AdvaMat Club – Technology Competence Center for PVD and HiPIMS
One place. Multiple technologies, coating systems, measurement methods and areas of expertise.
AdvaMat Club functions as a technology competence center for PVD and HiPIMS. We combine the expertise of our technologists, experience with different types of coating systems, and a range of laboratory methods to address the PVD process as a whole — from equipment and process parameters to coating development, measurement, and validation in real production conditions. We are not tied to a single equipment manufacturer or one specific technology. We look for the solution that best fits what you need to achieve in your production.
When a problem arises in your PVD process, you do not have to solve it alone. AdvaMat Club gives you long-term access to our experts, testing facilities, and practical know-how in PVD and HiPIMS technologies. We help you stabilize your process, optimize coating recipes, evaluate coating quality, and troubleshoot operational issues — remotely or directly at your coating system.
What does a competence center mean in practice?
Experts across PVD technologies
We bring together expertise in PVD, HiPIMS, magnetron sputtering, thin-film development, tribology, and materials engineering.
Multiple coating systems and technology options
We work with both laboratory and industrial PVD coating systems from different manufacturers and in various configurations. This allows us to evaluate different technological approaches.
Laboratory measurements and analysis
We also have access to a broader range of laboratory facilities for coating characterization and performance testing.
Experience from real-world production
What matters is whether the coating or process change actually works on the real product under real operating conditions. That is why we connect laboratory results with production data and economic impact.
A PVD system alone is not enough. Process control makes the difference.
Even a high-quality PVD system does not guarantee stable production on its own. The final coating is influenced by part preparation, component geometry and loading configuration, process parameters, equipment condition, the coating recipe, and operator experience.
In day-to-day operation, you may encounter issues such as:
- differences in coating thickness and uniformity
- insufficient or inconsistent adhesion
- color variations between production batches
- an unstable or difficult-to-reproduce process
- unexpected surface defects
- excessively long deposition cycles
- low utilization of PVD system capacity
- problems when introducing a new material or coating recipe
- limited in-house experience with PVD technology
AdvaMat Club provides ongoing expert support for addressing these challenges – without the need to build your own extensive R&D and laboratory team.
What you get with AdvaMat Club
Access to PVD Experts
Consult technological and operational issues with specialists experienced in different types of PVD coating systems, magnetron sputtering, and HiPIMS technology.
Priority Laboratory Capacity
AdvaMat Club members receive priority access to laboratory facilities for PVD coating analysis. Depending on the agreed scope, we can evaluate parameters such as coating thickness, surface topography, friction, wear, or coating structure, and perform specialized tribological testing. The specific methods and number of measurements are defined according to the membership level and the application being addressed.
Remote Consultations
Many operational and technological issues can be addressed remotely based on process parameters, measurement results, photographs, and production data. The scope of support and the agreed response time are defined according to the selected membership level.
On-site Technical Support
If an issue cannot be resolved remotely, we can come directly to your PVD system and assist with diagnostics and process optimization under real production conditions. The number and scope of on-site visits, the conditions for their use, and any travel costs are defined as part of the specific membership arrangement.
Shared Task Management
Technical requests, results, documentation, and next steps will be clearly available in one place. You will always be able to see what is being addressed, who is responsible, and the current status of each task. The AdvaMat App is currently in the testing phase.
When AdvaMat Club can help you most
AdvaMat Club is suitable for companies that:
- operate their own PVD coating system
- are introducing PVD coating into production
- do not have an experienced in-house PVD technologist
- need to improve process stability and repeatability
- want to develop new functional or decorative coatings
- are dealing with adhesion, uniformity, or color consistency issues
- need to regularly evaluate coating quality
- want to increase equipment capacity or efficiency
- need to train operators and develop their expertise
- are looking for a long-term technology partner
We provide support for different brands and configurations of PVD equipment. You are not required to purchase a coating system from any specific manufacturer or from AdvaMat.
