Oerlikon Balzers: Significant investment in Japan's top car manufacturing industry region

Oerlikon Balzers invests in the construction of a new plant in Nagoya, Japan. For the first time, synergies with Oerlikon Metco Friction Systems will be gained. The opening is targeted for beginning 2018.

“The Nagoya area is one of the largest industrial centres for car manufacturing in Japan. It is even known as ‘the heart of TOYOTA’”, explains Marc Desrayaud, Head of Oerlikon Balzers Industrial Solutions. In this region, Oerlikon Balzers invests a two digit million Euro amount in the construction of a new customer centre and doubles the local workforce in the long term. In a very first step, the current Nagoya factory will be transferred to the new plant, being then enriched by the newest technologies and services necessary to support the development of collaboration with the main car manufacturers.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place in November 2016 in the presence of the Oerlikon Balzers management, local government representatives and customers. The centre will provide coating services for cutting and large forming tools, as well as the first presence of Oerlikon Metco Friction Systems in Japan. “To offer an even broader service to our customers and gain synergies, we join forces with our colleagues of Oerlikon Metco Friction Systems, which are specialized in synchronizer components and modules for transmission, and will create a “one-stop-shop” of our factory for our automotive customers,” explains Marc Desrayaud. The new center is going to be opened by beginning 2018.

From May 24 to 26, 2017, Oerlikon Balzers and Oerlikon Metco are showcasing their market-leading coating technologies at the Automotive Engineering Exposition in Yokohama, Japan – the largest exposition of its kind in Japan.

About the Surface Solutions Segment
The Oerlikon Group Surface Solutions Segment comprises the two Oerlikon Balzers and Oerlikon Metco brands. Oerlikon Balzers is one of the world’s leading suppliers of surface technologies that significantly improve the performance and durability of precision components and tools used in the metal and plastics processing industries. These coatings, developed under the brand names BALINIT and BALIQ, are extremely thin, exceptionally hard and significantly reduce friction and wear. BALITHERM offers a broad spectrum of heat treatments while BALTONE comprises coatings which are beautifully suited for decorative applications due to their elegant colours. Under the technology brand ePD, the company develops integrated services and solutions for the metallization of plastic parts yielding a chrome look. Worldwide, there are more than 1,100 coating systems in use by Oerlikon Balzers and their customers. The development and assembly operations for Balzers systems are based in Liechtenstein and in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany. Oerlikon Metco refines surfaces using innovative coatings and systems. Customers benefit from a unique variety of surface technologies, coating solutions, systems, materials, services and specialized processing services as well as components. These innovative solutions improve the performance and increase the efficiency and reliability of components and products. A leader of innovation, Oerlikon Metco pioneers new materials for additive manufacturing (AM). Oerlikon Metco serves customers from the areas of aviation, energy production, automotive technology, oil and gas as well as other specialized industrial markets. The Surface Solutions Segment has a dynamically evolving network currently consisting of more than 145 sites, with over 140 coating centres in 37 countries across Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia and a total of over 6,000 employees. The Surface Solutions Segment is part of the Swiss Oerlikon Group (SIX: OERL).