IonKraft

What IonKraft does

IonKraft GmbH is an early-stage German deep-tech company that has developed a proprietary plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process for applying silicon oxide (SiOx) barrier coatings onto plastic packaging substrates. Spun out in 2024 from RWTH Aachen University's IKV Institute for Plastics Processing, the company commercializes its academic research under the IONX™ brand, offering both the coating chemistry and the automated PECVD coating machinery required to integrate the technology into industrial packaging production lines. The technology is positioned as a recyclable, monolayer alternative to conventional multi-layer barrier constructions (such as EVOH or fluorinated HDPE) used in industrial containers, agrochemicals, and other demanding packaging applications.

The company's customer base comprises a small number of large industrial and chemical enterprises; publicly disclosed partners include Greif, a global industrial packaging manufacturer, and Bayer, a multinational active in crop-protection packaging. Both relationships currently appear to be at the validation, pilot, or co-development stage rather than full-scale commercial deployment. The business model is hardware-led: IonKraft sells or licenses its IONX™ automated coating machines to packaging converters and brand owners, with the SiOx coating process and associated know-how as the recurring value driver. Commercial product launch occurred in October 2025.

IonKraft has secured €3.5 million in seed funding (November 2024) from M Ventures, TechVision Fund, and HTGF, supplementing an earlier €2.65 million EIC Accelerator grant (December 2022). The company holds RecyClass approval and APR Design® for Recyclability recognition, two of the most demanding certifications for recyclable packaging in Europe and North America respectively, positioning it to benefit from the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and equivalent regulatory tightening globally. The company operates with 1-10 employees from Aachen, Germany.

Name

IonKraft

Legal name

IonKraft GmbH

Website

https://ionkraft.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IonKraft is a German deep-tech startup spun out of RWTH Aachen that develops PECVD SiOx barrier coatings and automated coating machines for recyclable plastic packaging, serving industrial and agrochemical customers such as Greif and Bayer.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Plasma Coating Equipment

NAICS

Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Protective Coatings (IMAEAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Biodegradable Coatings & Barrier Layers (paper/packaging barriers) (IMAEAOAH)

Keywords

• Plasma coating technology
• Barrier coating equipment
• Recyclable plastic packaging
• Industrial coating machines
• SiOx nanocoating

Headquarters

HQ city

Aachen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Plasma Coating Machines: IonKraft sells industrial plasma coating machines to packaging manufacturers. The machines apply the IONX barrier coating technology to plastic containers. The company has scaled production following their €3.5M funding round and is preparing for market entry with first industrial deployment.
2. Coating Services/Contract Manufacturing: Potential revenue from coating services as the technology matures and production capacity expands.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IonKraft develops and sells the IONX™ plasma-based barrier coating technology and the automated industrial coating machines that apply it. Using Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD), a SiOx-based glass-like nanocoating (less than 100 nm thick) is deposited on the inside of plastic containers (PET/HDPE) to provide gas and solvent barrier performance equivalent to multi-layer EVOH or fluorination, while keeping the packaging 100% recyclable. The technology is targeted at industrial plastic packaging manufacturers across food, chemicals, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and crop protection applications.

Product overview

IonKraft offers a single unified core product: the IONX plasma-based barrier coating technology. This technology consists of a proprietary SiOx nanocoating applied to plastic packaging via specialized coating machines, enabling mono-material plastic packaging to achieve barrier properties equivalent to multi-layer structures or fluorination while maintaining full recyclability. The company develops and manufactures the coating machines (production equipment) used to apply IONX to plastic containers. IONX has been validated by RecyClass and recognized by APR for recyclability compatibility, and targets industries including food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, household chemicals, and industrial chemicals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IONX: SiOx-based plasma-generated nanocoating technology that provides high barrier protection for plastic packaging while maintaining 100% recyclability. IONX forms a glass-like ultra-thin barrier on the inside of plastic containers, preventing permeation of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other substances.

