66. 2005
  67. 2006
  68. 2007
  69. 2008
  70. 2009
  71. 2010
  72. 2011
  73. 2012
  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
  85. 2024 2024 5 Events

First coating center opened in Finland and in Indonesia

Further four coating centres inaugurated in Asia. For the first time in its history, Oerlikon Balzers surpassed in 2008 the CHF 500 million mark in sales.

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Contact

Oerlikon Balzers Coating Benelux NV; Nijverheidslaan 5470, 3800 Sint-Truiden, Belgium

© Copyright 2025 OC Oerlikon Management AG

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