Schaeffler Purchases SIA Naco Technologies

Just recently, the Schaeffler Group has announced its acquisition of SIA Naco Technologies, a Latvian company with exceptional expertise in the development of the latest coating systems. The move is said to help reinforce the German company’s expertise in this technology of the future.

SIA Naco Technologies was established in Latvia’s capital in 2010 with the help of “Commercialization Reactor Riga”, an agency and marketing platform geared towards science-based young businesses. Its team of experts has developed what is presently the fastest method for physical vapor deposition (PVD) This groundbreaking technology will complement and further enhance Schaeffler’s high-tech vacuum facilities for PVD and plasma-based PACVD processes that are used in high-volume production. To date, SIA Naco has six employees.

According to Prof. Peter Gutzmer, Deputy CEO and CTO, this acquisition is a strategic addition to one of Schaeffler’s key competencies. He said that it emphasizes their claim to technology leadership in coating technology, noting that their experts are important in ensuring the implementation of value adding steps that are crucial for quality, functions and costs for essential products and components. “By acquiring Naco, we have secured the experience and expertise of a scientist highly renowned in the scientific community, five highly-trained specialists and an innovative prototype PVD facility.” Apart from product and technology expertise, Schaeffler also expands its industrialization and value added competencies in surface technology, securing the entire knowledge regarding this key technology in-house.

Dr. Yashar Musayev, Senior Vice President of the Competence Center Surface Technology claimed that his new colleagues in Riga are an ideal addition in this field, mentioning that Naco Technologies has been instrumental in promoting the development for specifically eco-friendly and advanced PVD processes. “With Professor Valery Mitin, the company has an internationally renowned expert at its helm. Going forward, we will be able to benefit exclusively from his experience and his team.”

Leveraging his over four decades’ experience in research, development and production in the nano industry from his work at the “Moscow High technology Science Research Institute of Non-organic Materials”, 71-year old Prof. Mitin co-founded this start-up company. As the globe’s first designer of a PVD system in the world, Mitin wants to contribute his knowledge and the results of their work at Schaeffler, which he touted as one of the most advanced and leading global companies for surface technology. “Together we will be able to advance the development of new and even better coating systems and achieve a quantum leap for production methods.”

Schaeffler performs coating at more than 20 locations worldwide in over 50 modern coating machines using an array of methods and technologies, such as spraying and painting procedures as well as physical and chemical processes such as PVD/PACVD. Last year, factories of the Schaeffler Group delivered millions of parts with added value through coating technology.