What Vergason Technology does

Vergason Technology, Inc. (now operating as TS VTI) is a US-based Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) company that both manufactures industrial vacuum metalizing equipment and operates a 3-shift toll coating services facility from its headquarters in Van Etten, New York. Founded in 1986 by Gary Vergason, the firm designs and sells turn-key PVD systems — including SuperChrome 660, Press-Side 4000 SL and Press-Side 38, LEAN 710, VTI HC3036, and TEMS 1400H — across sputtering, thermal evaporation, cathodic arc, HIPIMS, and plasma polymerization platforms. Proprietary process IP includes SuperChrome (a REACH-compliant chrome replacement patented in 20+ countries), CatArc switched cathodic arc, Press-Side rapid-cycle metalizing synchronized with injection presses, NexSteel brushed-metal finishes on plastic, and BlackCat AlTiCrN tactical coatings.

The business is dual-pronged: equipment sales (target price point inferred at $500K–$2M+ per system, sold to high-volume OEMs requiring annual production of $10,000+) and toll coating services covering decorative, wear-resistant, and EMI/RFI shielding coatings. Customers span automotive OEMs and Tier-1 lighting suppliers (Mercedes-Benz Full Concept S1 approval for SuperChrome; headlamp/tail-lamp assemblies), medical device manufacturers (FDA-aligned coatings for guidewires, surgical tools, implants, dental handpieces), defense contractors (ITAR-registered), cutting tool manufacturers (TiN, TiCN, CrN, AlTiN, ZrN, TiAlN, BlackCat), and decorative product manufacturers requiring chromium-free finishes. GTM combines direct US regional field sales, a European direct office in Munich (2018), and channel partners SMT (India, 2023) and EDWARDS Vacuum (Brazil).

In March 2025, Techniques Surfaces Holdings, SAS (HEF Groupe, France) acquired 100% of VTI's outstanding shares, making VTI a subsidiary of a tribology leader active in 20+ countries. The firm maintains ISO 9001:2015, ITAR, RoHS, and FDA-aligned certifications, has installed 200+ systems globally, and operates a coating service with 3-5 day standard turnaround on EMI/RFI shielding work.

Name

Vergason Technology

Legal name

Vergason Technology, Inc.

Website

https://vergason.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vergason Technology (TS VTI) is a US PVD coating equipment manufacturer and toll coating services provider, founded 1986 in Van Etten, NY, serving automotive, medical, defense, cutting tool, and decorative manufacturers with proprietary systems including SuperChrome chrome replacement and Press-Side rapid-cycle metalizing, now a subsidiary of France-based HEF Groupe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial PVD Coating Equipment and Services

NAICS

Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied Services to Manufacturers (332812), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (3328)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470), Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens (3567)

akta.pro primary industry

Coating, Painting & Plating (Powder Coat, Anodizing, Electroplating, PVD/CVD) (IMAAAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Thermal Processing Equipment (Furnaces/RTP/Anneal) (HDAHAEAE), Industrial & Protective Coatings (IMAEAGAB)

Keywords

• PVD coating equipment
• Vacuum metalizing services
• Physical vapor deposition
• Thin film coatings
• Chrome replacement coatings

Headquarters

HQ city

Van Etten

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. PVD Equipment Sales: TS VTI designs, builds, and sells vacuum coating machines and PVD equipment. The company offers a full line of standard PVD deposition equipment featuring sputtering, thermal evaporation, and cathodic arc technologies. Equipment is sold globally to industrial manufacturers.
2. Coating Services: TS VTI operates a 3-shift coating service facility providing vacuum metalizing, wear-resistant PVD coatings, EMI/RFI shielding, and SuperChrome coating services. Primarily serves high-volume OEM manufacturers with annual production values of $10,000 or more.
3. Process Development & Technical Support: TS VTI provides process development services, technical training, custom software support, and field service/repair for customers worldwide. This includes on-site training, remote VPN troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance contracts.
4. SuperChrome Technology Licensing: SuperChrome SC660 PVD system purchase includes a single-system end-user technology license with access to technical updates and application support.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Vergason Technology (TS VTI) designs, builds, and sells PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coating equipment including SuperChrome 660, Press-Side 4000 SL, Press-Side 38, Lean 710, VTI HC3036, and TEMS 1400H systems using magnetron sputtering, thermal evaporation, and cathodic arc deposition technologies. The company also operates a 3-shift toll coating services facility providing vacuum metalizing, wear-resistant PVD coatings (TiN, TiCN, CrN, AlTiN, ZrN, AlTiCrN, TiAlN), EMI/RFI shielding, proprietary SuperChrome chrome-replacement coatings, and NexSteel brushed stainless finishes to industrial manufacturers.

