INLINECOATER™
Flexible System Solutions
The INLINECOATER™ product line consists of system solutions for coating of fuel cell and electrolysis metal bipolar plates, metallization on plastic and metal, and specialized decorative and functional coatings.
In contrast to traditional batch coating systems, the INLINECOATER’s unique architecture and interface allows automation for continuous throughput for high volume production with high coating quality and production stability. Our patented load-lock and chamber architecture allows loading in parallel with coating processes in multiple chambers. This results in very short cycle times, typically 30 seconds. This makes the INLINECOATER™ well suited for reliable volume production in industrial environments.
In R&D and multi-PVD process environments, the INLINECOATER™ platform can be configured for maximum flexibility, allowing a rapid switch between applications or processes.
INLINECOATER™FC
The INLINECOATER™FC is dedicated to volume production of metal bipolar plates for hydrogen fuel cells. The PVD equipment is configured for coating Ceramic MAXPHASE™, the bipolar plate coating chosen by automotive customers worldwide for PEM fuel cells.
INLINECOATER™FC in automated production line for fuel cell metal bipolar plates (animation)
INLINECOATER™R
Automated production cells with plastic injection molding and the INLINECOATER™R coating equipment is the industry’s most cost efficient manufacturing solution for lighting reflectors.
Fulfilling automotive industry standards and requirements the INLINECOATER™R is equipped for plasma etching, high quality magnetron sputtering of metals and alloys, and plasma enhanced CVD (PECVD) for SiOx coating.
INLINECOATER™R in production cell for automotive lighting reflectors (Courtesy of Iskra Mehanizmi)
INLINECOATER™M
The INLINECOATER™M is equipped for high quality metallization in various applications, coating plastic and metal parts. This includes plasma etching, and multiple chamber magnetron sputtering deposition of a wide range of metals and metal alloys. Depending on application, the INLINECOATER™M is automated and integrated in the production flow, or operated manually.
Automated production cells with plastic injection molding and the INLINECOATER™M or INLINECOATER™P are the industry’s most cost efficient manufacturing solutions for plastic metallization, e.g. for decorative automotive components.
INLINECOATER™D
The INLINECOATER™D is chosen by manufacturers of high quality consumer products, such as watches and eyeglasses. Equipped with plasma etching and reactive magnetron sputtering or arc evaporation, the INLINECOATER™D provides very durable decorative ceramic coatings. A wide range of colors can be achieved, including deep black (L<30).
When quipped for maximum flexibility the INLINECOATER™D allows switch of application or process in seconds in high-mix PVD operation. The system architecture ensures high quality and production stability day in and day out.