The luxury brands of Oerlikon are further expanding the use of their advanced Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) processes leveraging Oerlikon Balzers’ technological expertise. Oerlikon aims to raise its profile as the leading provider of high-quality, environmentally-friendly finishes for the luxury sector, balancing style, performance, and sustainable improvement. Oerlikon recently installed a new Oerlikon PVD equipment at the Fundão plant in Portugal, a centre of excellence for surface treatments. It is designed, manufactured, and engineered by Oerlikon Balzers, allowing Oerlikon Riri and Oerlikon Fineparts to produce high volumes of PVD finished components with impeccable quality and homogenous surface finish.

Creating sustainable products for the luxury industry using PVD

Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) is a thin-film coating process that distinguishes itself from traditional galvanic techniques, offering numerous benefits. From a technical perspective, it provides greater resistance to scratches and oxidation, extending the lifecycle of luxury accessories and ensuring they retain their visual appeal over time. A key advantage of this process is its ability to create durable and uniform finishes on accessories, providing customers a range of colours and effects that are challenging to achieve through conventional technologies.

Advantages of PVD

After conducting an internal analysis to compare the differences between a PVD-treated stainless steel accessory and electroplating-treated brass version, PVD resulted in a 76% reduction in overall environmental impact measured in kg CO2 equivalent. The process eliminates water usage entirely, achieving a 100% saving in water consumption. This also results in a 97% decrease in waste and a substantial saving in the use of precious metals, contributing to an 83% reduction in CO2 emissions related to raw material sourcing and processing. Moreover, PVD’s use of stainless steel as a base material, instead of the more commonly used brass, further enhances the sustainability profile of the item. Stainless steel components are 6% lighter than brass equivalents, resulting in both lower transportation emissions and improved comfort when wearing luxury accessories. They are produced by MIM (Metal Injection Moulding) which significantly reduces scraps in the production process. Indeed, the raw material utilisation for MIM exceeds 95%, whereas cold forging combined with machining processes achieves approximately 60%. The shift to stainless steel also eliminates the risk of lead contamination and improves the longevity of products by avoiding oxidation. This allows accessories to maintain their original aesthetic over a long period of time.