Umicore Combines Electroplating, Thin Film Business

The Umicore Group has announced it is combining its Electroplating and Thin Film Products business lines under a new Metal Deposition Solutions (MDS) business unit. The new business unit develops and markets products for both high-quality electroplating and vacuum (precious metal) deposition processes. 

“The intersection of common customers, especially in this segment, is thus considerable. For us, and especially for our customers, coordinated sales thus makes sense — holistic consulting and solutions that build on each other are only the superficial advantages,” says Thomas Engert, SVP Metal Deposition Solutions.

As a manufacturer of electrolytes and electrodes for the refinement of surfaces, Umicore Electroplating (Schwaebisch Gmuend, Germany) operates in a specific niche area, which is essentially defined by precious metal-based coating combinations.

Meanwhile, the company’s Thin Film Products business unit, based in Balzers (Principality of Liechtenstein), is one of the world's leading developers and manufacturers of high-tech coating materials for applications in the vacuum coating industry. The extensive portfolio includes evaporation materials, sputter targets as well as accessories for optoelectronic, microelectronic and optical applications as well as wear protection and thin film batteries. With such expertise, the unit also focuses on latest trends in optoelectronics and integrated optics markets, such as AR and VR glasses, optical communica- tions, LIDAR for autonomous driving, and biosensing and point-of-care applications.

The goal of the merger is to establish and expand business in the semiconductor segment through innovative products in addition to the existing business areas. Umicore emphasizes that the change of name of the business unit will not affect existing business relationships with its customers.