Oerlikon recently held the groundbreaking ceremony for its new global innovation and production centre for thermal spray systems and coating services at Campus Reichhold in Aargau, Switzerland. The new facility will bring together around 250 highly skilled staff, currently located at three separate Swiss sites. The consolidated campus will integrate research and development (R&D), engineering, production and customer services into a single, ‘state of the art’ hub. Construction of the facility is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2026 with operations expected to commence in the first quarter of 2027.
Oerlikon’s executive chairman Professor Dr Michael Suess said: “This investment reflects our long-term commitment to Switzerland, where our roots run deep. 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.”
Unique test rigThe centre will primarily serve customers in the aerospace, automotive and general industrial markets. Among its features is its 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), laser-based DED technologies (Direct Energy Deposition) and provide ‘state of the art’ services to our customers from various industries. Those developments will improve heat resistance, durability and corrosion protection in high-performance components. For example, these coatings allow jet turbines to operate safely at temperatures up to 1 200°C, enabling more efficient combustion and fuel savings of around 9%.
Sustainability will be a core focus of the new campus, with initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact across energy use, mobility and resource management. The design reflects Oerlikon’s dedication to environmental responsibility and its ambition to set new benchmarks in sustainability.