Oerlikon Balzers, a leading provider of surface solutions, has successfully completed the audit for certification in accordance with the European quality management standard EN 9100 for the aerospace industry. This will enable the emerging Aerospace Excellence Center in Bingen, headquarters of the Liechtenstein-based company's German subsidiary, to serve these strictly regulated markets in Europe even better.
Hardly any other industry sets such high standards for the safety and reliability of the materials, components and devices used as the aerospace industry. The EN 9100 certification proves that the very high requirements of this industry for quality assurance and process reliability in the development, manufacture, delivery and maintenance of products are met with the highest performance standards. The necessary audits were carried out at Oerlikon Balzers' German site in Bingen and passed without any deviations.
"We can now better serve our aerospace customers in Europe with demonstrably excellent service and expand our business in this industry. The certification is also our leap of faith for a market that is sure to grow again soon," explains Manuel Heinzler, responsible for quality management at Oerlikon Balzers.
To this end, an aerospace cell is currently being built at the Bingen plant, a separate production facility exclusively for this customer clientele. PVD coatings such as the BALINIT family can be applied there specifically for aerospace applications. Aircraft components made of steel, titanium and Inconel, turbine components or even tools benefit from the tailor-made surface solutions that minimize wear and friction or improve sliding properties. The Bingen site will thus become the German center of excellence for the aerospace industry when certification is officially granted, probably in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Oerlikon Balzers has already been active in this industry worldwide for some time. Customer centers in Milton Keynes (UK), Ferrière-en-Brie (France), Guelph (Canada) and Niederkorn (Luxembourg) are certified according to Nadcap (National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program) and offer first-class coating solutions and services for the aerospace industry.
