Oerlikon Balzers

Oerlikon Balzers is a Liechtenstein company of the Swiss Oerlikon Group. The Oerlikon Group produces technology in machine and plant construction, offering solutions for thin-film coatings, vacuum systems, textile production and for power transmission and precision technology.

History

With the support of Prince Franz Josef II and the Swiss industrialist Emil Georg Buehrle Professor Max Auwärter founded Gerätebauanstalt Balzers. The aim was to make the hitherto largely unknown and little-known vacuum thin film technology for industrial purposes. Since no establishments or equipment for the production of thin film coatings were available at that time, developed and produced by the company this ado The first popular applications were sun protection and anti- reflection coatings for lenses, anti- reflection coatings for camera lenses, optical filters and reflectors and thin films for electronic applications.

In 1976 the company became a member of the Oerlikon Group, Oerlikon - Buehrle Holding AG at that time. In 1983, the first coating center was opened outside Liechtenstein, in Italy. A year later, the step was taken to America, in 1987 in Japan took the first center in the Asian region on its operation. In 2011, Oerlikon Balzers includes more than 90 coating centers in over 30 countries and generated sales of CHF 484 million with nearly 3,000 employees.