Top Vacuum Coating Machine Manufacturers Worldwide in 2025
Introduction
In 2025, the vacuum coating industry continues to expand rapidly, driven by the increasing demand for advanced surface treatments across sectors like automotive, electronics, optics, architecture, and healthcare. Among the various technologies, PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) has become particularly important due to its durability, environmental benefits, and precision.
This article presents a curated list of the top 10 global manufacturers of vacuum coating machines, showcasing their strengths, specializations, and global relevance. For industrial players seeking dependable coating solutions, this guide offers a snapshot of the market’s most influential brands.
What is Vacuum Coating?
Vacuum coating involves applying thin films to surfaces inside a vacuum chamber. This process improves physical, chemical, and optical properties such as hardness, corrosion resistance, and visual appearance. Among its types, PVD stands out for being eco-friendly, producing strong adhesion, and allowing a wide variety of materials to be deposited—such as metals, ceramics, and alloys.
Best Vacuum Coating Machine Manufacturers Globally– 2025
1. Oerlikon Balzers
Founded: 1946
Headquarters: Balzers, Liechtenstein
Website: https://www.oerlikon.com/
Oerlikon Balzers is a historic leader in the surface technology industry, offering a range of high-performance PVD and PACVD coatings under the BALINIT® brand. Their technologies improve tool life, reduce friction, and support decorative applications, especially in the automotive and mold tooling industries. With decades of innovation and a robust global service infrastructure, Oerlikon sets the standard in industrial vacuum coatings.
2. Hauzer Techno Coating (IHI Group)
Founded: 1983
Headquarters: Venlo, Netherlands
Website: https://www.hauzertechnocoating.com
Part of the IHI Group, Hauzer is well-known for its plasma-assisted vacuum coating systems, particularly in PVD and PACVD technologies. Their modular platforms cater to large-scale automotive production, aerospace, and precision tooling, enabling both environmental efficiency and industrial flexibility.
3. SIMVACO
Founded: 2010
Headquarters: Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
Website: https://simvaco.com
SIMVACO is a leader in advanced vacuum coating equipment, backed by a strong in-house R&D team specializing in materials science, process optimization, and system integration. Their systems produce thin films characterized by excellent uniformity, strong adhesion, and minimal defects, satisfying the rigorous requirements of automotive, mobile phone, semiconductor, optics, and energy sectors.
SIMVACO offers a wide range of advanced vacuum coating solutions, including AR/VR optical coatings such as transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) and anti-reflective multilayers designed for curved and delicate substrates. Their hard coatings—DLC, TiN, and CrN—are ideal for tools, medical devices, and wear-resistant applications. They also provide flexible packaging films tailored for electronics, display panels, and consumer protection. Additionally, SIMVACO delivers high-temperature, high-purity coatings for silicon carbide (SiC) substrates and electronic ceramics. Their PECVD high-barrier films serve critical roles in perovskite solar cells, lithium-ion battery anodes, and flexible electronics. Complementing these, SIMVACO’s vacuum metallizing production lines integrate UV coatings for packaging and decorative purposes, offering comprehensive solutions across multiple industries.
4. KOLZER
Founded: 1952
Headquarters: Milan, Italy
Website: https://kolzer.com
KOLZER is a pioneer in decorative vacuum metallizing systems, specializing in coating plastic and metal surfaces with high-gloss, eco-friendly finishes. Their systems are widely used in automotive interior parts, cosmetics packaging, and consumer electronics—delivering strong aesthetic results while reducing energy consumption.
5. Shincron
Founded: 1951
Headquarters: Yokohama, Japan
Website: https://www.shincron.co.jp/en
Shincron is a recognized expert in precision optical and semiconductor vacuum coating machines, especially for AR/VR components and display technologies. Their systems are known for ultra-uniform thin films and fine process control—crucial for applications demanding extreme accuracy.
