coatmaster

What coatmaster does

coatmaster AG, founded in 2011 and headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, develops and sells non-contact coating thickness measurement systems for industrial coating applications. The company’s core technology, branded Advanced Thermal Optics (ATO), uses a computer-controlled light source to pulse-heat the coating and a high-speed infrared detector to capture the resulting surface temperature decay; proprietary algorithms then infer coating thickness (and related properties) from that decay signature. The product portfolio spans four deployment models built on the same ATO core: coatmaster Flex (handheld/portable), coatmaster Atline (offline quality control), coatmaster Inline (integrated into production lines), and coatmaster 3D (360-degree measurement for battery cells and complex geometries). The technology is patent-protected, ISO 9001:2015 certified, and self-described as the international industry standard for high-quality surface production after 10+ years of co-development with leading coating industry customers.

The company sells predominantly to enterprise industrial customers in battery/EV manufacturing, powder coating, seals and gaskets, and precision manufacturing, with REKU Color GmbH cited as a named closed-loop reference. Go-to-market is exclusively direct enterprise field sales, organized by 15+ regional contacts covering North America, Europe, DACH, the UK, Scandinavia, China/Japan, Latin America, SE Asia/Oceania, CEE, the Middle East and Africa, and India, supported by an EU service center in Gottmadingen, Germany. Revenue is generated through hardware sales (the four device variants), associated software, training via coatmaster Academy, technical support, and integration services for closed-loop powder coating control — a recurring process-control relationship once installed. In June 2021, coatmaster AG expanded its portfolio by acquiring CoatChecker GmbH (Germany), consolidating non-destructive coating measurement technology under the coatmaster brand.

With 11-50 employees and 2,000+ devices deployed worldwide (including 100+ closed-loop systems), the business is founder-led by co-founders Nils Reinke (CEO, sales — powder coating) and Andor Bariska (co-founder, sales — battery sector), both ETH Zurich-educated and on the executive board. The company is privately held with no disclosed external funding beyond three early Venture Kick tranches in 2010-2011 totaling roughly CHF 143,000, implying the business has been funded organically through operations. Marketing infrastructure includes trade-show presence (FABTech, Chinacoat, PaintExpo), a digital Academy with webinars and technical articles, an ROI calculator, a monthly newsletter, and active corporate social channels on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

Name

coatmaster

Legal name

coatmaster AG

Website

https://coatmaster.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

coatmaster AG builds patented non-contact coating thickness measurement systems based on Advanced Thermal Optics (ATO), serving battery/EV manufacturers, powder coaters, and precision industrial coaters globally via direct enterprise field sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Coating Thickness Measurement

NAICS

Paint and Coating Manufacturing (32551)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Protective Coatings (IMAEAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Thermal Management & Safety Components for Battery Packs (EUAFABAL)

Keywords

• Coating thickness measurement
• Non-contact measurement
• Thermal optics inspection
• Industrial quality control
• Battery cell inspection

Headquarters

HQ city

Winterthur

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Sale of coatmaster measurement devices including Flex (handheld), Atline (offline), Inline (inline), and 3D (360-degree) systems for non-destructive coating thickness measurement
2. Software/Services: Associated software, technical support, maintenance services, and training through coatmaster Academy
3. Closed-loop Integration Services: Integration of coatmaster systems into existing coating lines for automated closed-loop coating control

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

coatmaster AG develops, manufactures, and sells non-contact coating thickness measurement devices and related software based on its proprietary Advanced Thermal Optics (ATO) technology. The product family comprises four hardware systems — Flex (portable handheld), Atline (offline quality control), Inline (production-line integrated), and 3D (360-degree measurement for battery cells and complex geometries) — together with closed-loop control software, technical support, maintenance, and training delivered through the coatmaster Academy.

