Industry News

Oerlikon Breaks Ground on New Production Hub

Oerlikon, Pfäffikon, Switzerland, has begun construction on its new production center for thermal spray systems and coating services at Campus Reichhold in Aargau, Switzerland.

The new facility will bring together approximately 250 employees currently located at three separate Swiss sites. The consolidated campus will integrate research and development, engineering, production, and customer services into a single hub. Construction of the facility is expected to be completed in Q4 2026, and operations are expected to commence in Q1 2027.

“This investment reflects our long-term commitment to Switzerland, where our roots run deep,” said Dr. Michael Suess, executive chair of Oerlikon. “The new Campus Reichhold will be instrumental in advancing our aerospace and general industry businesses by unifying the entire value chain in one collaborative environment. It also reinforces our position as an attractive employer in the region.”

The center will primarily serve customers in the aerospace, automotive, and general industrial markets. Among its features is a unique test rig for aerospace turbine components — a key asset for validating next-generation thermal spray coatings under real-world conditions.

At Campus Reichhold, Oerlikon will develop the next generation of thermal spray technologies (coatings and equipment) and laser-based technologies (directed energy deposition). Those developments will improve heat resistance, durability, and corrosion protection in high-performance components.

Sustainability will be a core focus of the new campus, with initiatives to reduce environmental impact across energy use, mobility, and resource management.

FRCSW Wins People’s Choice Award for Cold Spray Technology

Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW), a U.S. Navy maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility located at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, Calif., received the People’s Choice Award at the 2024 Maintenance Innovation Challenge (MIC) for its presentation on cold spray technology.

The competition, held during the Department of Defense Maintenance Symposium in Salt Lake City, Utah, showcased five finalists presenting solutions to improve military sustainment and readiness. Attendees selected FRCSW’s cold spray technology as the standout innovation.

“Cold spray is revolutionizing how we maintain and sustain fleet readiness,” FRCSW Materials Engineer Matthew Chu said during the presentation. “It’s a practical, cost-saving solution that addresses immediate repair needs and enhances long-term operational efficiency.”

Cold spray has proven to be a game-changer for the Navy. It restores components previously deemed irreparable while improving fleet readiness and reducing reliance on limited supply chains. This technology has already repaired hundreds of parts and optimized procedures to ensure consistent quality.

As a People’s Choice Award winner, FRCSW received $50,000 of in-kind support from the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences to further demonstrate and advance this innovative technology.

Wall Colmonoy Establishes Facility in Suzhou, China

Wall Colmonoy, Madison Heights, Mich., has opened Wall Colmonoy (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., a new facility in Changshu City, Suzhou, China. Formed as a joint venture with long-standing partner Gredmann Taiwan Ltd., the facility expands the company’s manufacturing presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

“We’re bringing our global expertise closer to our customers to deliver local solutions,” said Nick Clark, president of Wall Colmonoy. “In an increasingly complex and regionally driven world, this approach helps us respond faster, improve service, and build greater resilience into our global supply chain.”

The facility provides shorter lead times, reduced transit time for products, in-region technical support and training, and local production of Wall Colmonoy products.

“As Asia continues to grow, having a local presence allows us to deliver faster, more responsive service,” said Lydia Lee, general manager of the new facility. “With Wall Colmonoy Suzhou, we’re better positioned to collaborate with customers, accelerate product development, and ensure optimal quality and performance in-region.”

Titomic USA Expands Operations with New Global Headquarters

Titomic Ltd., a provider of cold spray additive manufacturing technology, has opened its new global headquarters in Huntsville, Ala. This milestone marks a significant expansion of Titomic’s U.S. operations.

The 59,000-sq-ft Huntsville facility will support commercial and defense initiatives with advanced production capabilities, live equipment demonstrations, and regional training and customer support. It will be the only location where all Titomic Kinetic Fusion™ products are manufactured.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was held on June 2, was attended by government officials, defense and aerospace industry personnel, and local partners. Following the ceremony, guests participated in live demonstrations of Titomic’s systems.

The Huntsville facility has active partnerships underway with large defense primes and government agencies to produce critical components, such as titanium pressure vessels, domes, launcher coatings, and space-grade shielding.

Fraunhofer IWS Scientist Receives TSS President’s Award

Dr. Filofteia-Laura Toma, senior research scientist at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS in Dresden, Germany, has been named the recipient of the 2025 TSS President’s Award for Meritorious Service. Presented by the U.S.-based Thermal Spray Society (TSS), the award honors her scientific excellence and long-standing leadership within the international materials engineering community.

Toma is an expert in thermal spray processes for high-performance ceramic and hardmetal coatings. At Fraunhofer IWS, she leads the development of advanced coating technologies for functionalizing fiber-reinforced composites and lightweight structures, which are key to applications in aerospace, energy, and mechanical engineering. Her current research focuses on combining laser structuring with high-velocity oxyfuel spraying and suspension plasma spraying. She also investigates suspension-based laser cladding to develop customized coatings for thermal barrier coating and hydrogen-related applications.

Beyond her lab work, Toma plays a vital role in shaping the global thermal spray community. She serves on the TSS board of directors. Furthermore, she has actively contributed to the Journal of Thermal Spray Technology (JTST) and ASM-TSS events for over a decade. Her editorial responsibilities have grown steadily, including roles as coeditor and guest editor for the Proceedings of the International Thermal Spray Conferences and JTST special issues. She also supports the TSS organizing committees and cofounded the TSS initiative Women in Thermal Spray. In addition, she serves on several national and international advisory and scientific boards.

“This award recognizes not only an outstanding scientist but also a dedicated bridge builder between research, application, and professional networks,” said Christoph Leyens, director of Fraunhofer IWS. “We are proud to have Dr. Toma among us, a colleague who is continuously advancing thermal coating as a key technology for next-generation engineering.”