BOC Coating Technology reports major contract wins

Coating systems are customized on the basis of a family of standard building blocks, resulting in reduced lead times. “The vast majority of production coating systems can be processed through Engineering in just a few weeks,” says Mike Perata, Engineering Manager. “After that we can concentrate on the ‘specials’ or ‘nouveaute's’ that are always part of any system. This approach has allowed reduced lead times and cost.”

The company's track record for delivery and start up of coating plants was a decisive element in Glaverbel's decision to award the new coater for its Lodelinsart, Belgium plant to BOCCT. "Reliable lead-times and smooth start-up are key to project success. That and the high- performance sputter technology offered by BOCCT as an integrated package were key elements in our decision making," said Jean Marc Meunier, Production Advisor Architectural Glass of the Glaverbel Group.Two more major wins were obtained in China where BOCCT was awarded two upgrade contracts. The first and largest contract includes adding several process modules and Dual AC C-MAG rotatable cathodes to an existing coater BOCCT had supplied in the mid 1990's. The second contract includes adding dual AC C-MAG rotatable cathodes to an older Leybold Systems coater. “BOCCT's integrated AC/DC Sputtering Package includes the proprietary, modular LV-Series AC/DC C-MAG cathode and power supply, as well as a specially-designed controls and utilities interface kit. An accompanying process technology package implements highly enhanced deposition speed with tight film uniformity, through on-site training, installation and process support. The combined equipment and process capabilities allow simple and rapid implementation of the best AC technology in the industry on a non-BOCCT coater,” said Steven Nadel, BOCCT's Chief Technologist, Glass Coating.

Since 1997, BOCCT has implemented its patented AC sputtering technology on many production coaters it has supplied. The increased demand for large area deposition of advanced dielectric materials such as silicon dioxide and silicon nitride has made BOCCT's rotatable cathode technology the world's leading thin film sputter source. This same proven technology has now been specially adapted for non-BOCCT production systems and has been successfully implemented on four jumbo size, non-BOCCT production coaters in Europe over the last 18 months. BOCCT offers this technology as a “drop-in” package with minimal down time or coating system modifications by the customer. The full package includes all necessary process equipment, PC based graphical user controls, guaranteed performance specifications, pre-shipment and on-site training, testing and process support.

BOC Coating Technology is a member of The BOC Group, the worldwide industrial gases, vacuum technologies and distribution services company. It employs nearly 43,000 people and had annual sales of over $6 billion in 2001