How the collaboration works
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| We get to know your operation | We set the priorities | We continuously solve issues | We validate the results |
| We familiarize ourselves with your PVD system, the coatings you produce, the recipes you use, your production capacity, and the most common technological issues you encounter. | Together, we identify which processes need to be stabilized, what should be measured, and which results you want to improve. | We record and address technical requests on an ongoing basis according to the agreed scope of support. Consultations can take place remotely or on site, depending on the nature of the issue. | We evaluate process changes using laboratory measurements and production data. This allows us to make decisions based not only on the appearance of the coating, but on specific, measurable results. |
Laboratory facilities for PVD coating analysis
| What we can investigate | Equipment | What the results tell us |
|---|---|---|
| Development and testing of new coatings | AJA Orion 4 PVD system | Laboratory deposition and experimental coating development in DC and RF modes, with four magnetrons and substrate heating up to 600 °C. |
| Friction and wear | Bruker UMT Tribolab 3, tribometrs | Coefficient of friction, wear progression, and coating behavior under different loads and speeds. The Tribolab enables programmable load and speed as well as monitoring of coating failure using acoustic emission. |
| Behavior at high temperatures | High-temperature tribometer | Tribological testing of coatings at temperatures up to 600 °C. |
| Friction and wear in vacuum or controlled atmospheres | Vacuum tribometer | Testing across a wide range of pressures and in argon, nitrogen, or other gas atmospheres. |
| Wear track development over time | Tribometer with real-time wear track monitoring | Enables direct monitoring of wear initiation and development during the test. |
| Roughness, topography, and surface defects | Zygo NV7200 3D optical profilometer | 3D surface mapping, roughness, profile, and wear track geometry; vertical resolution is approximately 1 nm. |
| Coating thickness | Ball cratering test | Measurement of thin-film thickness using the ball cratering method. |
| Material structure and characteristics | Horiba Xplora Raman spectrometer | Raman spectroscopy for the characterization of materials and coatings; the system combines Raman analysis with optical microscopy. |
Expertise instead of vendor dependency
We want your team to gradually develop a deeper understanding of the process, be able to evaluate results, and make better-informed technological decisions. AdvaMat Club complements your in-house expertise wherever you need broader experience, additional equipment, or specialized laboratory methods.
Our goal is not simply to deliver a PVD system, a coating recipe, or a one-off consultation. We help you bring the technology into stable and efficient operation and continue developing its capabilities over the long term. With AdvaMat Club, expert support remains available when your product, material, required coating, or production conditions change.
Would you prefer an intensive workshop instead of long-term support?
We also offer advanced PVD and HiPIMS training directly on the customer’s equipment. The training focuses on hands-on process work, stability, uniformity, adhesion, diagnostics, and understanding how individual process parameters affect the results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “up to 15 measurements per month” mean?
The exact number of measurements, methods used, and how individual measurements are counted are defined when the membership is agreed. The scope is tailored to the customer’s technology and the types of coatings that need to be evaluated on a regular basis.
How quickly do you respond to a technical request?
The response time is defined according to the selected level of support and is specified directly in the terms of cooperation. AdvaMat Club therefore provides clearly defined technical support rather than an unlimited on-call service.
Are on-site visits included in the membership?
On-site technical support directly at the PVD system is part of the AdvaMat Club offering. The specific number of visits, their scope, and any travel costs are defined according to the selected membership level and the location of the equipment.
Do we need to have a PVD system supplied by AdvaMat?
No. AdvaMat Club is also intended for companies that already operate PVD equipment from another supplier. We have experience with both laboratory and industrial systems from different manufacturers and in various configurations.
Can problems be solved remotely?
Yes. Many issues can be assessed based on process parameters, photographs, production data, and laboratory results. If remote diagnostics are not sufficient, we can arrange on-site technical support directly at the equipment.
What types of coating problems do you solve?
We most commonly address adhesion issues, non-uniform coating thickness, color variations, surface defects, process instability, poor repeatability, and the introduction of new coating recipes.
What does laboratory support include?
The scope of measurements is defined according to the specific problem and the selected membership level. We can assess, for example, coating thickness and uniformity, adhesion, roughness, wettability, surface energy, or chemical composition.
Can you also help us introduce a new coating?
Yes. We can support the design, testing, and optimization of a new coating recipe, as well as its transfer into routine production.
Is AdvaMat Club a replacement for an in-house technologist?
It can complement your internal team or provide expert support for a company that does not have an experienced in-house PVD technologist. The scope of cooperation is tailored to your existing expertise, equipment, and production needs.
Is it possible to use only a one-off consultation?
Yes. We can first address a specific problem or carry out a technical assessment. If you need support repeatedly, long-term membership is usually more practical and makes it easier to build on previous results.
VD support when you need it
Do you need to stabilize your coating process, solve a technical issue, or introduce a new PVD coating? Tell us about your equipment and the challenge you are facing. We will recommend the right level of support.
Ing. Martin Daněk, Ph.D.
[email protected]