Product overview

Vergason Technology (now TS VTI) is a PVD coating equipment manufacturer and coating services provider offering an integrated portfolio of vacuum metalizing systems, wear coating systems, and proprietary coatings. The core equipment portfolio includes six main systems: SuperChrome 660 (reactive sputtering for chrome replacement), Press-Side 4000 SL and Press-Side 38 (rapid cycle metalizing for injection molding integration), Lean 710 (field-convertible between sputtering and thermal evaporation), HC3036 (hard coating via CatArc arc deposition), and TEMS 1400H (thermal evaporation). Supporting these systems, the company provides coating services using the same equipment and proprietary coatings including SuperChrome (REACH-compliant chrome alternative), NexSteel (brushed stainless finish on plastic), and BlackCat (tactical coating for weapons). Services span vacuum metalizing for decorative/reflective/shielding applications, wear-resistant PVD coatings (TiN, TiCN, CrN, AlTiN, ZrN, TiAlN), and EMI/RFI shielding. The company operates its own toll coating facility alongside equipment sales, enabling process development and customer sampling. Following 2025 acquisition by France-based HEF Groupe, TS VTI is part of a global tribology leader active in 20+ countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SuperChrome: Proprietary PVD chrome coating alternative to traditional galvanic chrome plating on plastic components; patented in 20 countries.
• NexSteel
• BlackCat
• CatArc
• Press-Side
• Lean
• TEMS

