The Oerlikon Group has anchored sustainability and environmental protection in its corporate strategy. To implement this strategy, Oerlikon Balzers develops coating solutions and systems for its customers that help to conserve resources and significantly reduce_{CO2 emissions}. Innovative functions and design concepts play a key role in the development of future generations of automobiles. The BMW Group uses sustainable ePD technology for its new all-electric BMW iX.

Pioneering coating process

ePD (embedded PVD for design parts) is an environmentally friendly and pioneering coating process that can be used wherever high-quality metal surfaces are required on plastic parts with smart functions. The three-layer structure consisting of UV coatings and an embedded PVD layer is regarded as groundbreaking for new design concepts for plastic components for cars with purely electric or hybrid drives. The combination with other technologies such as laser marking, digital, screen or pad printing opens up even more possibilities for designers and engineers.

The ePD process is environmentally friendly and cost-effective due to its low energy requirements and the avoidance of hazardous waste. In addition, the European Union has also launched the REACH standard, which aims to initially restrict the use of harmful substances and later no longer allow them at all.

New functions for the next generation of cars

Interactive communication between vehicles will play a much greater role in autonomous driving, for which ePD offers solutions with a visually appealing design. One example of this is radar-transparent coatings for driver assistance systems. Thanks to the special manufacturing technology, capacitive or translucent components can also be produced whose functionality remains invisible. Because the durable and scratch-resistant coatings can be produced to be light-transparent, symbols can also be incorporated into backlit buttons.

Oerlikon Balzers also coats the mold for the new front kidney grille of the BMW iX. Thanks to its high hardness, the coating offers very high scratch and wear resistance. The brilliant surface quality is maintained thanks to improved mold filling and easy demolding. This reduces maintenance costs and, despite the high thermal load, the mold can be cleaned much more abrasively without damaging the surface. This makes the entire production process more productive, economical and reliable. The BMW Group received the Grand Award at the 20th "SPE Automotive Award" in the exterior plastics production category for the kidney grille concept for the BMW iX.