Product overview

coatmaster offers a portfolio of four non-contact coating thickness measurement products based on Advanced Thermal Optics (ATO) technology. The lineup includes coatmaster Flex (handheld/portable measurement), coatmaster Atline (at-line quality control), coatmaster Inline (fully integrated into production lines), and coatmaster 3D (360-degree measurement for complex geometries and battery cells). These products share the same ATO core technology for measuring coating thickness between 1-1000µm without contact, differ in their deployment models for various production environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• coatmaster Flex: Portable non-contact coating thickness measurement device for laboratory and field use.
• coatmaster Atline
• coatmaster Inline
• coatmaster 3D

Products and services

• coatmaster Flex Portable handheld non-contact coating thickness measurement device for laboratory and field use, based on Advanced Thermal Optics (ATO) technology.
• coatmaster Atline Offline non-contact coating thickness measurement system for at-line quality control, based on Advanced Thermal Optics (ATO) technology.
• coatmaster Inline Inline non-contact coating thickness measurement system for fully integrated real-time production-line monitoring, based on Advanced Thermal Optics (ATO) technology.
• coatmaster 3D 360-degree non-contact coating thickness measurement system for battery cells, complex geometries, edges, corners, and microstructures, based on Advanced Thermal Optics (ATO) technology.
• Closed-loop Coating Control Automated feedback software that integrates with coatmaster Inline (and other systems) to measure every part and automatically correct powder output for consistent coating thickness, enabling up to 30% material reduction and 30% rework reduction.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduce material consumption by up to 30%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CoatChecker GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2021coatmaster AG acquired CoatChecker GmbH in June 2021. Both Swiss companies specialized in non-destructive coating measurement technologies. The merger combined their advanced thermal optics technology to enhance the product portfolio and support global coating industry efficiency and sustainability goals.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Elcometer: UK-based manufacturer of coating thickness gauges, adhesion testers, and surface inspection instruments. Direct competitor to coatmaster in non-contact and contact coating thickness measurement for industrial finishers.
• Helmut Fischer (Fischer Technology): German-based global leader in XRF, eddy-current, and magnetic coating thickness measurement. Closest direct peer in technology breadth and global industrial footprint, with a much larger installed base.
• Defelsko (PosiTector): US-based manufacturer of the PosiTector line of coating thickness gauges (eddy current, magnetic, ultrasonic). Competes head-to-head with coatmaster's Flex/Atline products for portable and shop-floor coating QA.
• BYK-Gardner: Part of ALTANA, BYK-Gardner manufactures coating inspection instruments (film thickness, color, gloss) widely used in paint and coatings QA. Overlaps with coatmaster's coatings-industry customer base and inline QA positioning.
• ElektroPhysik (Dr. Steingroever): German specialist in coating thickness measurement (magnetic, eddy current, ultrasonic) for industrial applications. Comparable to coatmaster in targeting European industrial QA customers with precision measurement.
• Kett Electric Laboratory: Japanese manufacturer of coating thickness, moisture, and composition measurement instruments. Comparable product category and similar focus on industrial QA applications across powder coating and surface finishing.
• Phynix (Surfix / iCG): Dutch manufacturer of coating thickness gauges and electrochemical measurement instruments. Niche direct peer with comparable focus on industrial coating QA and a strong European installed base.

Broad incumbents

• Bruker: Major analytical instruments manufacturer with XRF, XRD, and industrial coating measurement offerings. Broad incumbent that can bundle coating QA into larger materials-analysis sales motions, competing with coatmaster at the high end.
• Oxford Instruments (Industrial Analysis): UK-listed analytical instruments group with XRF and coating thickness products serving industrial QA. Larger, multi-segment incumbent with broader portfolio; competes with coatmaster for coating measurement budgets.

Others

• Sneham Automation / Industrial Vision Systems: Industrial machine-vision and inline inspection providers (e.g., Cognex, ISRA VISION) are adjacent ecosystem players enabling automated, inline quality control on coating lines — complementing or competing with coatmaster's inline measurement solutions depending on customer architecture.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/coatmaster_ag
• Facebookfacebook.com/coatmasterAG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coatmasterAG
• Instagraminstagram.com/coatmaster_ag
• Xx.com/WInstruments

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors1 record

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about coatmaster