Products and services

• SuperChrome 660 PVD System Reactive sputtering PVD system optimized for SuperChrome chrome-like coating on plastic substrates, featuring convertible planetary drive, rapid cycling, open architecture, and multiple processes including plasma etching, plasma polymerization, and sputtering for automotive, appliance, and sanitary applications.
• Press-Side 4000 SL Rapid Cycle Metalizer Third-generation, global performance leader Press-Side rapid cycle metalizing system featuring two-door chamber configuration for synchronous flow with injection press, reducing scrap and improving film quality through magnetron sputtering for high-volume automotive and decorative PVD applications.
• Press-Side 38 Rapid Cycle Metalizer Largest version of Press-Side rapid cycle metalizing systems with two-door chamber configuration and components shared with the flagship PS4000SL, designed for large automotive headlamp designs and high-volume production runs.
• Lean 710 Convertible Metalizing System First field-convertible metalizing system that can be reconfigured between thermal evaporation and magnetron sputtering operation in the field, with a compact footprint, open-architecture PLC control, and multi-use PVD capabilities.
• VTI HC3036 PVD Coating System Small footprint, high throughput PVD hard coating system featuring patented switched-arc CatArc cathodic arc deposition technology for wear and tribological coatings on cutting tools and industrial components, also supporting HIPIMS sputtering capability.
• TEMS 1400H Thermal Evaporation Metalizing System Large batch horizontal thermal evaporation metalizing system with modern PLC-based architecture, rapid cycles (cycle times as fast as 3 minutes door-to-door), removable shielding for maintenance, and network compatibility for online diagnostics.
• Vacuum Metalizing Services Toll coating services using sputtering and thermal evaporation processes for decorative, reflective, and shielding applications on plastic, glass, metal, and ceramic substrates, operated from the company's 3-shift Van Etten, NY coating facility for high-volume OEM customers.
• Wear Resistant PVD Coatings (TiN, TiCN, CrN, AlTiN, ZrN, TiAlN) Tribological PVD coatings including Titanium Nitride (TiN), Titanium Carbonitride (TiCN), Chromium Nitride (CrN), Aluminum Titanium Nitride (AlTiN), Zirconium Nitride (ZrN), and Titanium Aluminum Nitride (TiAlN) for cutting tools, forming dies, medical devices, and industrial components.
• EMI and RFI Shielding Coatings PVD sputtering-based EMI and RFI shielding coatings using copper base layers with aluminum or nickel chrome protective top coats, producing highly conductive metal films with resistivity consistently below one ohm per square for plastic enclosures across defense, medical, automotive, and industrial electronics.
• NexSteel Brushed Stainless Steel Finish Proprietary decorative PVD coating that emulates brushed stainless steel finish on textured plastic substrates, offering lighter weight, design flexibility, and cost savings over solid stainless steel for home hardware, sanitary, plumbing, and consumer product applications. Recognized by Material ConneXion with a Certificate of Material Excellence in 2017.
• SuperChrome PVD Chrome-Alternative Coating Proprietary REACH-compliant PVD chrome alternative coating without hexavalent chromium compounds, providing rich chrome appearance with no protective topcoat required for automotive, appliance, and sanitary applications. Patented in 20+ countries; granted Mercedes-Benz Full Concept S1 Approval in 2017. Includes single-system end-user technology license with the SC660 PVD system purchase.
• BlackCat Tactical Coating (AlTiCrN) Proprietary aluminum titanium chromium carbonitride (AlTiCrN) tactical coating with 926°C thermal stability and non-reflective finish, designed for high-velocity projectile delivery systems, firearms, and precision weapons accessories, marketed as the BlackCat trademark.
• Topcoat Application Services UV-cure robotic spray paint topcoating service for metalized parts requiring additional abrasion resistance, applied via two automatic conveyor-based systems for high-volume production finishing.
• PVD Field Service and Technical Support Comprehensive support services including process development, custom software integration, operator training, on-site and remote VPN troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance contracts for customers worldwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced scrap rates by up to 10 times compared to traditional coating processes through Press-Side rapid cycle metalizing
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Surface Modification Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (SMT)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 August 2023SMT appointed as authorized Sales and Service agent and PVD equipment supplier in India. SMT has significant competencies in industrial vacuum systems equipment and service, dedicated to offering customers best technology solutions with world-renowned brands.
• Helios Coatings Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2020Joint venture between Helios Coatings Inc. (Canton, Ohio) and VTI for OEM and aftermarket wheel coatings. Helios specializes in specialty coatings with focus on automotive wheel applications.
• jobatech (job-a-TEC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2016European partnership with jobaTEC for joint exhibiting and promotion of SuperChrome PVD Coating and SC-660 metalizing system at European trade shows including Automotive Interiors Expo Stuttgart.
• EDWARDS VacuumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEdwards Vacuum serves as the South American contact for TS VTI PVD equipment and services, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• HEF Group: HEF Groupe is VTI's parent company and a global leader in tribology and surface engineering with operations in 20+ countries. It operates a large PVD and surface treatment services business that directly overlaps with VTI's coating services, making it both a parent and a sister-business peer.
• Bodycote: Bodycote is one of the world's largest thermal processing and surface treatment service providers with hundreds of facilities worldwide. While its core strength is heat treatment rather than PVD, it competes with VTI in outsourced surface treatment services for automotive, aerospace, and industrial customers.
• Leybold (Atlas Copco): Leybold, part of Atlas Copco, supplies vacuum technology and PVD/optical coating equipment globally. It is a comparable vacuum and PVD equipment manufacturer serving industrial, optical, and decorative coating markets, with substantially broader scale than VTI.
• Nidec Universal Surface Technologies: Nidec Universal Surface Technologies provides PVD coating services and equipment globally, serving automotive, aerospace, and industrial markets. As part of Nidec Corporation, it operates at substantially larger scale than VTI and offers comparable PVD coating services across similar end markets.
• Oerlikon Balzers: Oerlikon Balzers is the global market leader in PVD coating services and equipment, operating over 100 coating centers worldwide and serving automotive, tooling, aerospace, and decorative markets. It is the most direct large-scale comparison to VTI's combined equipment and coating service model, though at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Angstrom Engineering: Angstrom Engineering designs and manufactures PVD and thermal evaporation deposition systems for research and industrial customers. It is a direct competitor in bench-top and production PVD equipment, with similar product breadth in sputtering and evaporation technologies.
• Richter Precision: Richter Precision is a US-based PVD coating service provider specializing in wear-resistant and decorative coatings for cutting tools, medical devices, and industrial components. It is a close competitor to VTI's wear coating and decorative coating service business, with similar customer segments and coating technology offerings.
• Kurt J. Lesker Company: Kurt J. Lesker Company manufactures vacuum and PVD deposition equipment, sputtering targets, and thin-film materials globally. It competes with VTI in PVD system sales for research and industrial applications and shares the equipment-plus-materials business model approach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vergason-technology-inc.
• Facebookfacebook.com/Vergason-Technology-Inc-272597249540063

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Vergason Technology