Products and services

• IONX™ Plasma Nanocoating Technology IONX™ is a SiOx-based plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) nanocoating applied to the inside of plastic containers. It forms an ultra-thin (less than 100 nm) glass-like barrier chemically bonded to the substrate that prevents permeation of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other substances. The coating is chemically inert, compatible with PET and HDPE, and delivers gas barrier performance equivalent to EVOH multi-layer packaging and solvent barrier performance equivalent to fluorination, while keeping the packaging 100% recyclable. It is sold to industrial plastic packaging manufacturers and brand owners as a replacement for non-recyclable multi-layer and fluorinated barrier structures.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Scale-Up.NRWminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2025IonKraft was selected for Batch #4 of Scale-Up.NRW, an accelerator program by the NRW Ministry of Economic Affairs. Program provides exclusive mentoring, workshops, peer-to-peer learning, and network access for growth.
• BayercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2025IonKraft and Bayer co-presented at the Handelsblatt Annual Circular Economy Conference on sustainable packaging for crop protection products. Presented results of barrier performance benchmark tests demonstrating how plasma coating technology improves product protection and shelf life without compromising recyclability.
• Greif, Inc.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2024IonKraft partnered with Greif, a global leader in industrial packaging with 140 years of experience, to deploy their plasma coating technology in Greif's production lines. This first-mover partnership represents the launch of IONX technology for industrial packaging. Real-world testing has demonstrated coating effectiveness in multiple trials. This collaboration marks an important step in market introduction of industrial scale coating machines.
• RecyClasscoreTechnology or IntegrationRecyClass assessed and approved the recyclability of IONX-coated packaging. This independent third-party validation confirms that the coating does not interfere with established mechanical recycling processes.
• Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR)coreTechnology or IntegrationAPR formally recognized IONX coating with the APR Design® for Recyclability Recognition, providing third-party validation that the packaging design is compatible with North American recycling systems.
• RWTH Aachen University / IKVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIonKraft is a spin-off from the Institute of Plastics Processing (IKV) at RWTH Aachen University. The university's research expertise in plasma and surface technologies for plastics underpinned the development of IONX technology.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Plasmatreat GmbH: Germany-based industrial plasma surface treatment company offering atmospheric and low-pressure plasma systems for surface activation, cleaning, and coating across automotive, electronics, and packaging applications. Direct competitor in industrial PECVD/plasma equipment, serving overlapping customer verticals with similar hardware sales models.
• Beneq Oy: Finland-based supplier of Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) equipment, including roll-to-roll ALD systems for ultra-thin barrier coatings on flexible substrates and packaging. Direct competitor in the equipment-driven thin-film barrier coating market, with overlapping target customers in display and packaging.
• 4JET Technologies GmbH: German provider of laser- and plasma-based surface processing systems for industrial applications, including PECVD processes for functional coatings. Comparable as a German deep-tech hardware company commercializing academic plasma/laser research for industrial production lines.

Emerging players

• SÜDPACK GmbH & Co. KG: German family-owned packaging manufacturer developing high-performance barrier films, including recyclable mono-material structures with SiOx and EVOH technologies for food and pharma. Comparable as a converter actively developing and deploying alternative barrier coating solutions in the same target verticals.
• Tera-Barrier Films Pte Ltd: Singapore-based developer of high-barrier film technology using nano-composite coatings for flexible packaging, with focus on extending shelf life for food and pharmaceutical applications. Comparable emerging player targeting similar barrier coating applications with a different (non-plasma) deposition approach.

Broad incumbents

• Toppan Holdings Inc. Japanese packaging and electronics conglomerate offering GL Film, a transparent SiOx-deposited high-barrier film widely used in food packaging. The closest large incumbent in the SiOx barrier coatings space and a direct alternative to IONX for converter customers.
• Amcor plc: Global packaging giant with a broad portfolio of flexible and rigid packaging, including high-barrier and recyclable product lines. Represents the large-incumbent competitive backdrop that IonKraft must displace or partner with in the food, pharma, and personal care packaging markets.
• Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. Japanese chemical and materials company with barrier film products, including vapor-deposited SiOx-coated films for food and industrial packaging. Comparable as a large diversified chemicals player with established SiOx barrier coating offerings and global converter relationships.
• Aixtron SE: German-listed manufacturer of MOCVD/PECVD deposition equipment primarily for semiconductor and LED applications, with emerging opportunities in advanced packaging. Comparable as a German-listed PECVD equipment company with industrial-scale thin-film deposition expertise.
• Applied Materials, Inc. Global leader in materials engineering solutions, including PECVD and ALD equipment used across semiconductor, display, and emerging packaging applications. Represents the dominant incumbent in industrial-scale PECVD capital equipment and a potential competitive threat or acquirer in the broader thin-film barrier space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ionkraft

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IonKraft