Oerlikon deepens partnership with Airbus: Oerlikon Balzers receives Qualified Supplier status for BALINIT C coatings on copper alloys
Oerlikon Balzers, a leading provider of surface solutions, has received Qualified Supplier status from Airbus for its two customer centers in Great Britain and France for copper alloy substrate coatings using BALINIT C. Both locations are already certified as qualified suppliers of coatings on steel, titanium and Inconel substrates.
BALINIT C is a coating applied to aerospace components made of steel, titanium and various alloys that helps reduce surface fatigue, withstand wear and high loads, while being lightweight and exhibiting low-friction. The technical qualification of BALINIT C, as a non-hazardous and REACH-conforming option to hard chrome plating, completes the Airbus Industrial Qualification Process for both Oerlikon Balzers customer centers in Great Britain and France.
“We are very pleased that Airbus has confirmed that our coatings meet the Airbus technical and industrial requirements associated with BALINIT C,” said Marc Desrayaud, Head of Business Unit Balzers Industrial Solutions. “We value the trust that Airbus has placed in us and are committed to providing them with cutting-edge coating services for decades to come. Achieving a further Qualified Supplier status from Airbus underlines our dedication to our customers and our position as an innovation driver for surface solutions in the aerospace industry.”
Oerlikon Balzers’ customer centers Milton Keynes (Great Britain), Ferrière-en-Brie (France), Guelph (Canada) and Niedercorn (Luxembourg) are all Nadcap-accredited and provide world-class coating solutions and services to the aerospace industry. Nadcap, National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program, is a worldwide industry-controlled global cooperation program, designed to achieve a cost-effective consensus approach to special processes and products and to provide continuous improvement within the aerospace industry.
BALINIT C is a WC/C-based (Tungsten Carbide/Carbon) coating that is a mixture of metal and diamond-like carbon. The result is the ideal way to reduce surface fatigue and tribo-oxidation on many aerospace components. Tribological coatings are mainly used to reduce adhesive wear, associated, for instance, with seizing or cold-welding. A low friction coefficient and good sliding properties make them ideal for low lubrication and even dry running applications.
Oerlikon engineers materials, equipment and surfaces and provides expert services to enable customers to have high-performance products and systems with extended lifespans. Drawing on its key technological competencies and strong financial foundation, the Group is sustaining mid-term growth by executing three strategic drivers: addressing attractive growth markets, securing structural growth, and expanding through targeted mergers and acquisitions. A leading global technology and engineering Group, Oerlikon operates its business in two Segments – Surface Solutions and Manmade Fibers – and has a global footprint of over 9500 employees at 171 locations in 37 countries. In 2017, Oerlikon generated CHF 2.1 billion in restated sales and invested around CHF 100 million in R&D.