6. Veeco Instruments
Founded: 1945
Headquarters: Plainview, New York, USA
Website: https://www.veeco.com
Veeco develops state-of-the-art PVD and CVD deposition systems for semiconductors, MEMS, and data storage. Their machines support advanced process integration, offering precise layer control and scalability for next-generation electronics manufacturing.
7. ULVAC
Founded: 1952
Headquarters: Kanagawa, Japan
Website: https://www.ulvac.com
ULVAC is a major supplier of large-area vacuum deposition equipment, especially for architectural glass, flat-panel displays, and solar cells. Their high-throughput machines are optimized for uniform film distribution and energy efficiency, helping manufacturers achieve both volume and sustainability goals.
8. Angstrom Engineering
Founded: 1992
Headquarters: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Website: https://www.angstromengineering.com
Angstrom is known for producing versatile, lab-grade vacuum systems ideal for R&D, academic, and prototyping environments. Their platforms support multiple deposition methods and allow researchers to experiment with advanced material combinations.
9. HEF Group
Founded: 1953
Headquarters: Andrézieux-Bouthéon, France
Website: https://www.hef.fr
HEF is a leader in DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coatings and ion implantation systems. Their vacuum coating equipment is widely used in automotive, aerospace, and medical fields, significantly improving wear resistance, friction reduction, and biocompatibility.
9. Bühler Group – Leybold Optics Division
Founded: 1860
Headquarters: Uzwil, Switzerland
Website: https://www.buhlergroup.com
Bühler’s Leybold Optics division focuses on inline PVD sputtering machines for architectural glass, solar panels, and display screens. Their high-speed systems support large-area coatings with remarkable uniformity, making them a top choice for high-volume industrial use.
Summary Table
| # | Manufacturer | Founded | Headquarters | Website | Specialty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oerlikon Balzers | 1946 | Liechtenstein | oerlikon.com | PVD for tools, decorative, automotive |
| 2 | Hauzer Techno Coating | 1983 | Netherlands | hauzertechnocoating.com | PACVD, scalable industrial coating |
| 3 | SIMVACO | 2010 | China | simvaco.com | Multi-arc PVD, turnkey systems, auto/FPCB/SiC |
| 4 | KOLZER | 1952 | Italy | kolzer.com | Decorative vacuum metallizing |
| 5 | Shincron | 1951 | Japan | shincron.co.jp | Precision optics, AR/VR display coatings |
| 6 | Veeco Instruments | 1945 | USA | veeco.com | Semiconductor and photonics coating |
| 7 | ULVAC | 1952 | Japan | ulvac.com | Large-area sputtering and evaporation |
| 8 | Angstrom Engineering | 1992 | Canada | angstromengineering.com | R&D and university vacuum coating platforms |
| 9 | HEF Group | 1953 | France | hef.fr | DLC coating, ion implantation for wear resistance |
| 10 | Bühler (Leybold Optics) | 1860 | Switzerland | buhlergroup.com | Inline sputtering for glass and solar |
Conclusion
The global vacuum coating equipment industry in 2025 is defined by innovation, precision, and the drive toward sustainability. The manufacturers highlighted in this list represent the forefront of technological advancement across diverse sectors—from automotive displays and architectural glass to semiconductor substrates and decorative coatings.
Each company brings a unique value proposition to the market, whether it's Oerlikon's legacy of reliability, Hauzer’s modular flexibility, or SIMVACO’s ability to deliver cost-effective, high-performance vacuum coating solutions tailored for next-generation applications such as AR optics, hard DLC coatings, packaging films, and SiC semiconductors.
As industries demand increasingly complex surface functionalities, choosing the right coating partner becomes more critical than ever. SIMVACO stands out as a rising force from China, combining advanced PVD technologies, complete turnkey systems, and deep customization expertise—empowering manufacturers worldwide to scale production, reduce costs, and achieve superior coating performance.
By understanding the strengths and specialties of these leading manufacturers, businesses can make informed decisions to enhance product quality, improve production efficiency, and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global market.
For more information on SIMVACO’s advanced vacuum coating equipment, visit SIMVACO or contact via WhatsApp at +86-15958205967.